A fine and scarce ‘1944’ Second War Beaufighter and Mosquitos night fighter pilot’s D.F.C. and American D.F.C. group of nine awarded to Wing Commander W. R. L. Beaumont, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who distinguished himself over home skies and North Africa with 219 Squadron - including one enemy aircraft probably destroyed on 8 August 1942; and then destroying three enemy aircraft in the space of 20 minutes in response to a German raid over Bizerte on 6 September 1943. Beaumont took command of 151 Squadron in December 1944 - and personally accounted for at least four trains, multiple trucks, one enemy aircraft destroyed on the ground, one probably destroyed on the ground, and at least four unconfirmed destroyed on the ground. He went on to participate in the Battle of Britain commemorative flypast over London, led by Douglas Bader, on 15 September 1945

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1944’; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued; Air Efficiency Award, G.VI.R., 1st issue, with Second Award Bar (Act. Sqn. Ldr. W. R. L. Beaumont. R.A.F.V.R.); United States of America, Distinguished Flying Cross, unnamed, mounted on card for display, generally good very fine or better (9) £3,000-£4,000

Dix Noonan Webb, September 2000.

D.F.C. London Gazette 7 January 1944. The original recommendation states:

‘Squadron Leader William Reginald Lancelot Beaumont, No. 219 Squadron, Northwest African Coastal Air Forces. Squadron Leader Beaumont has been flying operationally since June 1942, and has always shown the utmost keenness to attain the highest efficiency at his work. On the night of September 6th, 1943, during a raid on Bizerte, he destroyed, under difficult circumstances, three enemy aircraft. All three aircraft were taking evasive action at 100-110 m.p.h. at which speed Squadron Leader Beaumont’s aircraft was practically stalled. By sheer determination and good handling of his aircraft however, all three were effectively dealt with. This officer, on a previous occasion in the United Kingdom, probably destroyed a further enemy aircraft. Squadron Leader Beaumont, with his very considerable flying experience, has been of the greatest assistance and inspiration in training the less experienced crews in the handling and general operation of their aircraft.’

U.S.A., D.F.C. London Gazette 14 June 1946. The original recommendation states:

‘Acting Wing Commander, No. 151 Squadron (Squadron Command). Wing Commander Beaumont has had a successful career as a night fighter both in Western Europe and North Africa. He has flown in close co-operation with American air and land forces and has contributed much to the success of the operations.’

Approximately 129 awards of the American D.F.C. were made to the R.A.F. during the Second World War.

William Reginald Lancelot Beaumont enlisted in Class “F” of the Royal Air Force Reserve as a Sergeant Pilot under training in 1936, and was commissioned in the R.A.F.V.R. in March 1939. He advanced to Flying Officer in September 1940, and to Flight Lieutenant in September of the following year. Beaumont was posted as a pilot for operational service with 219 Squadron (Beaufighters) at Tangmere for the night defence of London in September 1941. The Squadron moved north to Acklington in June 1942, and Beaumont carried out his first operational sortie in a Beaufighter on 11 July 1942. Less than a month later, on 8 August, he claimed a Ju 88 as Probably Destroyed whilst flying with Sergeant R. Andrews as his navigator.

Beaumont advanced to Acting Squadron Leader, taking command of “B” Flight in February 1943. He moved with the Squadron to Catterick in May 1943, and from here they undertook preparations for overseas service. Beaumont flew from Catterick to Bone, via Gibraltar, in June - the Squadron being posted to North Africa in order to boost the night defence of Algeria. At the start of August 1943 Squadron Leader Beaumont flew to Malta to take over charge of the 219 Squadron detachment, and on the night of 6 September achieved the rare feat of destroying three enemy aircraft in one operational sortie. The Squadron Record Book entry noted, 'Shortly after 2000 hours a large raid on Bizerte came up on the board and six crews scrambled to meet it (W/Cdr Boyd, S/Ldr Beaumont, F/O Farrar, F/O Sloman, P/O Allison and F/Sgt Tull). Joy soon abounded and S/Ldr Beaumont (P/O Andrews) achieved the splendid feat of destroying three E/A (all Heinkel III's) within twenty minutes - a well deserved triumph after many months of bad luck. W/Cdr Boyd accounted for another He-III and F/O Farrar claimed yet a fifth as damaged.'

