Don Merrill Beerbower

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-23007.jpeg UPL 23007 Major Don "Buzz" Beerbower CO 353rd FS Aug. 1944

Jack Cook

Object Number - UPL 23007 - Major Don "Buzz" Beerbower CO 353rd FS Aug. 1944

CO 353rd FS 354th FG 9th AF

KIA Aug. 9, 1944 Reims, France while straffing MACR #8150.

15.5 air kills/5 probable kills/14-33 damaged + 3 destroyed on the ground

P-51B s/n 43-12375 "Bonnie B II"

SSgt Leon Panter-crew chief, Sgt Jerry Downes-ass't crew chief, Cpl Don Langram-armorer



The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Major (Air Corps) Don Merril Beerbower (ASN: 0-730341), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter Airplane in the 353d Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, NINTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 9 August 1944, while leading his squadron on an armed reconnaissance mission in the European Theater of Operations. On that date, Major Beerbower located an enemy airfield on which many aircraft were parked. In order to test the ground defenses, Major Beerbower made an experimental pass at the field destroying an enemy plane and a gun emplacement. Then, while his squadron swept over the field from one direction, he fearlessly attacked from another quarter, boldly exposing himself to concentrated fire from all sides of the field and effectively screening his comrades from the intense ground fire. Major Beerbower's airplane was struck repeatedly and crashed into the ground. The outstanding heroism and devotion to duty displayed by Major Beerbower on this occasion reflect highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 97 (December 11, 1944)

Action Date: 9-Aug-44

Service: Army Air Forces

Rank: Major

Company: 353d Fighter Squadron

Regiment: 354th Fighter Group

Division: 9th Air Force

Connections

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Units served with

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Bonnie B
  • Unit: 354th Fighter Group 353rd Fighter Squadron
A P-51 Mustang (FT-E, serial number 43-12457) of the 354th Fighter Group. Written on slide casing: '312457, Podington.'
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 354th Fighter Group 353rd Fighter Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Davidson, Saskatchewan, Canada 26 August 1921 the son of Clarence W. and Josie F. Beerbower

Enlisted

Ft Des Moines, Iowa, United States 24 January 1942 as a Private in the Air Corps

Died

Saint-Thierry, France 9 August 1944 While on a fighter sweep in the Reims, France area he took the squadron down to strafe a German airfield. On their second pass his plane took hits in the wing and fuselage, then went into a straight vertical climb, stalled and dove straight down into the ground. Beerbower jettisoned the canopy during these maneuvers and managed to get out of the aircraft, only to hit the tail. He never opened his chute. The plane crashed 500 meters south of St. Thierry, France. 9th Aug 44. KIA. MACR 8150. He was promoted to Major before his death.

Buried

Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial Initially buried on 20 August 1944 in the Western Cemetery in Reims, he was re-interred after the war at the Epinal American Cemetery, Epinal, France. Plot A, Row 30, Grave 42

Other

Promoted

Major.
Hill City, Aitkin County, Minnesota, United States

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
Contributorfugari
Changes
Sources

JCook Photo Collection & Archives

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
ABMC website

Don Merrill Beerbower: Gallery (3 items)