UPL 65511
IMAGEBeard 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.
Connections
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Units
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 801st Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: 3349528
- Role/Job: Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: 14135544
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 801st Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: O-815006
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 801st Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: O-694834
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 801st Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: O-702518
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: I'll Be Around
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 859th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Lucky Lass
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron 856th Bomb Squadron 857th Bomb Squadron 329th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Trouble Hunter
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 856th Bomb Squadron
Locations
Mission
- Date: 8 July 1944
- Date: 7 July 1944
- Date: 28 June 1944
- Date: 27 June 1944
- Date: 25 June 1944
- Official Description:
Revisions
Photo courtesy of David Denney, son of Sgt Robert Denney, Debbie Dozier, niece of Charles Beard. http://www.492ndbombgroup.com/photos/crew-photos/603-Beard-01.html