443
27 June 1944
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.
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: 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.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 509 T
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32335390
- Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
- Role/Job: Instrument Specialist / Mechanic / Aerial Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 448th Bomb Group 714th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-715412
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 467th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 788th Bomb Squadron 859th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-810948
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Dark Angel
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Lucky Strike
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 856th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Little America II
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 546th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 392nd Bomb Group 579th Bomb Squadron 859th Bomb Squadron 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron 858th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Oonie Doonie *
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 859th Bomb Squadron
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'.