Rusty the Spaniel

Mascot
Pilot Officer "Rusty", the mascot of the 44th Bomb Group, stands in front of a B-24 Liberator at Shipdham. Image stamped with Ministry of Information press censor, 25 October 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Pilot Officer "Rusty" - dog of many missions. Pilot Officer "Rusty" - mascot of a liberator operating from this country, was flown to England from the U.S. He has "taken part" in numerous bombing raids including that made on the oilfields at Ploesti. Associated Press Photo Shows: "Rusty" sits noncha media-379084.jpg FRE 649 Pilot Officer "Rusty", the mascot of the 44th Bomb Group, stands in front of a B-24 Liberator at Shipdham. Image stamped with Ministry of Information press censor, 25 October 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Pilot Officer "Rusty" - dog of many missions. Pilot Officer "Rusty" - mascot of a liberator operating from this country, was flown to England from the U.S. He has "taken part" in numerous bombing raids including that made on the oilfields at Ploesti. Associated Press Photo Shows: "Rusty" sits nonchalantly on top of a 500lb bomb while waiting to take part in yet another raid on enemy-occupied territory. TET 261676/7 241043Y' NB: The phrase 'including that made on the oilfields at Ploesti' has been crossed out by censor. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 649 - Pilot Officer "Rusty", the mascot of the 44th Bomb Group, stands in front of a B-24 Liberator at Shipdham. Image stamped with Ministry of Information...

Pilot Officer Rusty was the Mascot of the 44th Bomb Group. He was flown to England with his owner, Robert C Peterson and even took part in several bombing missions. He is said to have taken part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on the oil refineries in Ploesti, Romania.

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Units served with

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.

44th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

First Lieutenant Robert C. Peterson, a navigator of the 44th Bomb Group, sits inside the B-24 Liberator he serves on with the aircraft's dog mascot: Pilot Officer "Rusty". Image stamped with Ministry of Information press censor, 25 October 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Pilot Officer "Rusty" - dog of many missions. Pilot Officer "Rusty" - mascot of a liberator operating from this country, was flown to England from the U.S. He has "taken part" in numerous bombing raids including that made on the oi

Robert C Peterson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Missions

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Associated Press caption on FRE 641

Rusty the Spaniel: Gallery (4 items)

First Lieutenant Robert C. Peterson of the 44th Bomb Group in the cockpit of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-23788) with the aircraft's dog mascot: Pilot-Officer "Rusty". A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed. Handwritten caption on reverse of print: '44BG B-24 Liberator Avenger showing 19 fighter claims and 18 bomb markings including Ploesti. 123788 I.' On reverse: Associated Press [Stamp]. Associated News Story: 'Pilot Officer "Rusty" - dog of many mi

Object number: FRE 3455 - First Lieutenant Robert C. Peterson in the cockpit...

First Lieutenant Robert C. Peterson, a navigator of the 44th Bomb Group, sits inside the B-24 Liberator he serves on with the aircraft's dog mascot: Pilot Officer "Rusty". Image stamped with Ministry of Information press censor, 25 October 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Pilot Officer "Rusty" - dog of many missions. Pilot Officer "Rusty" - mascot of a liberator operating from this country, was flown to England from the U.S. He has "taken part" in numerous bombing raids including that made on the oi

Object number: FRE 641 - First Lieutenant Robert C. Peterson, a navigator...

Pilot Officer "Rusty", the mascot of the 44th Bomb Group, stands in front of a B-24 Liberator at Shipdham. Image stamped with Ministry of Information press censor, 25 October 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Pilot Officer "Rusty" - dog of many missions. Pilot Officer "Rusty" - mascot of a liberator operating from this country, was flown to England from the U.S. He has "taken part" in numerous bombing raids including that made on the oilfields at Ploesti. Associated Press Photo Shows: "Rusty" sits noncha

Object number: FRE 649 - Pilot Officer "Rusty", the mascot of the 44th Bomb...

First Lieutenant Robert C Peterson with the dog mascot of the 44th Bomb Group: Pilot Officer "Rusty". 25 October 1943. First Lieutenant Robert C Peterson of the 44th Bomb Group sits inside a B-24 Liberator with the aircraft's mascot: Pilot-Officer "Rusty". Image stamped with Ministry of Information press censor, 25 October 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Pilot Officer "Rusty" - dog of many missions. Pilot Officer "Rusty" - mascot of a Liberator operating from this country, was flown to England from the

Object number: FRE 655 - First Lieutenant Robert C Peterson with the dog...