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 359th Rybaltowski Crew
Vincent Rybaltowski, Pilot
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VINCENT RYBALTOWSKI CREW - 359th BS
B-17G Daddy's Delight #42-97944 (359BS) BN-I
(crew assigned 359BS: 11 Nov 1944 - photo: 08 Dec 1944)

(Back) 1Lt Vincent Rybaltowski (P), 2Lt John A. Olsen, Jr. (CP),
1Lt Richard Y. Moon (N), 2Lt Harry A. McLeod (B/N)(far right)

(Front) T/Sgt Murray A. Perlowitz (E), T/Sgt Douglas N. Capps (R),
S/Sgt Donald M. Hollingsworth (BTG), S/Sgt Joseph A. Vitiritto (WG/TG), S/Sgt James R. Reseigh (TG)

Crewmen are not in order
Ranks and grades at time of last combat mission


Thirty-five credited combat missions flown by 1Lt Vincent Rybaltowski:
276 (23 Nov 44), 277, 278, 279, 280, 281 (2 Dec 44), 282, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293 (30 Dec 44), 295, 298A, 298B, 299, 300, 302, 303, 306 (22 Jan 45), 310, 312, 324, 315, 318 (20 Feb 45), 329, 330, 331, 332, 333 (10 Mar 45)
For Mission dates, targets and Mission Reports, see Combat Missions.

Eight B-17Gs flown by 1Lt Vincent Rybaltowski on his 35 credited combat missions:

  • 44-6309 (P) Duchess' Granddaughter (359BS) BN-T - Mission 276
  • 42-97944 (P) Daddy's Delight (359BS) BN-I - 9 Missions 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 284, 285, 286
  • 43-38609 (No name) (359BS) BN-F - 19 Missions 287, 288, 289, 292, 293, 295, 299, 300, 302, 303, 310, 312, 314, 315, 318, 331, 332, 333
  • 42-107206 Old Black Magic (359BS) BN-R - 2 missions 291, 298A
  • 43-38645 (No name) (359BS) BN-B - Mission 298B
  • 43-38608 (P) Lucille (359BS) BN-E - Mission 306
  • 43-39127 (No name) (359BS) BN-K - Mission 329
  • 43-38878 (No name) (359BS) BN-D - Mission 330
    (P) See Nose Art Photos
Crew Notes:
  • 1Lt Vincent Rybaltowski (P) - First mission flown with a combat Orientation CoPilot, 2Lt Harold J. . Bach. All missions flown as First Pilot. Completed 35 mission combat tour on 10 March 1945 (Mission 333).
  • 2Lt John A. Olsen (CP) -Missions flown: With 1Lt Rybaltowski (All Rybaltowski missions except for four - 276, 331, 332, 333); With other Pilots (Missions 294, 339). Upgraded from CoPilot to Pilot on orders dated 1 April 1945. Flew two missions as First Pilot (332, 333). Completed 35 mission combat tour on 18 March 1945 (Mission 339).
  • 1Lt Richard Y. Moon (N) - Missions flown: With 1Lt Rybaltowski (Fourteen missions - 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 281, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290); With another Pilot (291). Flew as a Lead Crew Navigator on his last fifteen missions (292, 293, 298B, 300, 306, 311, 319, 323, 327, 331, 340, 341, 353, 375, 361. The 1Lt Rybaltowski used substitute Navigators on ten missions between 27 Dec 44 and 17 Jan 45 and when 2Lt McLeod became the crew Navigator on the crews last 11 missions. 1Lt Moon completed his 30 mission combat tour, with Lead crew credits, on 16 April 1945 (Mission 361).
  • 2Lt Harry A. McLeod (B/N) - Missions flown: With 1Lt Rybaltowski - As Bombardier (24 missions - 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 295, 298A, 298B, 299, 300, 302, 303); As Navigator, when crew used substitute Bombardiers, (11 missions - 306, 310, 312, 314, 315, 318, 329, 330, 331, 332, 333); With other Pilots (One mission - 319). Completed 35 mission combat tour plus one additional mission on 10 March 1945 (Mission 333).
  • T/Sgt Murray A. Perlowitz (E) and T/Sgt Douglas N. Capps (R) - Missions Flown: All missions with 1Lt Rybaltowski. No missions with other Pilots. Completed 35 mission combat tours on 10 March 1945 (Mission 310).
  • S/Sgt Donald M. Hollingsworth (BTG) - Missions flown: With 1Lt Rybaltowski (34 missions - All Rybaltowski missions except one - 310); With another Pilot (One mission - 319). Completed 35 mission combat tour on 8 March 1945 (mission 332).
  • S/Sgt Joseph A. Vitiritto (WG/TG) - Missions flown: With 1Lt Rybaltowski (34 missions - All Rybaltowski missions except one (310) - Mission 332 flown as Tail Gunner - others as Waist Gunner; With Another Pilot (One mission - 319). Completed 35 mission combat tour on 8 March 1945 (Mission 332).
  • S/Sgt John R. Reseigh (TG) - Missions flown: With 1Lt Rybaltowski (30 missions - All Rybaltowski missions except five (314, 318, 331, 332, 333); With other Pilots (5 missions - 311, 313, 314, 318, 320). Completed 35 mission combat tour on 4 March 1945 (Mission 330).
  • Special crewmen used on six missions: Spot Jammer (SJ) - 314; Radio Counter Measure Operator (RCM) - 315, 318, 331, 332, 333)

[photo from the 303rdBGA Archives]
[Researched by Harry D. Gobrecht, 303rdBGA Historian Emeritus]