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Rusden Crew R-29 (715)
Rusden Crew R-29 (715) Summary
The Rusden Replacement Crew arrived at North Pickenham during early July. On 10 Jul 44, after getting some in-house training, they were assigned to the 857th BS to replace Crew 715.
By our initial count the Crew flew on 7 missions before the Group was disbanded. We don't know who served on each of those missions.
When all of the crews were transferred on 10 Aug 44, this crew was split up. Some of them went out as orphans while others were reassigned to another crew.
More Info
( No photos yet )
44-40166
IRISHMAN'S SHANTY
44-40118
WE'LL GET BY
42-51121
NIAGARA
SPECIAL
44-40071
SWEAT BOX
44-40158
TINKER BELLE
44-40157
LUCKY LASS
Links to missions
flown by the
Rusden Crew R-29
are below in their
Mission Record
Original Roster for
Rusden Crew R-29 (715)
Position / MOS Name Rank Serial # Notes
Pilot
MOS 1024
Rusden, Harry J 1st Lt O-809047  
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024
Colwell, John W 2nd Lt O-5x1965  
Navigator
MOS 1034
Lasker, Melvin F/O T-125198  
Bombardier
MOS 1035
Fiester, Lewis N 2nd Lt O-559100 Promoted 1st Lt
Reassigned to G Haag Crew 706
Transferred 10 Aug, to 44 BG, 67 BS
Engineer
MOS 748
Nelson, Harold A Sgt 39693919 Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 458th BG
Radio
Operator
MOS 757
Johnson John L Sgt 59609822  
Gunner
MOS 612
Belcher, James E Sgt 15362876 Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 466th BG
Gunner
MOS 611
Grant, Arthur T Jr Cpl 11138552 Promoted Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 466th BG
Gunner
MOS 611
Cappellini, Jerry Cpl 33702549 Promoted Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 466th BG
Gunner
MOS 611
Smilo, Sidney Cpl 16189096 Promoted Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 466th BG
  Others Who Flew with Rusden Crew R-29 (715)
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024
Reisman, Sanford B 2nd Lt O-814961 Promoted 1st Lt
From the Scott Crew 712
Some records list his name as Saul
Rusden Crew R-29 (715)
492nd BG Mission Record
857th Bomb Squadron
Crew
Mission
Number
Group
Mission
Number
Group
Mission
Date
Aircraft
Serial
Number
Primary Target Mission Notes
01
 Link to Mission 53 page 53
19 Jul 44   Russelheim, Germany Target: Marshalling yard
Bombed Koblenz
02
 Link to Mission 54 page 54
20 Jul 44 44-40166 Erfurt, Germany Target: Airfield
03
 Link to Mission 56 page 56
24 Jul 44 44-40118 St Lo area, France Target: Tactical
04
 Link to Mission 57 page 57
25 Jul 44 42-51121 St Lo area, France Target: Tactical
05
 Link to Mission 59 page 59
31 Jul 44 44-40071 Ludwigshafen, Germany Target: Chemical plant
06
 Link to Mission 60 page 60
1 Aug 44 44-40158 Anizy, France Target: Railroad bridge
07
 Link to Mission 66 page 66
7 Aug 44 44-40157 Ostend, Belgium Target: Oil dump
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Page last modified Thursday, October 20, 2011.