World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Harold Peter Beck
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
La Crosse County, Wisconsin
Honored By
Sam E. Pennartz
ENLISTED AS AN AVIATION CADET IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON 6 SEPTEMBER 1941 AT FORT SAM HOUSTON NEAR SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. ASSIGNED TO THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATRE OF OPERATIONS, FIFTH AIR FORCE, 22ND BOMB GROUP (MEDIUM), HEADQUARTERS SQUADRON, STATIONED AT GARBUTT AERODROME NEAR TOWNSVILLE IN QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA. AFTER A REFUELING STOP AT '7-MILE STRIP' NORTH OF PORT MORESBY ON 9 JUNE 1942, HE FLEW IN THE NAVIGATOR POSITION ABOARD A MARTIN B-26 MARAUDER NICKNAMED 'THE VIRGINIAN' (TAIL #40-1508). HIS AIRCRAFT WAS ONE OF ELEVEN B-26 BOMBERS JOINING A BOMB GROUP FORMATION OF B-25 AND B-17 AIRCRAFT ON A MISSION TO BOMBARD JAPANESE FORCES OCCUPYING THE AIRFIELDS AT LAE AND SALAMAUA, NEW GUINEA. THEY WERE ATTACKED BY A BAND OF 20 JAPANESE 'ZERO' FIGHTER PLANES, WITH 'THE VIRGINIAN' BEING SHOT DOWN OVER NASSAU BAY APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES SOUTH OF SALAMAUA, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF ALL ONBOARD.