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John Maurice Bentley Beard |
 Name : John Maurice Bentley Beard Born : 20th December 1918 Died : 21st November 2000 Service Number : 89588 Air Victories : 7.00 Awards : Distinguished Flying Medal |
Sergeant J.M.Beard of No 249 Squadron. On the 25th of October 1940 Sergeant Beard was wounded after combat with a Bf 109 over Linton, he baled out of his stricken Hurricane I (P3615). He began his flying at 9 E&RFTS Ansty on 10th July and trained on Avro Cadets and Hawker Harts. Called up on 2nd September 1939, he went to 2 FTS Brize Norton on 7th October. With the course completed he joined 609 Squadron at Drem on 15th December. From 9th April to 14th April 1940 he was detached to Farnborough for an oxygen course. Beard was posted to 249 Squadron on 14th May 1940 when it was reforming at Church Fenton. On 2nd September Beard damaged a Do17, on the 6th destroyed a Me109, on the 18th a Me110, on the 27th two Me109's, a Me110 and another probable and a Do17 damaged, on the 28th a Me109 destroyed and on 12th October a Me109 damaged. Beard was shot down by Me109's over North Kent on 25th October. He baled out, wounded, and was admitted to Pembury Hospital. His Hurricane, P3615, is believed to have crashed on Rankins Farm, Linton. He was posted from 249 to SHQ North Weald on 6th November as non-effective sick but later rejoined 249. Commissioned in December 1940, Beard was sent to RAF White Waltham for ferrying duties on 6th February 1941 as 249 prepared to re-equip with the Hurricane II. The next day he crashed whilst flying a Spitfire and went to hospital. On recovering he went directly to 52 OTU at Debden on 30th April 1941 as an instructor. He moved to CGS Sutton Bridge on 18th March 1942 as a founder-member of the Pilot Gunnery Wing there and took charge of the Live Firing Flight. The PGW later moved to Catfoss to become part of the Central Gunnery School. Beard was a member of the Fighter Command Test Board and made visits to the Gunnery Research Unit at Exeter in order to carry out tests on new pieces of armament equipment. He was awarded the AFC In May 1945 Beard went to Millfield to take charge of a Tempest rocket-training unit. In July he moved to RAF Charter Hall to be Station Admin Officer. He was sent to HQ 229 Group, New Delhi in October 1945 as Air Training Deputy. His last job was to arrange the return of 120 Lease-Lend Expeditors to the Americans at Munich in early 1946. He flew the last one back himself. Beard was released from the RAF back in the UK as a Squadron Leader. |
Known Service Details : | |||||||
Squadron | Rank | Start of Service | End of Service | Known Dates | Aircraft | Airframes | Notes |
Sergeant | unknown | unknown | 07th September 1940 | ||||
15th December 1940 | unknown | joined 609 Squadron at Drem on 15th December. From 9th April to 14th April 1940 he was detached to Farnborough for an oxygen course | |||||
Photos Submitted Through Our Directory |
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Known Individual Aircraft : | ||||||||
Type | Serial | Codes | First Flew | Squadron History | Aircrew History | History Notes | Engine | Factory |
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| Aircraft for : John Maurice Bentley Beard | ||
| A list of all aircraft associated with John Maurice Bentley Beard. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name. | ||
| Aircraft | Info | |
Hart 
Manufacturer : Hawker Production Began : 1930 Number Built : 1042 | Hart During the mid 1920’s The British Air Ministry recoignised the need for a light Bomber. The options were proposed the Avro Antelope, Fairey Fox and the Hawker Hart. Due to the low cost of maintenance for the hawker hart. It was chosen over the other two. The first prototype flew in June 1928 (J9052). Hawker Harts were first used in 1930 by No.33 Squadron at Eastchurch. Many of these aircraft were used overseas in India, the Middle East and South Africa, with some alterations being made to tropicalise the aircraft. With the Outcome being the Hart India. The Hawker Hart saw service during the Abyssinian Crisis in 1935/36 and served also in the North West Frontier of India. However, in Britain, most were being replaced by 1936, some still operating well into World War Two. Mainly in communication and Training roles until 1943 having been used by a total of 20 RAF and AAF Squadrons. A total of 1042 of this aircraft were built. The Hawker Hart saw service with many air forces. Including The Swedish Air Force who used it to great success as a dive bomber. (calling the Hart the B4), Egyptian Air Force, Royal Indian Air Force, Southern Rhodesian Air Force and Yugoslavian air force. | |
Hurricane 
Manufacturer : Hawker Production Began : 1936 Number Built : 14533 | Hurricane Royal Air Force Fighter, the Hawker Hurricane had a top speed of 320mph, at 18,200 feet and 340mph at 17,500, ceiling of 34,200 and a range of 935 miles. The Hurricane was armed with eight fixed wing mounted .303 browning machine guns in the Mark I and twelve .303 browning's in the MKIIB in the Hurricane MKIIC it had four 20mm cannon. All time classic fighter the Hurricane was designed in 1933-1934, the first prototype flew in June 1936 and a contract for 600 for the Royal Air Force was placed. The first production model flew ion the 12th October 1937 and 111 squadron of the Royal Air Force received the first Hurricanes in January 1938. By the outbreak of World war two the Royal Air Force had 18 operational squadrons of Hurricanes. During the Battle of Britain a total of 1715 Hurricanes took part, (which was more than the rest of the aircraft of the Royal air force put together) and almost 75% of the Victories during the Battle of Britain went to hurricane pilots. The Hawker Hurricane was used in all theatres during World war two, and in many roles. in total 14,533 Hurricanes were built. | |
| Squadrons for : John Maurice Bentley Beard | ||
| A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by John Maurice Bentley Beard. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name. | ||
| Squadron | Info | |
No.249 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 18th August 1918 Fate : Disbanded 24th February 1969 Gold Coast Pugnis et cacibus - With fist and heels | No.249 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
No.609 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 10th February 1936 Fate : Disbanded 10th March 1957 West Riding (Auxiliary) Tally ho! | No.609 Sqn RAF 609 (West Riding) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force: 609 Squadron came into being on the 10th February 1936 as part of the expanding Auxiliary Air Force. Initially a bomber squadron equipped with Hawker Harts. On 8th December, 1938, the Squadrons role was changed from bomber to fighter and the squadron took delivery of its first Spitfires Mk I during August 1939. The squadrons first victory was a Heinkel HE111 H-2 of 2/KG26 which was shot down near St. Abbs Head, 27th February 1940, by Flying Officer G. D. Ayre, Pilot Officer J R Buchanan and Flying Officer D Persse-Joynt. 609 squadron was, it is said, the first Spitfire Squadron to reach 100 victories (Ju88 A-5 1/KG51) on 21st October 1940. The victory was shared by Flight Lieutenant F J Howell and Pilot Officer S J Hill. During April 1942, 609 began to replace its Spitfires with Hawker Typhoons, and went on to become the first Typhoon squadron with 227 victories. Based at many RAF Stations 609 was in action throughout WWII, covering the Dunkirk evacuation, the Battle of Britain and supporting the D-Day landings as part of the 2nd TAF. There were many decorations awarded to squadron members, these included 3 DSOs, 22 DFCs and Bars and 4 DFMs. On 16th December 1947, King George VI gave permission for use of the Royal Prefix for all Auxiliary Air Force Squadrons. 609 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force was disbanded on 10th March 1957, whilst equipped with Gloster Meteors F8 at RAF Church Fenton, Yorkshire. On 1st October, 1999, 609 (west Riding) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, was re-formed at RAF Leeming operating in the guise of Air Defence Support Squadron (ADSS). | |
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