 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Back row, left to right...
|
| • |
Charles Beard, pilot
|
| • |
Kenneth Sousa, co-pilot
|
| • |
Thomas Woolsey, navigator
|
| • |
James Wolslager, bombardier
|
|
Not in the photo...
|
| • |
Albert McFadden, gunner
|
|
|
Front row, left to right...
|
| • |
Robert Denney, radio operator
|
| • |
Tyler Posner, gunner
|
| • |
Israel Eiferman, gunner
|
| • |
Kenneth Brandt, gunner
|
| • |
Richard Paules, engineer
|
|
|
|
Beard Crew 603 Summary
|
|
The Beard Crew was one of the original crews for the 492nd BG that trained in Alamogordo, New Mexico. They had come up as Crew 1088 from the 32nd CCT at Davis-Monthan Air Field in Tucson, Arizona. There were no personnel changes made to the crew. They were assigned to the 856th BS, designated as Crew 603.
|
|
2nd Lt Charles Beard signed out for B-24J, 44-40067. We don't know the whole story, but their ship was nicknamed, "BIG FAT MAMA." In April 1944, they flew their assigned aircraft 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.
|
|
By our count Lt Beard flew as the aircraft commander for crew 603 for a total of 20 missions plus 3 aborted ones. We don't know if there were any personnel changes on any of their missions. But it is possible that their bombardier might had missed a couple of the pathfinder-led missions.
|
|
The Crew transferred to the 801st/492 BG, 858th BS, when the Group disbanded. They completed their 30 mission tour there.
|
|
|
|
|
More Info |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Original Roster for
Beard Crew 603
|
|
| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Beard, Charles W |
2nd Lt |
O-809909 |
Promoted 1st Lt
Transferred to the 801st/492nd BG |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Sousa, Kenneth J |
2nd Lt |
O-815006 |
Promoted 1st Lt
Transferred to the 801st/492nd BG
Have seen ASN as O-810956 |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Woolsey, Thomas G |
2nd Lt |
O-702518 |
Promoted 1st Lt
Transferred to the 801st/492nd BG
Have seen MI as C |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Wolslager, James W |
2nd Lt |
O-694834 |
Promoted 1st Lt
Transferred to the 801st/492nd BG |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Paules, Richard L |
S/Sgt |
33495228 |
Promoted T/Sgt
Transferred to the 801st/492nd BG |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Denny, Robert E |
S/Sgt |
37502698 |
Promoted T/Sgt
Transferred to the 801st/492nd BG
Have seen MI as L |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Brandt, Kenneth E |
Sgt |
35155970 |
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred to the 801st/492nd BG |
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Posner, Tyler J |
Sgt |
14135544 |
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred to the 801st/492nd BG |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Eiferman, Israel |
Sgt |
12119903 |
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred to the 801st/492nd BG |
Gunner
MOS |
McFadden, Albert L |
Sgt |
34385976 |
Arrived to the UK via the Queen Elizabeth
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred to the 801st/492nd BG |
| |
Others Who Flew with Beard Crew 603
|
Staff Officer
MOS 4822 |
Ferguson, James P |
2nd Lt |
O-860562 |
856th BS Armament and Chemical Officer
Flew to England with the crew |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Miller, Frank J |
S/Sgt |
18098139 |
Orphaned from Bowland R-11
Filled in for day, 7 Jul 44 |
|
Beard Crew 603
492nd BG Mission Record
856th Bomb Squadron
|
|
Crew
Mission
Number |
Group
Mission
Number |
Group
Mission
Date |
Aircraft
Serial
Number |
Primary Target |
Mission Notes |
| 01 |
|
11 May 44 |
44-40067 |
Mulhouse, France |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 02 |
|
12 May 44 |
44-40067 |
Zeitz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 03 |
|
15 May 44 |
44-40067 |
Siracourt, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 04 |
|
24 May 44 |
44-40067 |
Melun, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 05 |
|
25 May 44 |
44-40128 |
Belfort, France |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 06 |
|
27 May 44 |
44-40067 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 07 |
|
28 May 44 |
44-40067 |
Zeitz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
Bombed Saalfeld |
| 08 |
|
10 Jun 44 |
44-40161 |
Orleans/Bricy, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 09 |
|
11 Jun 44 |
44-40067 |
Possonniere, France |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 10 |
|
14 Jun 44 |
44-40067 |
Chateaudun, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 11 |
|
17 Jun 44 |
44-40132 |
Tours, France |
Target: Airfield
A/C borrowed from 859th BS |
| 12 |
|
23 Jun 44 |
44-40067 |
Juvincourt, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 13 |
|
25 Jun 44 |
44-40067 |
Roye, France |
Target: Peronne Airfield |
| Abort |
|
27 Jun 44 |
44-40067 |
Creil, France |
Target: Marshalling yard
Aborted, uncredited |
| 14 |
|
28 Jun 44 |
44-40067 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| Abort |
|
07 Jul 44 |
|
Bernburg, Germany |
Target: Aircraft manufacturing
Aborted, uncredited |
| 15 |
|
08 Jul 44 |
44-40119 |
Alost, Belgium |
Target: Railroad bridge
Bombed w/392nd BG |
| 16 |
|
13 Jul 44 |
44-40157 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
A/C borrowed from 857th BS
Bombed w/44th BG |
| Abort |
|
16 Jul 44 |
42-51198 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
Aborted, uncredited |
| 17 |
|
25 Jul 44 |
44-40067 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 18 |
|
01 Aug 44 |
42-51234 |
Anizy, France |
Target: Railroad bridge
Lead B Section over target |
| 19 |
|
04 Aug 44 |
42-51234 |
Kiel, Germany |
Target: Submarine base |
| 20 |
|
06 Aug 44 |
44-40113 |
Hamburg, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
A/C borrowed from 857th BS
Led C Section |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