During his time in Malta, Beaumont also ferried the A.O.C. (Sir Hugh Pugh-Lloyd) of N.A.C.A.F., the S.A.S.O. of N.A.C.A.F., and the A.O.C. of 242 Group from Sidi Ahmed to various airports in Sicily, back to Sebala, and later on to Maison Blanche. The Squadron also had detachments on Sicily for local defence, and Beaumont returned with the Squadron to the UK in January 1944. The following month the Squadron started converting to Mosquitos, and Beaumont was posted to Cranfield in March 1944. He advanced to Squadron Leader in July 1944, and advanced to Acting Wing Commander in December 1944. Later the same month Beaumont was appointed to the command of 151 Squadron (Mosquitos) at Hunsdon. The Squadron were tasked with bomber support duties, which entailed intruder operations over enemy night fighter airfields and hunting their occupants in the air over Germany.

Beaumont flew multiple sorties including on 30 March 1945, when on a ‘Ranger’ patrol over the Hanover/Brunswick/Magdeburg area. During the latter he destroyed three trains near Stardal, and caused considerable damage to the remainder of the rolling stock. On a similar patrol the following month he destroyed another train, four trucks, and damaged six others. On 25 April 1945, Beaumont and his navigator Andrews claimed one F.W. 190 destroyed, one F.W. 190 probably destroyed, and four unconfirmed aircraft damaged on the ground. Beaumont’s Combat Report gives the following:

‘W/C W. R. L. Beaumont, Pilot, and F/O R. L. Andrews, Navigator, 151 Squadron, left Juvrincourt at 2135 hours on ranger patrol in collaboration with F.E.F. to Bad Aibling and Holzkirchen and landed at Bradwell Bay at 0152 hours.

W/C Beaumont states:

“At 2330 hours I made a rendezvous at the northern tip of Lake Chiem with F/O Struthers, pilot, and F/O Cooper, navigator 151 Squadron attached F.E.F. F/O Struthers set course for Bad Aibling with ourselves about a minute behind, and dropped his flares from a height of 3000 feet immediately over the aerodrome. Having dropped our wing tanks we made the first attack in front of hangars on N.W. corner causing strikes on a line of about half a dozen aircraft. The two far end ones appeared to be pretty badly damaged, zoomed up to starboard and made another run this time at the hangars and buildings, a small explosion and a shower of sparks came from one building. The flare had dropped to the ground but I asked the flare dropped to loose his remaining flare at the same place, which he did. Made two more attacks on a line of aircraft seeing many strikes and causing one, believed to a be F.W. 190 to smoke considerably. On a third run on this flare I did a port orbit, came in from S.E. to N.W. towards flare which by then was fairly low and 1 F.W. 190 was seen to burst into flames. The second flare now gone out so a final run was made with the aid of the light from the burning a/c, and more strikes were seen on buildings and aircraft. No flak was experienced. Having expended all our ammunition course was now set for base and a message passed to F/O Oddie, 151 Squadron, that bad Aibling might be further attacked profitably.’

Beaumont participated in the Battle of Britain flypast over London, when 300 aircraft led by Douglas Bader flew in commemoration of the Battle of Britain on 15 September 1945. Beaumont was presented with his US D.F.C. at the American Embassy, 8 South Audley Street, London, on 29 May 1946, having been awarded his Air Efficiency Aearf in 1943 and the Second Award Bar in 1946. Wing Commander Beaumont continued to serve into the late 1950s.

Sold with copied research, and copies of the relevant ORB’s and Combat Reports.