Duane Willard Beeson

Beeson in the cockpit

RCAF, RAF, USAAF  L/Col  - DSC,
DFC w/5 Oak Leaf Clusters
Silver Star, Air Medal w/5 OLCs
Croix de Guerre (Belgium)

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Born in Boise Idaho July 16th 1921
Parents - Carl and Zelda Parsons Beeson
Liked boxing and football
Graduated from Boise High in 1939
Moved to California - Hotel clerk
Joined the RCAF June 23, 1941 in Vancouver
trained at Prince Albert & Yorkton, Saskatchewan
Commisioned 26 Feb. 1942
Conversion to Hurricanes in Bournemouth UK
Conversion to Spitfires in Usworth (55 OTU)
Transfered to Eagle Sq.
Arrived Sept. 5, 1942, Debden, Essex
- flew no combat missions with the RAF
24 days later he transfered to the 4th FG
Became the $th FG's first ACE on Oct. 8th 1943
Assumed comand of the 334 FS on March 15th
Shot down by flak and taken prisoner April 5, 1944
Liberated by Russians at end of war, April 19, 1945

Promoted to Leut/Col 24 Oct. 1945
Married Tracy Waters January 1947
Died of a brain tumor 13 Feb. 1947

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"Bee" and his P-47 "Boise Bee"

Duane Beeson

     top left - "Bee" and his P-47 "Boise Bee"

     above - Portrait

     left - Duane and his Spitfire
Duane and his Eagle Squadron Spitfire

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Duane Beeson in the cockpit of his P-51 "Boise Bee"
Duane Beeson in the cockpit of his P-51 "Boise Bee"

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Victories Include :

for victories, the 4th fighter group site is very good

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American Aces

--- Canadian Aces ---

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On these pages I use info from the Air force Association of Canada's web site
in Hugh Halliday's excellent Honors & Awards section,
Newspaper articles via the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (CMCC)
as well as other sources both published and private

 

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