Michael T. Russo World War II Collection

Title

Michael T. Russo World War II Collection

Description

The Michael T. Russo World War II Collection contains photographs, textual materials, and ephemera related to the World War II experience of American fighter ace Captain Michael T. Russo.

The collection contains identification cards, including pilot certifications and a physical record card, as well as eleven (11) photographs. Most of the photographs were taken in the United States in 1943, while Russo was completing his Army Air Forces training. There are several portraits of Russo in uniform, as well as two (2) images of Russo with Charles Dubinski. There is also one (1) panoramic group portrait of Squadron P Flight A in Class 43-B at Randolph Field (Texas), with an inscription "X Russo" on the reverse, likely denoting where Russo is in the portrait (middle row, third from the left).

Additional materials include a graduation announcement for Class 43-B from the Moore Field (Texas) Advanced Flying School, a History of the 27th Bombardment Group in MTO and ETO booklet, and a post-war letter from Mikiel Brower thanking Russo for appearing on his radio program "Jobs for G.I.s." There is also a cartoon drawing of Russo, signed by Sgt. Vincent Costello, that highlights Russo's military experiences.

At the end of the collection is a plaque display mounted on mat board. There are eight (8) small panels providing information, including Russo's name, his squadron, the USAAF wings, and each of his five (5) kills to earn Ace status. Five panels list the type of aircraft and date:

  • FW 190, Sept. 27 1943
  • Fiesler [sic] Storch 157 [sic], Oct. 24 1943
  • Ju 52/3M, Dec. 3 1943
  • BF-109, Dec. 30 1943
  • BF-109, Dec. 30 1943

The aircraft are Focke-Wulf Fw 190, Junkers Ju52/3M (Three Engine), Messerschmitt Bf 109, and Fieseler Fi 156 Storch (Stork). The Fieseler is incorrectly listed as a 157 model, but the 157 was only produced in prototype, which failed. However, Fi 156s were in use during WWII, so it is likely that this is the model shot down by Russo. The last panel reads "1st Mustang Ace, Only A36 Ace."

Digitized Materials: Two oversized items have been not been digitized from this collection: the cartoon drawing by Costello and the panoramic group portrait. All other archival materials have been digitized.

Please note that materials on TMOF: Digital Collections are presented as historical objects and are unaltered and uncensored. See our Disclaimers and Policies page for more information.

Date

1943-1945

Creator

Russo, Michael Thomas, 1920-2006

Language

All materials are in English.

Rights Holder

The Museum of Flight Archives

Rights

Permission to publish material from the Michael T. Russo World War II Collection must be obtained from The Museum of Flight Archives.

Bibliographic Citation

The Michael T. Russo World War II Collection/The Museum of Flight

Identifier

2008-08-25

Collection Organization

Collection Items

History of the 27th Bombardment Group in MTO and ETO [Booklet]
Booklet, "History of the 27th Bombardment Group in MTO and ETO," October 17, 1984. Contains a narrative history of the group prepared by former members. 30 typed pages.

[Letter to Michael T. Russo from Mikiel Brower, Radio Station WJW, July 24, 1945]
Letter to Michael T. Russo from Mikiel Brower, Radio Station WJW (Cleveland, Ohio), July 24, 1945. Thanks Russo for appearing on his radio program "Jobs for G.I.s." One typed page on Radio Station WJW stationery.

[Graduation announcement for Class 43-B, Army Air Forces Advanced Flying School, February 16, 1943]
Graduation announcement for Class 43-B, Army Air Forces Advanced Flying School at Moore Field, Texas, February 16, 1943.

[Instrument pilot certification card issued by U.S. Army Air Forces to Michael T. Russo, December 6, 1945]
Instrument pilot certification card issued by the U.S. Army Air Forces to Michael T. Russo, December 6, 1945. Includes handwritten notes on verso.

[Identification card issued by U.S. Air Corps Reserve to Michael T. Russo, February 16, 1943]
Identification card issued by the U.S. Air Corps Reserve to Michael T. Russo, February 16, 1943.

[Pilot rating certification card issued by U.S. Army Air Forces to Michael T. Russo, February 16, 1943]
Pilot rating certification card issued by the U.S. Army Air Forces to Michael T. Russo, February 16, 1943.

[Instrument flight test certification card issued by U.S. Army Air Forces to Michael T. Russo, May 5, 1943]
Instrument flight test certification card issued by the U.S. Army Air Forces to Michael T. Russo, May 5, 1943. Includes handwritten notes on verso.

[Identification card issued by U.S. War Department to Michael T. Russo, February 27, 1945]
Identification card issued by the U.S. War Department to Michael T. Russo, February 27, 1945. Includes photograph and fingerprints.

[Immunization register issued by U.S. Army to Michael T. Russo, circa 1942-1944]
Immunization register issued by the U.S. Army to Michael T. Russo, circa 1942-1944.

[Pilot and crew member physical record card issued by U.S. Army Air Forces to Michael T. Russo, circa 1943-1944]
Pilot and crew member physical record card issued by the U.S. Army Air Forces to Michael T. Russo, circa 1943-1944. Includes a list of his flying qualifications and vaccinations.
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