Walter Beales: Difference between revisions

Walter Beales
Walter Beales
Born	1893; Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England
Died	1962 (aged 68–69); Goxhill, Lincolnshire, England
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	British Army; Royal Air Force
Rank	Flying Officer
Unit	No. 48 Squadron RFC/No. 48 Squadron RAF
Battles / wars	World War I; World War II
Awards	Distinguished Conduct Medal
Other work	Commissioned in RAFVR during World War II

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Flying Officer Walter Beales DCM (1893–1962) was a British flying ace credited with nine official victories during World War I, who also served during and after World War II.

World War I

Beales was the son of Alderman W. S. Beales. The younger Beales joined the Royal Flying Corps as a despatch rider in December 1914 and earned the 1914–1915 Star. Beales then switched roles to that of observer/gunner in the Bristol F.2 Fighters of 48 Squadron, which was operating on the Western Front.^[1]

He scored his first aerial victory on 21 March 1918, destroying a German Pfalz D.III while piloted by William Lewis Wells. Two days later, the crew of Beales and Wells destroyed an LVG reconnaissance plane in the morning, and another LVG and a Pfalz D.III in the evening. On 28 March, Corporal Beales was wounded in the hand while in a dogfight with a German fighter; though Beales claimed he drove down the fighter out of control, the win went unverified.^[1]

Beales brought down his fifth victim, an Albatros D.V, out of control on 1 April. On the 25th, flying with Charles Napier as his pilot, Beales destroyed a Rumpler. On 9 May, in a ten-minute dogfight, Beales and Napier drove down two Fokker Dr.I triplanes and a Pfalz D.III; in turn, they were brought down, probably by Germans from Jasta 46, but survived. Beales final tally was five German aeroplanes shot down and destroyed, four driven down out of control.^[1]

For his efforts, Beales was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in April; it would be gazetted on 26 June 1918.^[2]

Post World War I

Beales became a mortician at Weelsby Grove, Grimsby postwar.^[1] A Walter Beales was the licensee of the Victoria Arms public house in North Creake, Norfolk from 1922 to 1937.^[3]

In World War II, he would accept a commission in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and command a gliding school. He would later command his local Air Training Corps unit.^[1] He gave up his commission as a flying officer in the RAFVR on 1 May 1951.^[4]

Honours and awards

Distinguished Conduct Medal: 2565 Corporal W. Beales, RAF. (Grimsby).; For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Whilst returning alone from a reconnaissance he was attacked by three enemy machines. Though he was wounded in the hand he drove down one of them out of control, and drove off the others in a running fight lasting ten minutes. On a later occasion he ably assisted his pilot in bringing down two enemy machines, one of which went down in flames. He performed excellent work during recent operations in engaging ground targets, often flying at very low altitudes under heavy fire. His keenness and determination have been a great incentive to the other N.C.O.s in his squadron.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell F.; Alegi, Gregory (1997). Above the War Fronts: The British Two-seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces, the British Two-seater Fighter Observer Aces, and the Belgian, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Fighter Aces, 1914-1918. London, UK: Grub Street. p. 4. ISBN 978-1-898697-56-5.
^ ^a ^b "No. 30766". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 June 1918. p. 7556.
^ "North Creake – Victoria Arms". Norfolk Pubs. 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
^ "No. 39474". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 February 1952. pp. 1046–1047.

External links

The Aerodrome gives a detailed list of his victories.

[ReferenceA-1] Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell F.; Alegi, Gregory (1997). Above the War Fronts: The British Two-seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces, the British Two-seater Fighter Observer Aces, and the Belgian, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Fighter Aces, 1914-1918. London, UK: Grub Street. p. 4. ISBN 978-1-898697-56-5.

[london-gazette.co.uk-2] "No. 30766". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 June 1918. p. 7556.

[3] "North Creake – Victoria Arms". Norfolk Pubs. 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2014.

