Harold F Beck
MilitaryHarold Beck served as a pilot with the 78th Fighter Group at Duxford, flying 76 missions.
In Harold's words:
"Fighter pilots of the 78th Fighter Group never got out of our planes on D-Day, even though we landed back at our field twice to refuel and off again. As soon as we got to our outdoor home or hanger to be refuelled and guns reloaded, a Red Cross worker gave us a doughnut and a cup of coffee. Then we were off again. We ran from 5:00 am (briefing time) to landing at dusk, just barely able to see our landing mat."
Awards: DFC (OLC), AM (7OLC), GC, WWII Victory, EAME (5 x Battle Stars).
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Nicknames: Hun Buster
- Unit: 78th Fighter Group 82nd Fighter Squadron
Missions
- Date: 6 June 1944
- Date: 6 June 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: "Duckpond"
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Berwick, Pennsylvania | 10 September 1917 | Son of Raymond and Edna [Hutton] Beck. |
Enlisted |
Philadelphia, PA, USA | 28 May 1941 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Based |
Duxford | 12 April 1944 - 14 July 1944 | Assigned to 82FS, 78FG, 8AF USAAF. |
Other Promoted |
Duxford, Cambridge CB22, UK | 4 July 1944 | Promoted to 1st Lieutenant. |
Other Transferred |
Duxford | 14 July 1944 - 19 September 1944 | Transferred to 84FS, 78FG, 8AF USAAF. |
Died |
Orangeville, PA 17859, USA | 29 May 2011 | |
Buried |
Elan Memorial Cemetery Lime Ridge Columbia County PA | Elan Memorial Cemetery Lime Ridge Columbia County Pennsylvania, USA |
Revisions
Combined two entries for Harold Beck. This entry now includes information from the following sources:
Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self/brother