Elliott Bondurant Beard
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Units served with
![Lieutenant Colonel Louis Houck of the 365th Fighter Group wearing a flying helmet with devil horns in the cockpit of his P-47 Thunderbolt nicknamed "Screamin' Weemie". Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp]. Printed caption on reverse: 'AMERICAN FLYER WEARS "DEVIL'S HELMET" Lieutenant Colonel Louis Houck, 27, commander of a Ninth US Air Force fighter group, waves for contact after donning his "devil's helmet" for a mission against the Nazis. The flyer calls his plane "Screaming' Weemie". Keys](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-456675.jpg.webp?itok=5tRnsRWh)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Chièvres Air Base
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Florennes / Juxaine
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Shelbyville, KY | 21 August 1917 | |
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Died |
Charlottesville, VA | 7 January 2013 | Elliott Bondurant Beard, 95, died on Monday, January 7, 2013 at home in Charlottesville, Va. Elliott was born on August 21, 1917 in Shelbyville, Kentucky, a son of Adela Weakley Beard and Frank M. Beard. Elliott is survived by his devoted wife of 57 years, Corinne Anderson Beard. He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Robert Elliott Beard and Ellen F. Beard of Ivy, Virginia, and Thomas Anderson Beard and Laurie L. Beard of Palmdale, California, and his beloved grandchildren, Dustin Beard and Dylan Beard of Santa Barbara, Calif. and Ryan Beard and Wesley Beard of Ivy, Va. Elliott is also survived by his sister-in-law, Mary Virginia Beard of Louisville, Kentucky. Elliott graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1940 and then joined IBM in marketing. He was with IBM for a short time when he joined the war effort, spending two years in Antigua as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Elliott then joined the Army Air Corps and became a P-47 pilot with the 356th Fighter Group, the Hell Hawks. Elliott successfully completed 65 missions against Hitler's forces in Europe, winning the Distinguished Flying Cross and two Air Medals. After six years, he left the Army with the rank of Major and returned to IBM in Washington, D.C. Elliott worked and lived in many cities along the east coast and Puerto Rico. He was sent to Paris, France for two years with IBM World Trade. He returned with IBM to Atlanta, Ga., where he met and married the love of his life, Corinne. Their two sons were born in Atlanta. In 1960, Elliott was transferred to Jackson, Miss., where he helped computerize the Miss. state government, universities and colleges and various businesses. In Jackson, Elliott threw himself into civic affairs. He became a very active Rotarian for many years and served as District Governor. Elliott donated his time and talents to the Doctor's Hospital, YMCA, St. James Episcopal Church and River Hills Tennis Club, where he played a mean game of tennis into his late eighties. Elliott took up golf again late in life and played into his nineties. Elliott and Corinne were also enthusiastic travelers, enjoying experiences all over the world, including many trips to visit their family in California. They left Jackson to live in Charlottesville in 2010 to enjoy their twin grandsons, Ryan and Wes. Elliott always cheered the boys on during baseball and soccer. Elliott enjoyed his Virginia and California families celebrating Christmas just before his death. Elliott will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery this spring. |
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Buried |
22 April 2013 | Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA Add to Map Plot Columbarium 7 K-6-3 |