Harold F Beck

Military

Harold 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

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Units served with

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Hun Buster
  • Unit: 78th Fighter Group 82nd Fighter Squadron

Missions

Places

Line up of P-47 Thunderbolts of the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, at Duxford air base. September 1944. Printed caption on reverse of print: '55432 AC - War Birds Home To Rest - Republic P-47 Thunderbolts lined up on an 8th Air Force field in England after a daylight sweep over Germany. Crews have finished inspections and refueling.'
  • 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

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
Changes
Sources
Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Combined two entries for Harold Beck. This entry now includes information from the following sources:
Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self/brother