436

23 June 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

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 5 T

COULOMMIERS (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 61.1 T

JUVENCOURT (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Notes: 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 93rd Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group, 458th Bomb Group, 466th Bomb Group, 467th Bomb Group, 491st Bomb Group 3rd Bomb Division was made up of B-24 is 34th Bomb Group, 487th Bomb Group, 493rd 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.'

2nd Bomb Division

  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation
Three B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 94th Bomb Group are attacked by a Nazi Fighter aircraft during a mission. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'A-62641 USAF: Nazi fighter plane attacking Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" during a bomb run over enemy installations somewhere in Europe, 10 September 1944. 100th[sic] Bomb Group, 3rd Bomb Division. U.S. Air Force Photo.'

3rd Bomb Division

  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 261.2 T

LAON/ATHIES (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 125 T

Description: TRANSPORTATION TARGET

Notes: Most of the bombers are forced to abort due to heavy cloud cover. 3rd Bomb Division was made up of B-17s is 94th Bomb Group, 95th Bomb Group, 385th Bomb Group, 390th Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group, 486th Bomb Group, 487th Bomb Group.

Three B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 94th Bomb Group are attacked by a Nazi Fighter aircraft during a mission. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'A-62641 USAF: Nazi fighter plane attacking Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" during a bomb run over enemy installations somewhere in Europe, 10 September 1944. 100th[sic] Bomb Group, 3rd Bomb Division. U.S. Air Force Photo.'

3rd Bomb Division

  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 25 T

SOISSONS (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 2.6 T

Connections

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People

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

James L Bowman

  • 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

Charles S Gordon

  • 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

William Russell Hedden

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 487th Bomb Group 836th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12093051 / O-696368
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Michael Clarence Hoover

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 0683704, 36153242
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Robert Alban McCauley

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

41-28695

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Ruth-Marie
  • Unit: 467th Bomb Group 790th Bomb Squadron

41-28978

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 446th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 705th Bomb Squadron 857th Bomb Squadron

41-29270

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: My Wild Irish Rose
  • Unit: 467th Bomb Group 790th Bomb Squadron

41-29348

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Screw Ball
  • Unit: 467th Bomb Group 788th Bomb Squadron 789th Bomb Squadron

41-29470

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron 856th Bomb Squadron 857th Bomb Squadron 858th 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'.

436: Gallery (2 items)

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

Object number: UPL 65511 - Beard Crew 603, 856th BS, 492nd BG. Back row, left...

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

Object number: UPL 65551 - Bowman Crew, 859th BS, 492nd BG. Back row, left to...