443

27 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.

http://www.492ndbombgroup.com/cgi-bin/pagepilot.cgi?page=showCrewPage&c…

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

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

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

People

Paul Richardson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Bernie Lavoice Scudday

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Carl W Tepe

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Nose Gunner

Anthony J Ventura

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Lester D Warren

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Aircraft

42-50555

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Baby Shoes
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group 856th Bomb Squadron

42-51091

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Bangin' Lulu
  • Unit: 446th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 704th Bomb Squadron 857th Bomb Squadron 858th Bomb Squadron
Two B-24 Liberators, "273" (left) and (serial number 42-51171) (right) of the 467th Bomb Group after a ground collision. Handwritten caption on reverse: '42-51171, Q2-? (ex-492 BG) was being given pre-flight checks by C/C & assistant C/C. All four engines were running at 1500 RPM for generator output when a/c jumped over wheel chocks, crossed runway and crashed into a/c 273. Both a/c loaded with bombs but none exploded.'

42-51171

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Eli Swof, Jr
  • Unit: 467th Bomb Group 790th Bomb Squadron 790th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group 857th Bomb Squadron 859th Bomb Squadron
An Air Raid Patrol Warden surveys the wreckage of a crashed B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95023) of the 392nd Bomb Group near Cheshunt. Image stamped on reverse: 'Evening News.' [stamp], '349114.' [Censor no.] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed. Handwritten caption on reverse: '392 BG B-24 after mid air collision. 12/8/44.'

42-95023

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Lucky Lass II
  • Unit: 392nd Bomb Group 577th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group 857th Bomb Squadron
Passion Pit

42-95150

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Passion Pit
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
Changes
Sources

Information from the 44th Bomb Group Loading Lists at Rootsweb via William Mulholland.

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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