World War II Honoree

William S. Beck

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Nashville, Tennessee

Honored By

Michael G. Moskow

HE LEARNED TO FLY THROUGH COURSES GIVEN AT VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY (WHILE STUDYING ENGINEERING) AND VOLUNTEERED FOR MILITARY SERVICE IN AUGUST OF 1941. HE WAS COMMISSIONED IN FEBRUARY, 1942, AT KELLY FIELD, TEXAS. DEPARTING OVERSEAS IN JULY, 1942, HE WAS ONE OF THE SEVENTY-TWO 57TH FIGHTER GROUP PILOTS WHO FLEW OFF THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS RANGER FOR THEIR AFRICAN BASE ON JULY 19, 1942. HE COMPLETED APPROXIMATELY TWENTY COMBAT MISSIONS, AND ACHIEVED THREE AERIAL VICTORIES: OCTOBER 29, 1942, JANUARY 11, 1943, AND MARCH 13, 1943. HE LOST HIS LIFE ON APRIL 19, 1943. THE 64TH FIGHTER SQUADRON WAS PATROLLING IN VICINITY OF CAPE BON, TUNISIA, PROVIDING TOP COVER FOR A SISTER 57TH FIGHTER GROUP SQUADRON, BUT REMAINED TOO LONG IN THE COMBAT AREA. AS THE 64TH APPROACHED THE 57TH’S BASE AT EL DJEM NORTH, HIS AIRCRAFT (P-40K WARHAWK 42-45989) RAN OUT OF FUEL. WITH DUSK APPROACHING, HE WAS FORCED TO DITCH IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA, FIFTEEN MILES FROM MONASTIR. HE WAS LAST SEEN FLOATING AT SEA, UNHURT, IN HIS MAE WEST, WAVING THAT HE WAS 'OKAY'.