Mustaleski Crew

Summer, 1944 RTU, Avon Park, FL
12/44 In Transit (by air)
12/44 709th Squadron, Rattlesden, UK
Missions flown: 32
Assigned Aircraft: Blue Hen Chick

 

Mustaleski crew, 709th
Rattlesden, Apr 4, 1945

Standing L-R:
Lt Thomas Mustaleski
Lt James Grewe
Lt George Szewczyk
Sgt Armando Cioccke
Sgt Alex Staples 
Sgt John Kirkwood
Kneeling L-R:
Pfc. Ullrich (Radio monitor)
Sgt P.I. Farley
Sgt Clarence Walker
Sgt Carlos Cordova (crew chief)
Sgt William Grove

Leingang (Krug crew), Walker, Cioccke, Kirkwood and Staples

  NO. DATE TARGET AIRCRAFT COMMENTS
1 202 1/15/45 AUGSBURG 43-38230 Wolf Wagon 1st Pilot on this mission was Cohen
2 204 1/20/45 HEILBRONN 42-97624 Devil's Mate II  
3 205 1/21/45 MANNHEIM 42-97976 A Bit O' Lace  
4 206 1/29/45 KASSEL 42-31188 Dead Man's Hand  
5 207 2/1/45 WESSEL 42-97836 Bugs Bunny Jr.   
6 210 2/9/45 WEIMAR 43-37667   
7 214 2/14/45 WESEL 43-37873 Nazdrowie   
8 214 2/16/45 WESEL 42-97976 A Bit O' Lace  
9 214 2/19/45 WESEL 43-38605 The BigAss Bird  
10 217 2/23/45 CRAILSHEIM 43-38768  
11 218 2/24/45 BREMEN 43-38605 The BigAss Bird  
12 219 2/25/45 NEUBERG 43-37795  
13 220 2/26/45 BERLIN 43-37795  
14 221 2/27/45 LEIPZIG 43-38849  
15 222 3/1/45 ULM 43-38719 Blue Hen Chick  
16 223 3/2/45 DRESDEN 43-38719 Blue Hen Chick  
17 225 3/7/45 DATTELN 43-37873 Nazdrowie  
18 226 3/8/45 FRANKFURT 43-38719 Blue Hen Chick Dyson leaves for retraining, Kirkwood 
becomes navigator
19 228 3/10/45 DORTMUND 43-38719 Blue Hen Chick  
20 230 3/12/45 MARBURG 43-38605 The BigAss Bird  
21 232 3/15/45 ORANIENBURG 43-38719 Blue Hen Chick  
22 239 3/23/45 HOLZWICKEDE 43-38605 The BigAss Bird  
23 240 3/24/45 VARRELBUSCH A/F 43-38719 Blue Hen Chick  
24 241 3/28/45 HANOVER 43-38719 Blue Hen Chick  
25 242 3/30/45 HAMBURG 43-38719 Blue Hen Chick  
26 243 3/31/45 BRANDENBURG 43-38719 Blue Hen Chick  
27 245 4/4/45 KIEL 42-97976 A Bit O' Lace Rtn w/o left stabilizer see 42-97976 
28 248 4/8/45 PLAUEN 43-38719 Blue Hen Chick  
29 252 4/14/45 ROYAN AREA 43-38719 Blue Hen Chick  
30 253 4/15/45 ROYAN AREA 43-38719 Blue Hen Chick  
31 254 4/16/45 ROYAN AREA 43-38719 Blue Hen Chick  
32 256 4/19/45 DRESDEN 43-38719 Blue Hen Chick  

Photos and details courtesy of Mr. Rob Kirkwood

John Kirkwood in the nose
Mr. Kirkwood took the photos included below

 

Lined up on the perimeter track, waiting for take-off
Probably February 19, 1945 mission to Wessel

Forming up -- Group assembly over the field. The lead aircraft 
is trailing smoke as a visual marker for other pilots.

March 8, 1945 -- heading to Frankfurt over a solid cloud cover.
Aircraft is Pathfinder 44-8365 Z

Plauen Raid, April 8, 1945