*Veteran*
"In memory of our beloved father whose ashes are scattered among the ashes of his wife, Barbara, on this farm which they both so dearly loved".
James Beam was a pilot in the 44th Bomb Group serving in North Africa and the ETO stationed in England.
Major Beam was a recipient of the Distinguished flying cross for his valor in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" August 1st 1943. One of the most daring raids of WW2. Coming in at tree top level the 44th BG destroy Romanian oil refineries.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Pilot Major James C. Beam DFC
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio.
Squadron: 506th BS 44th Bomb Group
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart
Target: Ploesti
Mission Date : 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 41-24234
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Letter:U
Aircraft Name: MR. 5 X 5 Beam,
Location: Crew of 9 successfully returned to base in Libya.
Crew of MR. 5 X 5 Beam,
Major James C. Beam Pilot
2nd/Lt. Preston E. Vaden Navigator
T/Sgt. Richard H. Williams Engineer
T/Sgt. Richard E. Tuttle Radio Op.
S/Sgt. Lawrence B. Kallal Gunner
S/Sgt. Dale W. Maury Gunner
S/Sgt. William T. Minyard Gunner
S/Sgt. Ernest J. Cutshall Gunner
---------------------------------------
Suggested edit From Contributor (47806468)
DSC Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps), [then Major] James Carroll Beam, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-24 Heavy Bomber in the 506th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group (H), NINTH Air Force (Attached), while participating in a bombing mission on 1 August 1943, against the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Rumania. A Squadron Leader, Colonel Beam was leading his formation toward the target when subjected to intense point-blank fire from ground installations. Realizing that to take evasive action at so low an altitude would disrupt the formation and imperil the success of the mission, he held his course straight to the target and his skillful piloting and courageous perseverance made possible the successful bombing of the target. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Colonel Beam on this occasion, even when confronted with practically certain destruction, exemplified the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
"In memory of our beloved father whose ashes are scattered among the ashes of his wife, Barbara, on this farm which they both so dearly loved".
James Beam was a pilot in the 44th Bomb Group serving in North Africa and the ETO stationed in England.
Major Beam was a recipient of the Distinguished flying cross for his valor in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" August 1st 1943. One of the most daring raids of WW2. Coming in at tree top level the 44th BG destroy Romanian oil refineries.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Pilot Major James C. Beam DFC
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio.
Squadron: 506th BS 44th Bomb Group
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart
Target: Ploesti
Mission Date : 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 41-24234
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Letter:U
Aircraft Name: MR. 5 X 5 Beam,
Location: Crew of 9 successfully returned to base in Libya.
Crew of MR. 5 X 5 Beam,
Major James C. Beam Pilot
2nd/Lt. Preston E. Vaden Navigator
T/Sgt. Richard H. Williams Engineer
T/Sgt. Richard E. Tuttle Radio Op.
S/Sgt. Lawrence B. Kallal Gunner
S/Sgt. Dale W. Maury Gunner
S/Sgt. William T. Minyard Gunner
S/Sgt. Ernest J. Cutshall Gunner
---------------------------------------
Suggested edit From Contributor (47806468)
DSC Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps), [then Major] James Carroll Beam, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-24 Heavy Bomber in the 506th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group (H), NINTH Air Force (Attached), while participating in a bombing mission on 1 August 1943, against the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Rumania. A Squadron Leader, Colonel Beam was leading his formation toward the target when subjected to intense point-blank fire from ground installations. Realizing that to take evasive action at so low an altitude would disrupt the formation and imperil the success of the mission, he held his course straight to the target and his skillful piloting and courageous perseverance made possible the successful bombing of the target. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Colonel Beam on this occasion, even when confronted with practically certain destruction, exemplified the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
*Veteran*
"In memory of our beloved father whose ashes are scattered among the ashes of his wife, Barbara, on this farm which they both so dearly loved".
James Beam was a pilot in the 44th Bomb Group serving in North Africa and the ETO stationed in England.
Major Beam was a recipient of the Distinguished flying cross for his valor in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" August 1st 1943. One of the most daring raids of WW2. Coming in at tree top level the 44th BG destroy Romanian oil refineries.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Pilot Major James C. Beam DFC
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio.
Squadron: 506th BS 44th Bomb Group
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart
Target: Ploesti
Mission Date : 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 41-24234
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Letter:U
Aircraft Name: MR. 5 X 5 Beam,
Location: Crew of 9 successfully returned to base in Libya.
Crew of MR. 5 X 5 Beam,
Major James C. Beam Pilot
2nd/Lt. Preston E. Vaden Navigator
T/Sgt. Richard H. Williams Engineer
T/Sgt. Richard E. Tuttle Radio Op.
S/Sgt. Lawrence B. Kallal Gunner
S/Sgt. Dale W. Maury Gunner
S/Sgt. William T. Minyard Gunner
S/Sgt. Ernest J. Cutshall Gunner
---------------------------------------
Suggested edit From Contributor (47806468)
DSC Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps), [then Major] James Carroll Beam, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-24 Heavy Bomber in the 506th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group (H), NINTH Air Force (Attached), while participating in a bombing mission on 1 August 1943, against the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Rumania. A Squadron Leader, Colonel Beam was leading his formation toward the target when subjected to intense point-blank fire from ground installations. Realizing that to take evasive action at so low an altitude would disrupt the formation and imperil the success of the mission, he held his course straight to the target and his skillful piloting and courageous perseverance made possible the successful bombing of the target. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Colonel Beam on this occasion, even when confronted with practically certain destruction, exemplified the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
"In memory of our beloved father whose ashes are scattered among the ashes of his wife, Barbara, on this farm which they both so dearly loved".
James Beam was a pilot in the 44th Bomb Group serving in North Africa and the ETO stationed in England.
Major Beam was a recipient of the Distinguished flying cross for his valor in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" August 1st 1943. One of the most daring raids of WW2. Coming in at tree top level the 44th BG destroy Romanian oil refineries.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Pilot Major James C. Beam DFC
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio.
Squadron: 506th BS 44th Bomb Group
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart
Target: Ploesti
Mission Date : 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 41-24234
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Letter:U
Aircraft Name: MR. 5 X 5 Beam,
Location: Crew of 9 successfully returned to base in Libya.
Crew of MR. 5 X 5 Beam,
Major James C. Beam Pilot
2nd/Lt. Preston E. Vaden Navigator
T/Sgt. Richard H. Williams Engineer
T/Sgt. Richard E. Tuttle Radio Op.
S/Sgt. Lawrence B. Kallal Gunner
S/Sgt. Dale W. Maury Gunner
S/Sgt. William T. Minyard Gunner
S/Sgt. Ernest J. Cutshall Gunner
---------------------------------------
Suggested edit From Contributor (47806468)
DSC Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps), [then Major] James Carroll Beam, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-24 Heavy Bomber in the 506th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group (H), NINTH Air Force (Attached), while participating in a bombing mission on 1 August 1943, against the Ploesti Oil Refineries in Rumania. A Squadron Leader, Colonel Beam was leading his formation toward the target when subjected to intense point-blank fire from ground installations. Realizing that to take evasive action at so low an altitude would disrupt the formation and imperil the success of the mission, he held his course straight to the target and his skillful piloting and courageous perseverance made possible the successful bombing of the target. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Colonel Beam on this occasion, even when confronted with practically certain destruction, exemplified the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
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