World War II Honoree

James O. Beckwith, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Burlington, Vermont

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED AS A P-51 ‘MUSTANG’ FIGHTER PILOT AND AS COMMANDER OF THE 15TH FIGHTER GROUP, VII FIGHTER COMMAND, IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER. COLONEL BECKWITH COMMANDED THE 15TH FIGHTER GROUP FROM SEPTEMBER 27, 1943 TO APRIL 16, 1945. STATIONED AT WHEELER FIELD AND BELLOWS FIELD IN THE TERRITORY OF HAWAII AS PART OF THE HAWAIIAN DEFENSE SYSTEM UNTIL FEBRUARY 5, 1945. MOVED TO SOUTH FIELD ON IWO JIMA IN THE BONIN ISLANDS ON MARCH 6, 1945 AND OPERATED THERE UNTIL APRIL 16, 1945. PARTICIPATED IN THE CENTRAL PACIFIC, AND AIR OFFENSIVE-JAPAN CAMPAIGNS. INITIALLY FLEW MISSIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE INVASION FORCE ON IWO JIMA. THEN STRUCK ENEMY AIRFIELDS, SHIPPING AND INSTALLATIONS IN THE BONIN ISLANDS. TOOK PART IN LONG-RANGE BOMBER ESCORT AND FIGHTER SWEEPS AGAINST AIRFIELDS AND OTHER TARGETS ON THE JAPANESE HOME ISLANDS. FLIGHTS AGAINST JAPAN INVOLVED A LONG 8-HOUR ROUND TRIP FROM IWO JIMA OVER A DISTANCE OF SOME 1600 MILES. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS GROUP ON APRIL 7, 1945 WHILE ESCORTING B-29 ‘SUPERFORTRESS’ BOMBERS TO STRIKE THE NAKAJIMA AIRCRAFT PLANT NEAR TOKYO, JAPAN. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.