[4] "No. 39474". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 February 1952. pp. 1046–1047.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|British flying ace}}
-<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]] and [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Biography/Military]]. -->
+{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
-{{Infobox Military Person
+{{Infobox military person
 | name          =Walter Beales
 | image         =
 | caption       =
-| born          = <!-- {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->1893
+| birth_date    = <!-- {{Birth date|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->1893
-| died          = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->1962
+| death_date    = {{Death year and age|1962|1893}}
 | placeofburial_label =
 | placeofburial =
-| placeofbirth  =[[Grimsby]], [[Lincolnshire]], England
+| birth_place  =[[Grimsby]], [[Lincolnshire]], England
-| placeofdeath  =[[Goxhill]]
+| death_place  =[[Goxhill]], Lincolnshire, England
 | placeofburial_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} -->
 | nickname      =
-| allegiance    =England
+| allegiance    =United Kingdom
-| branch        =Aviation
+| branch        =British Army<br/>Royal Air Force
 | serviceyears  =
-| rank          =Sergeant
+| rank          =Flying Officer
 | unit          =[[No. 48 Squadron RAF|No. 48 Squadron RFC/No. 48 Squadron RAF]]
 | commands      =
-| battles       =
+| battles       =[[World War I]]<br/>[[World War II]]
-| awards        =[[Distinguished Conduct Medal]], [[1914&ndash;1915 Star]]
+| awards        =[[Distinguished Conduct Medal]]
 | relations     =
 | laterwork     =Commissioned in RAFVR during World War II
 }}
-Sergeant '''Walter Beales''' was a [[flying ace]] credited with nine official victories. He began his long career of service during World War I, and served during and after World War II.
+Flying Officer '''Walter Beales''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|DCM}} (1893–1962) was a British [[flying ace]] credited with nine official victories during World War I, who also served during and after World War II.
 ==World War I==
-Beales was the son of Alderman W. S. Beales. The younger Beales joined the [[Royal Flying Corps]] as a despatch rider in December 1914 and earned the 1914&ndash;1915 Star. Beales then switched roles to that of observer/gunner in the [[Bristol F.2 Fighter]]s of 48 Squadron, which was operating on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]].<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite book |title= Above the War Fronts: The British Two-seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces, the British Two-seater Fighter Observer Aces, and the Belgian, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Fighter Aces, 1914-1918 |page= 4 }}</ref>
+Beales was the son of Alderman W. S. Beales. The younger Beales joined the [[Royal Flying Corps]] as a despatch rider in December 1914 and earned the 1914&ndash;1915 Star. Beales then switched roles to that of observer/gunner in the [[Bristol F.2 Fighter]]s of 48 Squadron, which was operating on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]].<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite book |first1=Norman |last1=Franks |authorlink1=Norman Franks |first2=Russell F. |last2=Guest |first3=Gregory |last3=Alegi |title=Above the War Fronts: The British Two-seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces, the British Two-seater Fighter Observer Aces, and the Belgian, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Fighter Aces, 1914-1918 |location=London, UK |publisher=Grub Street |year=1997 |isbn=978-1-898697-56-5 |page=4}}</ref>
 He scored his first aerial victory on 21 March 1918, destroying a German [[Pfalz D.III]] while piloted by [[William Lewis Wells]]. Two days later, the crew of Beales and Wells destroyed an [[LVG]] reconnaissance plane in the morning, and another LVG and a Pfalz D.III in the evening. On 28 March, Corporal Beales was wounded in the hand while in a dogfight with a German fighter; though Beales claimed he drove down the fighter out of control, the win went unverified.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
-Beales brought down his fifth victim, an [[Albatros D.V]], out of control on 1 April. On the 25th, flying with [[Charles Napier (aviator)|Charles Napier]] as his pilot, Beales destroyed a [[Rumpler]]. On 9 May, in a ten minute dogfight, Beales and Napier drove down two [[Fokker Dr.I]] triplanes and a [[Pfalz D.III]]; in turn, they were brought down, probably by Germans from [[Jasta 46]], but survived. Beales final tally was five German airplanes shot down and destroyed, four driven down out of control.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
+Beales brought down his fifth victim, an [[Albatros D.V]], out of control on 1 April. On the 25th, flying with [[Charles Napier (aviator)|Charles Napier]] as his pilot, Beales destroyed a [[Rumpler]]. On 9 May, in a ten-minute dogfight, Beales and Napier drove down two [[Fokker Dr.I]] triplanes and a [[Pfalz D.III]]; in turn, they were brought down, probably by Germans from [[Jasta 46]], but survived. Beales final tally was five German aeroplanes shot down and destroyed, four driven down out of control.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
