44-40053 Sweater Gal
It was the last day (18/06/1944) for the 858th Bomb Squadron to fly combat. The staff received their official transfer orders the next day to become the 8th Air Force Composite Command at Cheddington, England. Their new assignment had them working with propaganda leaflet dropping. As for the squadron's flyboys, ground crews and planes, they were reassigned to the other three squadrons. 8 Jun 44: Lost, with Roads Crew 915 Shot down over the North Sea. The crew bailed out, but only two gunners were found. 8 KIA, 2 POW, MACR 8235 Aircraft was replaced with 42-50279 ENVY OF 'EM ALL obtained from the 858th when it was cut from the Group.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 859th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12190316
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 859th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14054449
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 467th Bomb Group 788th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32453640
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 859th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15391989
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 859th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32752185
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: North Pick
Missions
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Final Mission |
Lüneburg, Germany | 18 June 1944 | Mission: Lüneberg, Germany. Target: Oil refinery. Of the 33 planes dispatched by the 492nd only one had to abort due to an oil leak. The Group flew under the command of Captain Orthman, the pilot of Crew 806. |
Other Failed to Return (over water) |
North Sea | 18 June 1944 | The Roads Crew were flying "SWEAT'ER GAL" number 44-40053, formerly flown by the Earleywine Crew before they were transferred out. Roads' aircraft had already been hit by Me-109s and was limping home when his plane was hit again by flak. Still he pressed on to England. His crew was forced to do a sea ditch just 12 miles short of land, but only 2 men were rescued. |
Manufactured |
San Diego, California | Consolidated AC, San Diego, California | |
Delivered |
North Pickenham, England | Original aircraft for the 492nd. BG, 858th. BS. Total missions for the 492nd BG: 13 |
Revisions
http://492ndbombgroup.com/cgi-bin/pagepilot.cgi?page=showAircraft&aircr…
492ndBombGroup.com — an Arnett Institute project
MACR 8235 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database