356

15 May 1944
Nine men in Air Force uniform posed in front of a Air Force bomber plane.  Four men standing in rear and five men kneeling in front UPL 65511 UPL 65511 Beard Crew 603, 856th BS, 492nd BG. Back row, left to right: Charles Beard, pilot; Kenneth Sousa, co-pilot; Thomas Woolsey, navigator; James Wolslager, bombardier; Front row, left to right: Robert Denney, radio operator; Tyler Posner, gunner; Israel Eiferman, gunner; Kenneth Brandt, gunner; Richard Paules, engineer. Not Pictured: Albert McFadden, gunner.
The 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.
On

Object Number - UPL 65511 - Beard Crew 603, 856th BS, 492nd BG. Back row, left to right: Charles Beard, pilot; Kenneth Sousa, co-pilot; Thomas Woolsey, navigator; James...

Mission Details

MARQUISE/MIMOYECQUES (Primary)

Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES

Notes: 1st Bomb Division was made up of 303rd Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Group, 384th Bomb Group.

Brigadier-General Frank Alton Armstrong Jr. during a visit to the 305th Bomb Group Official caption on image: "(GPR-83-9305) (18-6-43) (Brig. Gen. Armstrong..."
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 133 T HE

SIRACOURT (Primary)

Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES

Notes: 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 44 Bomb Group, 93rd Bomb Group, 389th Bomb Group, 392nd Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Group, 492nd Bomb Group

A formation of B-24 Liberators of the 446th Bomb Group enroute to Europe. Printed caption on reverse: '71049 AC- A formation of Consolidated B-24 "Liberators" of the 2nd Bomb Division, roars over Europe en route to the target area. 24 November 1944. US Air Force photo.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 352 T HE

Connections

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People

1 LT Franklin D Abbott, Jr
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 856th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-663450
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Nine men in Air Force uniform posed in front of a Air Force bomber plane.  Four men standing in rear and five men kneeling in front
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 859th Bomb Squadron 788th Bomb Squadron 467th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-659448
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 856th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-807820
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11062335 on enlisting
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier / Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: general maintenance, spare bomber gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Spam-O-Liner
  • Unit: 545th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group
Ten men in Air Force uniform posed in front of a military airplane.  Five men standing to the rear, five men kneeling in front.  The men are wearing combat flying gear.  Large canvas bags are laying in front of kneeling men
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hale's Angels
  • Unit: 547th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Little Kenny
  • Unit: 544th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Damn Yankee
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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'.

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