Donald Wainwright Beard | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 May 1895 Elworth, Sandbach, Cheshire, England |
| Died | Unknown |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | No. 4 Squadron RFC No. 11 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Military Medal |
Lieutenant Donald Wainwright Beard (born 20 May 1895, date of death unknown) was a British World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories. [1]
Donald Wainwright Beard was born in Sandbach, Cheshire, England on 20 May 1895. Beard originally joined the Royal Flying Corps as a mechanic on 20 August 1913. [2]
Beard deployed to France with his unit when the war began. As he worked at his ground assignment, he agitated for opportunities to fly. He was manning the guns in the observer's seat of a Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 on a No. 4 Squadron RFC mission flown on 20 July 1916. During a dogfight, Captain Copeland, the pilot, was wounded. Beard shot down the attacking Pfalz E.I, then flew the B.E.2 home. His heroism earned him a Military Medal and a chance for pilot training. [2]
Training completed, he was assigned to No. 11 Squadron RFC as a sergeant pilot of a Bristol F.2 Fighter dubbed "Amy" on 26 November 1917. [3] On 9 March 1918, with Sergeant H. W. Scarnell manning the rear guns, Beard drove a German Pfalz D.III down out of control. Six days later, the same team destroyed an Albatros D.III fighter and drove down two others. A week later, with Second Lieutenant H. M. Stewart as gunner, Beard set an Albatros D.V on fire. On 3 April 1918, Beard was commissioned as a Temporary Second Lieutenant. [4] Beard's final victories came on 9 May 1918, when he destroyed one Pfalz D.III and drove another down out of control. [2]
On 10 December 1920, Beard gave up his commission because of poor health caused by military service. [5]
Beard married Stella Marie Gladys Londt. [6] She died in a car crash on 27 December 1933, [7] aged 22; [8] their infant daughter Sally died shortly thereafter [7] on 1 January 1934. [6]
Beard was commissioned as a Flying Officer for the duration of World War II on 18 November 1940. [9] On 22 January 1941, probationary Pilot Officer Beard was assigned to administrative duty. [10] On 20 July, he was transferred to the Technical Branch. [11] On 18 November 1941, Beard transferred into the reserves. [12] On 13 March 1942, he once again resigned his commission as Pilot Officer because of poor health. [13] As of 8 April 1947, he is also shown resigning his commission, which may indicate he returned to duty after the 1942 resignation. [14]
Awarded the Military Medal on 9 December 1916. Sergeant with Serial no. 839. [15]
Captain Samuel Frederick Henry "Siffy" Thompson was a British World War I two-seater fighter ace who, in conjunction with his observer-gunners, was credited with thirty aerial victories before being shot down and killed. Despite having an active fighter career of only five months, he reached the rank of captain and won two British military decorations.
Ronald Malcolm Fletcher was an English World War I observer/gunner ace in two-seater fighters who, in conjunction with his pilot, Lt. Samuel F.H. Thompson, gained 26 confirmed victories. He was notable for the fact that all but one of these victories were over enemy fighter aircraft.
Captain Harry George Ernest Luchford was an English World War I pilot credited with 24 victories. He was notable for scoring his first 11 victories in three months while piloting an obsolete double-seated FE.2 pusher aircraft.
Lieutenant Llewelyn Crichton Davies was a Welsh World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.
Squadron Leader William Harrop was a British World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories while flying as an enlisted observer. He returned to RAF service in World War II, attaining the rank of squadron leader.
Flying Officer Giles Noble Blennerhassett was an Irish World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories while serving as an observer/gunner in No. 18 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps.
Major Stephen William Price was a British World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.
Squadron Leader David Mary Tidmarsh was an Irish-born flying ace of the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War, credited with seven aerial victories.
Air Vice-Marshal Hugh Granville White, was a Royal Air Force air officer. He was a First World War flying ace credited with seven aerial victories, and later went on to serve throughout the Second World War, finally retiring in 1955.
John J. Cowell, was an Irish soldier, airman and flying ace of the First World War. He was credited with sixteen aerial victories; fifteen of these were gained as an observer/gunner and one as a pilot, before he was killed in action.
Sergeant Frank Johnson was a World War I flying ace credited with 16 aerial victories. He flew as both an observer/gunner and as a pilot, and is the only enlisted man to receive a second award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
Flight Lieutenant David Arthur Stewart, was a British First World War flying ace credited with sixteen aerial victories. Remarkably, they were all scored while he was flying bombers instead of fighters.
Squadron Leader Anthony Herbert William Wall was a British World War I flying ace credited with sixteen aerial victories. He returned to serve in the Royal Air Force in World War II.
Sergeant Ernest Arthur Deighton was an English World War I observer/gunner flying ace credited with 15 confirmed aerial victories; all but one of them was against enemy fighters.
Group Captain Campbell Alexander Hoy was a British flying ace during the First World War, credited with eleven aerial victories. He remained in the Royal Air Force post-war and served through the end of the Second World War.
Captain Edwin Louis Benbow was an English flying ace during the First World War, credited with eight victories, comprising six destroyed and one shared destroyed, and one 'out of control'. He was the only pilot to gain 'ace' status flying the Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.8 exclusively.
Sergeant James McKinley Hargreaves was a Scottish World War I flying ace. Despite being an observer, he became one of the first flying aces in history while flying with Lionel Rees,.
Second Lieutenant Francis James Ralph was a British World War I ace credited with 13 confirmed aerial victories over German fighter aircraft while flying as an aerial observer.
Lieutenant Josiah Lewis Morgan was a Welsh flying ace in the Royal Air Force. He was credited with 12 official victories during World War I. He served as an observer/gunner for Hiram Frank Davison for all but one of his victories.
Colonel Dennis Edward Francis Waight was a British Army professional infantryman. After being decorated for valor while serving as a fusilier early in World War I, he flew in combat as an aerial observer until war's end. No details of his transfer and training are known; however, he was credited with 12 aerial victories, making him a flying ace.