44-40468 Mean Kid

B-24J-165-CO

A 493BG Original, squadron and letter unknown

No combat missions with the 493BG.

Transferred to the 34BG between May 29th and June 6th 1944, assigned to the 18th Squadron as B/H.

MISSION LIST

Mission #11 June 6, 1944 44-40468 B/H 18BS Kiley Mean Kid

Mission #12 June 6, 1944 44-40468 B/H 18BS Dees Mean Kid

Mission #14 June 11, 1944 44-40468 B/H 4BS Dees Mean Kid (spare)

Mission #15 June 12, 1944 44-40468 B/H 18BS Dees Mean Kid

Mission #16 June 14, 1944 44-40468 B/H 18BS Laskin Mean Kid (deputy lead)

June 16, 1944 44-40468 Mean Kid salvaged with battle damage.

MISSION DETAILS

May 31, 1944 44-40468 Mackey (was soon to become B/H if not already)

Took off at 1138 hours on a "Bomb." flight.

Landed 1456 hours.

May 31, 1944 44-40468 Halbert (was soon to be B/H if not already)

Took off at 1707 hours.

No landing time given. (To the Left on the chart is the name Honington for this and three other similar aircraft.)

Mission #11 June 6, 1944 44-40468 B/H 18BS Kiley Mean Kid

Took off at 0613 hours from Hardstand #15.

Flew position 3-2 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Due to 10/10 clouds, brought all bombs back to base.

No damage reported.

Landed 1214 hours.

Kiley (P)

Bailey (CP)

Alder (N)

Frick (E)

Curtin (R)

Stanton (BG)

Mongeon (TG)

Barry (NG)

Dyer (G)

Mission #12 June 6, 1944 44-40468 B/H 18BS Dees Mean Kid

Took off at 1656 hours.

Flew position 1-3 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Dropped 8 bombs on the Primary and jettisoned 4 bombs.

No damage reported..

Landed 2356 hours.

Dees (P)

Dozier (CP)

Berns (B) (from crew #70)

Aldrich (E)

Lattin (R)

Hosack (G)

Walch (G)

Werner (G)

Fondren (G)

Mission #14 June 11, 1944 44-40468 B/H 4BS Dees Mean Kid (spare)

Took off 0451 hours

Flew as Airborne Spare.

Flew the mission.

Carried 12 500 lb GP bombs. Brought back all bombs to base due to 10/10 cloud coverage of target.

No battle damage reported.

Landed 1033 hours

Dees (P)

Dozier (CP)

McBee (B)

Lattin (R)

Aldrich (E)

Fondren (NG)

Hosack (TG)

Walch (BG)

Werner (G)

Mission #15 June 12, 1944 44-40468 B/H 18BS Dees Mean Kid

Took off at 0528 hours

Flew position 4-2 in Low Squadron.

Carried 52 100 lb bombs. Dropped 31 bombs on the Primary at 0920 hours from 22,000 feet.

The record does not indicate whether they jettisoned or brought back the remaining bombs.

No damage reported.

Landed 1122 hours.

Dees (P)

Dozier (CP)

McBee (B)

Lattin (R)

Aldrich (E)

Walch (BG)

Hosack (TG)

Fondren (NG)

Werner (G)

Mission #16 June 14, 1944 44-40468 B/H 18BS Laskin Mean Kid (deputy lead)

Took off at 0338 hours.

Flew as Deputy Lead, position 1-2 of Low Squadron.

Carried 52 100 lb bombs. Jettisoned all bombs.

Major battle damage reported from flak over Antwerp.

One crewman wounded.

Crash-landed at RAF Manston, UK at 0955 hours.

Laskin, Sam L. (P) 1 Lt O-440829 SWA and at Manston British Hospital.

Lian (CP)

Orr (N)

Mollenberg (N2)

Pearce (B)

Oyster (R)

Huebler (E)

Puska (BG)

Snyder (TG)

Denter (NG)

Wolf (G)

B-24H 44-40468 B/H Mean Kid crash-landed  at RAF Manston. With 18BS. Pilot: Laskin. Picture in Roger Freeman,  The Mighty Eighth, p.156. Story of this mission told by Sam Laskin in 34^th Bombardment Group (H) 1941-1945, p.41 and by John Wolf on pp.41-42. Lt. Laskin received the Silver Star for this mission.

WIA LASKIN SAM L (P)                                   1 Lt               O-440829 serious wounds (Awarded Silver Star)

RTD LIAN (CP)                                                                       

RTD ORR CURTIS (N)                                        Lt

RTD MOLLENBERG (N2)

RTD PEARCE ROBERT (B)                                Lt

RTD OYSTER JACK (R)                                     Sgt

RTD HUEBLER ROBERT (E)                             Sgt

RTD PUSKA (BT)

RTD SNYDER (TG)

RTD DENTER (NG)

RTD WOLF JOHN (WG)                                    Sgt

June 16, 1944 44-40468 Mean Kid salvaged with battle damage.