Group Captain Francis Victor Beamish, D.S.O. and Bar, D.F.C., A.F.C. 485 (RNZAF) Sqdn., R.A.F.

[dbf]

Acting Group Captain Francis Victor Beamish was awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Service Order in August, 1941.

From October, 1940, to March, 1941, he carried out 71 operational sorties, destroyed three enemy aircraft for certain, probably destroyed three more, and damaged others. He was later killed in action.

Group Captain Beamish was born in 1903 at Dunmanway, Co. Cork, and educated at Coleraine Academical Institute. He was commissioned from Cranwell in 1923. He retired in 1933, but returned to the Service when expansion began. He was awarded the A.F.C. in 1936, the D.S.O. in July, 1940, and the D.F.C. in November, 1940.

Listed:
The Times, Wednesday, Feb 21, 1940

R.A.F. AWARDS
GALLANTRY IN AIR OPERATIONS
MENTIONS IN DESPATCHES
Sqdn. Ldr. F.V. Beamish

The Times, Wednesday, Mar 13, 1940

ROYAL AIR FORCE PROMOTIONS
SQUADRON LEADER TO BE WING COMMANDER
Beamish, F.V., A.F.C.

The Times, Saturday, Jul 20, 1940

R.A.F. AWARDS
INSPIRING LEADERSHIP AND COURAGE
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER
BEAMISH, Wing Commander Francis Victor, A.F.C.
Wing Commander Beamish took over command of a Royal Air Force station after two squadrons there had been intensively engaged in successful fighting operations over France for 13 days, and personally led them on many patrols against the enemy. In June, during an offensive mission over France, six Messerschmitt 109s were destroyed, two of them by Wing Commander Beamish himself, and 12 driven off. One day recently he assisted in the destruction of a Messerschmitt 110, while leading the escort to a convoy, and three days later shot down a Dornier 17. This officer's outstanding leadership and high courage have inspired all those under his command with great energy and dash.

The Times, Thursday, Aug 28, 1941

R.A.F. AWARDS
DEVOTED LEADERSHIP RECOGNIZED
BAR TO THE D.S.O.
AIR GP/CAPT. F.V. BEAMISH, D.S.O., D.F.C., A.F.C.
Gp/Capt. Beamish commanded an R.A.F. station from October, 1940, to March, 1941, and carried out 71 operational sorties in which he destroyed an enemy fighter, probably destroyed three other hostile aircraft, and damaged others. Since his appointment to group headquarters he has probably destroyed two more enemy aircraft. The courage and devotion to duty displayed by Gr/Capt. Beamish are of the highest order, and he has set a magnificent example.

London Gazette:
20 February 1940
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34795/supplements/1056
12 March 1940
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34810/pages/1473
23 July 1940
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34903/pages/4529
8 November 1940
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34987/pages/6440


http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1083616
Group Captain FRANCIS VICTOR BEAMISH, D S O and Bar, D F C, A F C, 16089, 485 (R.N.Z.A.F.) Sqdn., Royal Air Force who died age 39 on 28 March 1942
Son of Francis George Beamish, and of Mary Elizabeth Beamish, of Castlerock, Co. Derry.
Remembered with honour RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 64.


See this thread for ref:
www.ww2talk.com/forum/research-material/19413-volunteers-eire-who-have-won-distinctions.html#post195852

[Peter Clare]

28 march 1942

No.485 (RNZAF) Squadron

G/C. F V. Beamish DSO* DFC AFC.

Spitfire Vb W3649 FV-B

Rodeo (Fighter sweep over enemy territory) sortie pm. Missing over the Channel (JG26 claim)

[Drew5233]

Luftwaffe

5./KG1 Heinkel He111H-2 shot down by Wing Commander Beamish of No. 151 Squadron and crashed in the Channel off Cherbourg 4.10pm. Fw H. Strahl and Uffz S. Auerswald killed. Fw A. Dernnerl, Uffz H. Kling and Uffz W. Zeyer captured wounded. Aircraft a write-off.

[Drew5233]

151 Squadron, North Weald

Hurricane P3304. Returned to base badly damaged by return fire from Dornier Do17 of II/KG2 engaged over convoy off Ordfordness 9.45am. Wing Commander F.V. Beamish unhurt. Aircraft damaged but repairable.

[Drew5233]

151 Squadron, North Weald

Hurricane P3871. Mainplane and oil tank damaged by cross-fire during attack on Ju 88 east of Chelmsford 5.30pm. Force-landed Martlesham. Wing Commander F.V. Beamish unhurt. Aircraft damaged but repairable.

[nicks]

dbf

I've just found a magazine article covering much of G/C F V Beamish's wartime career, it runs to eight pages.

If you like I could e-mail it to you.

Regards,

Nick

[dbf]

Thanks Nick,
sending you my e-mail address by PM.