Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Beaufighter and Mosquito Night Fighter Pilot’s D.F.C. and American D.F.C. group of nine awarded to Wing Commander W. R. L. Beaumont, Nos. 219 and 151 Squadrons, Royal Air Force

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse dated 1944; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, clasp, France and Germany; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals; Air Efficiency Award, G.VI.R., with second award bar (Act. Sqn. Ldr., R.A.F.V.R.); Coornation 1953; U.S.A., Distinguished Flying Cross, together with companion set of nine mounted miniature medals and related ribbon bars, nearly extremely fine (18) £1500-1800

D.F.C. London Gazette 7 January 1944. The 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 keeness 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 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 joined No. 151 Squadron as Flight Lieutenant in September 1941, and flew his first operational sortie in a Beaufighter on the night of 11 July 1942. On the 8th August, with Sergeant R. Andrews as his navigator/radar operator, he claimed a Ju88 probably destroyed. In April 1943 the squadron went to North Africa to boost the night defence of Algeria, operating all along the North African coast, providing coverage with detachments as far as Malta. In August 1943 Squadron Leader Beaumont flew to Malta to take over charge of the 219 Squadron detachment, and on the night of 6th September achieved the rare feat of destroying three enemy aircraft in one mission. 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.'

After a course at Cranfield and conversion to Mosquitos, Beaumont was apponted Squadron Leader in July 1944, and as Acting Wing Commander in December 1944, prior to taking command of No. 151 Squadron, flying Mosquito NF30's. In the first half of 1945 he flew his Mosquito on bomber support and 'Ranger' patrols. On 3 March he shot up three trains near Stardal, destroying the locos and damaging the rest of the rolling stock. On 4 April near Leipzig he destroyed a locomotive and damaged the rest of the train, and destroyed 4 MT and damaged another 6. On 25 April he took part in a 'Ranger' patrol to Bad Aibling and Holzkirchen aerodromes. Finding some aircraft at Bad Aibling, Beaumont made four attack runs over the airfield and submitted a claim for one FW-190 destroyed, one FW-190 probably destroyed, and four unclassified aircraft damaged on ground. This appears to have been Beaumont's last combat sortie of the war. During May he took part in a demonstration flight over the Channel Islands, and a formation flight over Rotterdam and Frankfurt, and in September he flew in the first Battle of Britain flypast. Wing Commander Beaumont retired from the Royal Air Force on 10 October 1946. Sold with further research including copies of various entries for Squadron Operations Record Books.