443
27 June 1944The Beard Crew was one of the original crews for the 492nd BG that trained in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Their ship was nicknamed, "BIG FAT MAMA." In April 1944, they flew their assigned aircraft, 44-40067, to North Pickenham, England, via the southern route. 2nd Lt James Ferguson, the squadron's Armament and Chemical Officier accompanied them, thus bumping Sgt. McFadden onto the Queen Elizabeth. The Crew transferred to the 801st/492 BG, 858th BS, when the Group disbanded. They completed their 30 mission tour there.
Mission Details
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 27 T
CRIEL (Opportunistic)
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 29 T
PAS-DE-CALAIS (Primary)
Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES
Notes: 251 bombers were despatched, but available data does not indicate the split between B-17s and B-24s. The 5 B-24s lost were shot down by AA fire. After completing the escort the fighters strafe targets of opportunity including, marshalling yards, bridges, railroads, transportation and airfield installations, and troop dispersal areas. 34th B, 93rd Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Group, 384th Bomb Group, 398th Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Group, 486th Bomb Group, 492nd Bomb Group.
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 509 T
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-900076
- Highest Rank: General
- Role/Job: Observer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 34th Bomb Group 18th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17160682
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 490th Bomb Group 851st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-704578
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Navigator / Statistics
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Aries, Ram it Damnit
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Niagara Special
- Unit: 392nd Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 578th Bomb Squadron 857th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Spam-O-Liner
- Unit: 545th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Swiss Miss
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hale's Angels
- Unit: 547th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group
Revisions
Information from the 44th Bomb Group Loading Lists at Rootsweb via William Mulholland.
Lee Cunningham, 8th Air Force missions research database / Stan Bishop's 'Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces', the Combat Chronology of the US Army Air Forces and the work of Roger Freeman including the 'Mighty Eighth War Diary'.