44-40053 Sweater Gal

media-49761.jpeg UPL 49761 ID's of the six Liberators in the photo on the Belfort Mission

Object Number - UPL 49761 - ID's of the six Liberators in the photo on the Belfort Mission

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

A Swedish Soldier guards a B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40159) nicknamed "Boulder Buff" of the 492nd Bomb Group that has landed in Sweden.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • 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
Black and white posed headshot of man wearing a uniform of a jacket, shirt, tie and cap.  Silver wings and medal ribbons are pinned above left-side jacket lapel.  There are sergeant stripes on the jacket sleeves.  Subject is looking right in lens and is not smiling
  • 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

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

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Sources

http://492ndbombgroup.com/cgi-bin/pagepilot.cgi?page=showAircraft&aircr…
492ndBombGroup.com — an Arnett Institute project

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 8235 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

44-40053: Gallery (2 items)