Francis Samuel Beatty

Military

Assigned to 343BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. Crew member of B-24 41-11921 'Northern Star' 'Doc', flew on the 1-Aug-43 Ploesti raid. The aircraft successfully bombed the target and returned safely to Benghazi, Libya despite being intercepted by enemy fighters over Bulgaria.



Awards: DFC, AM, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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Units served with

Three airmen of the 389th Bomb Group stand with a B-24 Liberator used as a Flight Assembly Ship. Image via Tim Bivens. Handwritten caption from Bivens: 'My friend remembers it being named "Bucksheesh Benny" that it was used to fly Jack Benny around USA shows. Says it flew in North Africa with Benny and was eventually assigned to 389th as a hack and later as a form-up ship. He thinks it was originally with another group (possibly 376th or 98th).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '389th BG Form-up ship.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15088126
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Northern Star, Doc
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Soluch Airfield

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Hopwood, PA 29 September 1918

Enlisted

7 October 1939

Died

27 September 1968

Buried

South Park Cemetery Roswell, Chaves County, NM 30 September 1968 South Park Cemetery Roswell, Chaves County, New Mexico

Based

Assigned

Benina Assigned to 343BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added punctuation in the "Summary biography" to aid readability.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes