BECK, James Arthur Gordon
| Service Number: | 408434 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 May 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Flying Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 186 Squadron (RAF) |
| Born: | Launceston, Tas., 25 November 1918 |
| Home Town: | Launceston, Launceston, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Trevallyn PS, State HS Launceston |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Germany, 4 April 1945, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany Rheinberg War Cemetery, Rheinberg, Germany |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 25 May 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 408434, Aircrew Training Units | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Apr 1945: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 408434, No. 186 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45, Lost with Crew |
Raid on Merseburg - Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant 4/5 April 1945
Lancaster Mk I tail number NA 533 Squadron Code AF-P collided with another aircraft, Lancaster Mk 1 Tail number HK555 Squadron Code KO-E from No. 115 Squadron. The Navigator of Beck's aircraft POFF Bartlett was the only survivor of the 14 crew.
Submitted 20 January 2022 by Steve Larkins
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
James was born in Launceston in 1918, the son of Frank Washington and Margaret A. Beck. James was the grandson of’ James Beck” who emigrated from Sussex in 1883.
James attended the Trevallyn Primary School and the State High School, Launceston and entered the firm of chartered accountants, Layh, Hart & Room. He was greatly interested in music and drama and played a lot of tennis. When he was small the family attended St. Oswald’s Church and later were members of St. John’s.
He enlisted in the R.A.A.F. in World War II and was awarded the D.F.C. He was killed in action over Germany on 4th April 1945. At St. Oswalds’s and St. John’s memorials were erected by his family: at St. Oswald’s a brass ewer for the font and at St. John’s a brass plaque and a stained-glass window featuring ‘Michael the Archangel’. The inscriptions are as follows:
Ewer:
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN MEMORY OF
FlO JAMES BECK D.F.C.
KILLED IN ACTION 4 APRIL 1945
Plaque:
A.M.D.G.
AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF
FLYING OFFICER JAMES BECK D.F.C. R.A.A.F.
KILLED IN OPERATIONS OVER GERMANY BURIED AT ITTERBACH, HOLLAND ERECTED BY HIS FAMILY
Window:
A.M.D.G.
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
FlO JAMES BECK D.F.C. AGED 27
KILLED IN ACTION
ERECTED BY HIS FAMILY
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