Duane Willard Beeson was an American fighter pilot and flying ace of World War II.
14 Facts About Duane Beeson
2.
Duane Beeson planned to join the Army Air Corps as a pilot, but as he had not completed the required two years of college he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in Canada, which had no such entry qualifications.
3.
Duane Beeson joined the Royal Canadian Air Force on June 23,1941 in Vancouver and trained at Prince Albert and Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
4.
On September 5,1942 Duane Beeson was posted to No 71 Squadron at Debden, Essex.
5.
Duane Beeson flew his first combat mission with his new unit, the 334th Fighter Squadron.
6.
In January 1943, Duane Beeson was training on the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt.
7.
On May 8,1943, Duane Beeson engaged a group of German fighters and shot down a Bf 109.
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Duane Beeson shot down one Bf 109 into the sea, using just 400 rounds of ammunition.
9.
On October 8,1943 Duane Beeson shot down two more Bf 109s over the Netherlands.
10.
On January 29,1944, Duane Beeson shot down a Bf 109 and a Focke-Wulf Fw 190, earning him the Distinguished Flying Cross.
11.
Duane Beeson was captured and interrogated by the famous Hanns Scharff.
12.
Duane Beeson returned to Boise in June 1945 and made every effort to get reassigned to the Pacific theatre, but the Pacific War soon ended.
13.
Duane Beeson was reassigned to Sarasota, Florida, where he met his future wife, Tracy Waters.
14.
Doctors diagnosed a brain tumor and Duane Beeson was flown to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC for an operation.