Thanks gents...
Lyric,
I did find this on the AAF site
http://forum.armyairforces.com/406BS-Night-Leaflet-Squadron-8th-USAAF-OSSPWDSHAEF-m151293.aspxEnd of June 1944, HQ designated the need for a sole dedicated unit, which initially was known as the 858th Bomb Squadron, A central core of experienced seasoned 422nd men, plus B-17's already aequipped for such missions, transferred to Cheddington. It remained the 858th during this transitional move from Chelveston. The new outfit was led by the former 422nd Sqn Commander, a very young 27 year old Major Earl J. Aber Jr. Later promoted to Lt. Colonel, Aber remained Commander of this new propaganda out till his untimely death just weeks before the end of WW2. He was tragically killed by friendly fire over British coast, when his B-17 crossed paths with a rogue German raider. Flak hit Aber's plane, bring it down on the coast, crashing into the River Stour, Essex.
The designation of 406th did not come into being until the second half of 1944.
Many aircraft which had seen service prior in the 422nd, flying such night missions, transferred over to Cheddington and continued to fly right till war's end. One of many was MISS MICKEY FINN, an elderly B-17F model, whose mission tally certainly reached 148 missions 'officially' flown since entering the ETO, and may in fact have exceeded that by several more.
