Mustaleski, T. M.

The Thomas M. Mustaleski crew: 709th Squadron

Rattlesden, Apr 4, 1945

Standing L-R  
Lt. Thomas Mustaleski Pilot
Lt. James Grewe Co-Pilot
Lt. George Szewczyk Togglier
Sgt. Armando Cioccke Waist Gunner
Sgt. Alex Staples  Radio Operator
Sgt. John Kirkwood Navigator
Kneeling L-R  
PFC Ullrich Radio monitor
Sgt. P.I. Farley Engineer
Sgt. Clarence Walker Tail Gunner
Sgt. Carlos Cordova Crew Chief
Sgt. William Grove Ball Turret Gunner

 


 

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

 

Flights with Tomas M. Mustaleski listed as Pilot

These lists are NOT limited to officially credited Combat missions, and may include Aborts, returns and non-takeoff occurrences as well.

447th Mission (Date) Target Plane Number Notes
#204 (20-Jan-45) Heilbronn, Germany 42-97624 Leaflets (returned all leaflets)
#205 (21-Jan-45) Mannheim, Germany 42-97976  
#206 (29-Jan-45) Kassel, Germany 42-31188  
#207 (01-Feb-45) Wesel, Germany 42-97836  
#210 (09-Feb-45) Weimar, Germany 43-37667  
#211 (14-Feb-45) Wesel, Germany 43-37873  
#213 (16-Feb-45) Wesel, Germany 42-97976  
#214 (19-Feb-45) Wesel, Germany 43-38605  
#217 (23-Feb-45) Crailsheim, Germany 43-38768 Cameraman
#218 (24-Feb-45) Bremen, Germany 43-38605  
#219 (25-Feb-45) Neuberg, Germany 43-37795  
#221 (27-Feb-45) Leipzig, Germany 43-38849  
#222 (01-Mar-45) Ulm, Germany 43-38719  
#223 (02-Mar-45) Dresden, Germany 43-38719  
#225 (07-Mar-45) Datteln-Emscher Lippe, Germany 43-37873  
#226 (08-Mar-45) Frankfurt, Germany 43-38719  
#228 (10-Mar-45) Dortmund, Germany 43-38719  
#230 (12-Mar-45) Marburg, Germany 43-38605  
#232 (15-Mar-45) Oranienburg, Germany 43-38719  
#239 (23-Mar-45) Holzwickede, Germany 43-38605  
#240 (24-Mar-45) Varrelsbusch, Germany 43-38719  
#241 (28-Mar-45) Hannover, Germany 43-38719  
#242 (30-Mar-45) Hamburg, Germany 43-38719  
#243 (31-Mar-45) Salzwedel, Germany 43-38719  
#245 (04-Apr-45) Kiel, Germany 42-97976  
#248 (08-Apr-45) Plauen, Germany 43-38719  
#252 (14-Apr-45) Royan, France 43-38719  
#253 (15-Apr-45) Royan, France 43-38719  
#254 (16-Apr-45) Royan, France 43-38719  
#256 (19-Apr-45) Dresden, Germany 43-38719  

 

 

Standing, L-R: Farley, ENG; John Kirkwood, Navigator; Alex Staples, ROG; Armando Cioccke, WG; Clarence Walker, TG; William Grove, BTG. Kneeling, L-R: Everett Dyson, NAV; James Grewe, CP; Thomas Mustaleski, Pilot.

 

 

The following photos were taken by John Kirkwood during 1945

Tom Mustaleski and Jim Grewe in the cockpit

 

Mustaleski, Grewe, and Dyson in front of barracks

Grewe and Mustaleski

 

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

 

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

 

John Kirkwood in the nose of a B-17 during WWII…

…and back in the nose of a B-17 in 1999 (Photo by Rob Kirkwood)

 

 

 


 

Combat Missions (previously compiled)

  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  

 

 

 


Some photos/information provided by:

  • Mr. Rob Kirkwood