Harold H Beasley

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
First Lieutenant Harold Beasley,of the 91st Bomb Group with his B-17 Flying Fortress. Press caption for image series: ‘EXCLUSIVE PICTURES AS CREWS RETURN FROM RAID. Night and Day air blitz of enemy continues. “Forts” smash Axis factories at Antwerp. Raid carried out by crews who took part in Paris raid previous day. The greatest air offensive in history is being carried out by the Anglo-American air forces. For 72 hours bombs have been crashing down on Hitler’s Europe in the West almost nonstop. A media-408164.jpg FRE 3581 First Lieutenant Harold Beasley,of the 91st Bomb Group with his B-17 Flying Fortress. Press caption for image series: ‘EXCLUSIVE PICTURES AS CREWS RETURN FROM RAID. Night and Day air blitz of enemy continues. “Forts” smash Axis factories at Antwerp. Raid carried out by crews who took part in Paris raid previous day. The greatest air offensive in history is being carried out by the Anglo-American air forces. For 72 hours bombs have been crashing down on Hitler’s Europe in the West almost nonstop. Axis Factories, ports and shipping have felt the weight of allied bombs. On Sunday American Fortresses raided the Renault works at Billancourt, near Paris with telling effect. . On Monday the same crews took part in a smashing attacked on the Erla plane engine works at Antwerp, where Minerva car engines used to be made. In addition to the great damage inflicted by the heavy weight of the bombs a number of German Fighters were shot down by the bombers. One of the American Fortresses piloted by 1st Lieut Harold H Beasley of Andalusia, Alabama shot down four German fighters in the Paris raid and another one during the Antwerp Raid. NOTE TO CENSOR: This is the general story for the series of pictures herewith. Each of which bears its individual descriptive caption. Planet News. USAF Facility Visit. 6 Apr 1943.’ Print No: 256839. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 3581 - First Lieutenant Harold Beasley,of the 91st Bomb Group with his B-17 Flying Fortress. Press caption for image series: ‘EXCLUSIVE PICTURES AS CREWS...

Beasley's crew claimed to shoot down 4 German fighters on a mission over Paris on 4 April 1943, they then claimed a further fighter on a mission over Antwerp the following day.



Beasley was shot down on 17 April 1943 in B-17 42-5172 'Thunderbird' and killed in Action (KIA). His Plane was attacked by fighters and caught on fire. All other crew except pilots were able to bail out of the back of the plane and became Prisoner of War (POW)s.



Earlier Beasley flew as an observer on B-17F 41-24431 'The Saint'. Accident while taxiing on the runway on 12 February 1943 due to strong winds. All 7 crew members were safe.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Saint
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
First Lieutenant Harold Beasley and his crew from the 91st Bomb Group, return to Bassingbourn after flying a raid on Antwerp in a B-17 Flying Fortress (LG-T, serial number 42-5724) nicknamed "Thunderbird". Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright by Planet News Ltd 3 Johnson's Court London E.C.4.’[stamp], 'Passed for Publication 6 Apr 1943' [stamp].'256837' [Censor no]. Printed caption on reverse: 'Photo shows:- 1st Lieut Harold Beasley (centre) with members of his crew on their return from the Antwerp raid
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Thunderbird, Marnita
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Andalusia, USA

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

Germany 17 April 1943

Revisions

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Sources

Caption for FRE 686 confirms Beasley participated in missions on 4 & 5 April 1943, and that his aircraft claimed German fighters

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ContributorAAM
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Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 15521 / MACR 15521, Losses of the 8th and 9th Air Forces Vol. 1 pp 75 and 105 by Bishop and Hey, The Ragged Irregulars of Bassingborn p. 38 by Havelaar, WWII National Memorial / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Harold H Beasley: Gallery (6 items)