-For his efforts, Beales was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in April; it would be gazetted on 26 June 1918.<ref name="london-gazette.co.uk">(''Supplement to the London Gazette'', 25 June 1918) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30766/supplements/7556 Retrieved on 18 October 2010.</ref>
+For his efforts, Beales was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in April; it would be gazetted on 26 June 1918.<ref name="london-gazette.co.uk">{{London Gazette |issue=30766 |date=25 June 1918 |page=7556 |supp=y }}</ref>
 ==Post World War I==
-Walter Beales became a mortician at [[Weelsby Grove]] postwar.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> He also seems to have been the licensee of the Victoria Arms public house in [[Norfolk]] from 1922 to 1937.<ref>http://www.norfolkpubs.co.uk/norfolkn/northcreake/ncreava.htm Retrieved on 18 October 2010.</ref>
+Beales became a [[mortician]] at Weelsby Grove, [[Grimsby]] postwar.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> A Walter Beales was the licensee of the Victoria Arms public house in [[North Creake]], Norfolk from 1922 to 1937.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.norfolkpubs.co.uk/norfolkn/northcreake/ncreava.htm |title=North Creake – Victoria Arms |work=Norfolk Pubs |year=2012 |accessdate=21 August 2014}}</ref>
-In World War II, he would accept a commission in the [[Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve]] and command a gliding school. He would later command his local [[Air Training Corps]] unit.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> He gave up his commission as a [[Flying Officer]] in the RAFVR on 1 May 1951.<ref>(''Supplement to the London Gazette'', 22 February 1922) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/39474/supplements/1046 prints heading of commissions being resigned; http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/39474/supplements/1047 lists Beales. Retrieved on 18 October 2010.</ref>
+In World War II, he would accept a commission in the [[Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve]] and command a gliding school. He would later command his local [[Air Training Corps]] unit.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> He gave up his commission as a [[flying officer]] in the RAFVR on 1 May 1951.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=39474 |date=19 February 1952 |pages=1046–1047  |supp=y |nolink=yes }}</ref>
-==Honors and awards==
+==Honours and awards==
-'''Distinguished Conduct Medal'''
+;Distinguished Conduct Medal
+:2565 Corporal W. Beales, RAF. (Grimsby).
+:For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Whilst returning alone from a reconnaissance he was attacked by three enemy machines. Though he was wounded in the hand he drove down one of them out of control, and drove off the others in a running fight lasting ten minutes. On a later occasion he ably assisted his pilot in bringing down two enemy machines, one of which went down in flames. He performed excellent work during recent operations in engaging ground targets, often flying at very low altitudes under heavy fire. His keenness and determination have been a great incentive to the other N.C.O.s in his squadron.<ref name="london-gazette.co.uk"/>
+==References==
-Cpl. W. Beales, R.A.F. (Grimsby).
+{{reflist}}
-For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
-duty. Whilst returning alone from a
-reconnaissance he was attacked by three
-enemy machines. Though he was wounded
-in the hand he drove down one of
-them out of control, and drove off the others
-in a running fight lasting ten minutes. On
-a later occasion he ably assisted his pilot in
-bringing down two enemy machines,: one of
-which went down in flames. He performed
-excellent work during recent operations in
-engaging ground targets, often flying at very
-low altitudes under heavy fire. His keenness
-and deteirmination have been a great
-incentive to the other N.C.Os. in his
-squadron.<ref name="london-gazette.co.uk"/>
 ==External links==
-* http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/beales.php gives a detailed list of his victories
+* [http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/beales.php The Aerodrome] gives a detailed list of his victories.
-==Reference==
-* ''Above the War Fronts: The British Two-seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces, the British Two-seater Fighter Observer Aces, and the Belgian, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Fighter Aces, 1914-1918.'' Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest, Gregory Alegi. Grub Street, 1997. ISBN 1898697566, 9781898697565.
-==Endnotes==
-{{reflist}}
-----
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+{{DEFAULTSORT:Beales, Walter}}
-[[Category:World War I flying aces]]
+[[Category:British World War I flying aces]]
 [[Category:1893 births]]
 [[Category:1962 deaths]]
+[[Category:People from Grimsby]]
+[[Category:Royal Flying Corps soldiers]]
+[[Category:Royal Air Force personnel of World War I]]
+[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Medal]]
+[[Category:Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II]]
+[[Category:Royal Air Force officers]]
+[[Category:Military personnel from Lincolnshire]]