World War II Honoree

John William Beck

Hometown

Shoreham, Vermont

Honored By

A Grateful American

AMERICAN CITIZEN WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH AIR TRAINING PLAN, HELD THE RANK OF PILOT OFFICER AND SERVED AS AN AIR GUNNER IN THE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE. EARNED HIS AIR GUNNER'S WING BADGE AT NO. 6 BOMBING AND GUNNERY SCHOOL, MOUNTAIN VIEW, ONTARIO ON DECEMBER 20, 1941. KILLED IN ACTION WITH HIS ENTIRE CREW AT THE AGE OF 22 WHILE ATTACHED TO NO. 107 SQUADRON, ROYAL AIR FORCE (BOMBER COMMAND) WHEN HIS DOUGLAS DB-7B BOSTON MK. III (Z2252) WAS ATTACKED BY A LUFTWAFFE FOCKE-WULF FW 190A OF 5./JAGDGESCHWADER 1 AND CRASHED INTO THE NORTH SEA OFF NOORD-BEVELAND, THE NETHERLANDS DURING A BOMBING RAID TO THE PHILIPS FACTORY AT EINDHOVEN ON DECEMBER 6, 1942. COMMEMORATED ON PANEL 99 AT THE AIR FORCES MEMORIAL AT RUNNYMEDE, ENGLEFIELD GREEN, SURREY, ENGLAND.