World War II Honoree

Harold H. Beasley

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Andalusia, Alabama

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

First Lieutenant. Inducted into the U.S. Army Air Corps July 12, 1941 at Montgomery, AL. As a graduate of the Advanced Flight Aviation Cadet program, he accepted his Commission and Silver Pilot Wings. Served as a Pilot aboard a B-17 ‘Flying-Fortress’ Bomber, assigned to the 401st Bomber Squadron, 91st Bomber Group, and a subordinate unit of the U.S. 8th Air Force ‘Mighty Eighth’ Army Air Forces. His unit was based at the Bassingbourn Royal Air Force Station Location: Cambridgeshire, England. Saturday, April 17, 1943 he was killed in action, while participating in a Bombing mission to the German Aircraft Plant, located at Bremen, Germany. As the formation approached the target, his Bomber was shot down by German fighters, crashing near the village of Beckeln. Personnel from a Graves Registration Company buried him in the Margraten Battlefield Cemetery in Aachen, Holland. In the post-war era, this Airman’s family requested that he be buried with Military Honors at the Andalusia Memorial Park Cemetery in Andalusia, Alabama. He posthumously received the following decorations: Air Medal for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight and the Purple Heart for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.