Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

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

James was born in Launcestion on 25 Nov 1920 as per his attached Tasmanian birth certificate. His father, Frank Washington Beck, was a Grocer. That was his registered occupation on his son's 1920 birth certificate.

The grocery shop is likely where James gained his business interest from. For he decided to pursue a career in accounting.

His asperations were put on hold in 1941 after he was mobilized for military service.

James was then working as a Clerk as per his AMF Mobilization Enrolment Form, dated 10 March 1941.

He was serving in a Casualty Clearing Station when he did RAAF Aircrew selection in 1942. He was successful.

Hence PTE James Beck was discharged from the army  because he was accepted for RAAF Aircrew under the Empire Air Training Scheme. 

James passed his initial Aircrew sorting course and he made cut to continue in the Airman Pilot specialization.

He was streamed for Bomber Command and sent to the U.K. He did his advanced training in the Avro Lancaster in England. 

James was posted to No. 186 Sqn RAF. He completed numerous operational sorties in Bomber Command. He got a DFC for his skill as an Avro Lancaster Pilot after regaining control of his aircraft following mechanical failure on take off. He completed his mission but was forced to make a skillful belly landing upon his return to his West Sullfolk RAF base.

James was later killed following a midair collision on a deep penetration raid to bomb a synthetic oil plant in Germany. There were 327 Lancasters in the bomber stream led to the target by 14 Mosquitos on that raid.

The target by the Leuna synthetic oil plant near Merseburg, Germany. Two Lancasters in that tight formation collided at 20:20 Hours on 04 April 1945.   

The entire RAF Lancaster HK555 crew was killed but the Navigator in RAF Lancaster RA533 survived the midair collision.     

F/O James Beck DFC RAAF was RA533 Lancaster Pilot. He was killed but his Navigator was able to jump. The fact that one of his crew survived is a tribute to his skill. 

Midair collisions in such large RAF Lancaster Bomber streams over enemy territory were not uncommon, particularly when taking evasion action in poor weather.

The collision took place while approaching Halberstadt in Germany. The injured Navigator, F/SGT A.E. Bartlett (139906) RAF landed behind American lines. He assisted with RA533 Lancaster crew identification.

The crews, including James were later re-interred in the Rheinburg Commonwealth War Cemetery. 

Reference links and mid air accident report provided.