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.

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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.

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

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 352 T HE

Connections

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People

Aircraft

42-97271

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Boss Lady
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron

42-97449

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Sweetheart
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
A B-24 Liberators including, (serial number 44-40066) nicknamed "S.O.L", of the 458th Bomb Group fly in formation with a flight assembly ship. Written on slide casing: 'SOL, Azon a/c.'

44-40066

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: S.O.L.
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 753rd Bomb Squadron 858th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group

44-40067

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Big Fat Mama
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron 856th Bomb Squadron 93rd Bomb Group 579th Bomb Squadron 328th Bomb Squadron

44-40071

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Sweat Box
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group 857th 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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