Jack M Beckman
Military ROLL OF HONOURHandwritten caption on reverse: 'Aircraft Serial No: 43-6945, Wilkinson in C/P in Beckman's A/C.' Roger Freeman Collection
Served Dec-41 to Jan-44 with RCAF. Transferred as a Flying Officer to USAAF. Assigned to 358FS, 355FG, 8AF USAAF. Completed Tour Duty (ETD). 99 x missions, credited multiple kills. Crashed near Neuberg in P-51D 44-14230 Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 12835.
'His parents believed that he was shot down and baled out over Bavaria, only to be killed by German civilians.'
Named as victim of an unlawful killing of a prisoner of war in US War Crimes Trial no. 12-2404. 3 perpetrators sentenced to death and hanged.
Awards: DFC (OLC), AM (2 OLC), PH.
DFC Citation: "The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Flight Officer Jack M. Beckman (ASN: T-223078), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Fighter Pilot of the EIGHTH Air Force, in accomplishing fifty fighter combat mission, or the equivalent thereof, over enemy occupied Continental Europe during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which this officer has sought out the enemy and engaged him in aerial combat, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States."
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Wizard Kite, Judy
- Unit: 355th Fighter Group 358th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Hot Shot
- Unit: 355th Fighter Group 358th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 355th Fighter Group 358th Fighter Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Des Moines County, IA, USA | 13 September 1922 | Son of David Lee and Eunice [Walker] Beckman . |
Enlisted |
Camp Bowie Park, Brownwood, TX 76801, USA | 7 July 1941 | Camp Bowie Brownwood Texas USA |
Other Promotion |
Steeple Morden, Royston SG8, UK | 5 January 1944 | Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. |
Based |
Steeple Morden | 5 January 1944 - 1 March 1945 | Assigned to 358FS, 355FG, 8AF USAAF. |
Other Promotion |
Steeple Morden, Royston SG8, UK | 25 May 1944 | Promoted to 1st Lieutenant. |
Other Promotion |
Steeple Morden, Royston SG8, UK | 10 December 1944 | Promoted to Captain. |
Died Killed in Action (KIA) |
Neuberg, Germany | 1 March 1945 | Crashed near Neuberg in P-51 44-14230 Killed in Action (KIA). 1-Mar-45. |
Buried |
Aspen Ln, Burlington, IA 52601, USA | 29 May 1949 | Aspen Grove Cemetery Burlington Iowa USA |
Born |
Burlington, Iowa | ||
Other Transferred |
Transferred from RAF. | ||
Other End Tour Duty (ETD) |
England, UK | Completed Tour Duty (ETD). |
Revisions
US Review and Recommendations paper 12-2402. Yavnai, Military Justice (PhDiss)
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 12835 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list