Roy D Beukelman

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-16466.jpeg UPL 16466 2LT Roy D. Beukelman
Navigator
Crew #515 - Robert L. Garrett Crew
KIA - 23 March 1944

466th BG Historian
findagrave.com

Object Number - UPL 16466 - 2LT Roy D. Beukelman Navigator Crew #515 - Robert L. Garrett Crew KIA - 23 March 1944

B-24H #42-52587 'Shoo Shoo Baby' crashed near Lake Belterwijde, Holland after colliding with another aircraft on a mission to Achmer airfield, GR on 23 Mar 1944. Killed in Action (KIA).

Connections

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Units served with

Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day- 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th- wouldn't it be something if we could identify these girls? How could I do it?'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-803596
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Shoo Shoo Baby
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron

Places

Aerial photograph of Attlebridge airfield, looking north, the fuel store and a T2 hangar are in the upper centre, 31 January 1946. Photograph taken by No. 90 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/51. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Harrison, South Dakota, USA 20 March 1919

Died

23 March 1944 Roy D. Beukleman was born March 20, 1919 on a farm southwest of Harrison, South Dakota as the youngest of James and Anna Beukelman's six sons. He graduated from Corsica High School in 1936 and attended college two years at Southern State Normal School in Springfield, South Dakota. He was engaged in teaching school until drafted into the army on August 6, 1941. In January 1942 he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps and graduated as navigator on November 13, 1943. In February he left for overseas duty in England. His title enabled him to be on planes that made surveillance trips from England into Germany. On March 13, 1944, the plane Roy was working in collided with another American plane over the sea of Beullakkerwijde, near the city of Volenhoven in the Netherlands. Here is where Roy D. Beukleman was pronounced "missing in action." Roy was officially reported dead by the War Department on September 2, 1945. After the war was over, two divers received permission from the militaries of the Netherlands and the United States to retrieve as much as possible of the American planes that had gone down on that day. That lake was fifteen feet deep with four feet of mud under the water. Despite the conditions they were able to bring up the planes' numbers and pieces that are now preserved in a museum. One of the most interesting things retrieved from the wreckage was a long rod. The men were required to hang their rings on this rod before a strike. Roy's ring was discovered and sent home to his mother. Now the ring is in the hands of Roy A. Beukelman, Roy's nephew who lives in Storm Lake, Iowa. Roy will always be remembered for dedicating his life to his country. This entry was respectfully submitted by Eliot Lucas and Jessie Meyerink, seniors at Platte High School, Platte South Dakota, on May 15, 2002. Mrs. Cora Beukelman, Corsica, South Dakota, sister-in-law of Second Lieutenant Roy D. Beukelman provided information.

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

Beulakerwijde, Netherlands 23 March 1944 KIA when his aircraft collided with another aircraft over Holland

Buried

Harrison, SD 57344, USA Harrison Cemetery Douglas County South Dakota, USA

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3455 / MACR 3455, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Roy D Beukelman: Gallery (2 items)