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Group Captain Francis Victor Beamish, (27 September 1903 – 28 March 1942) was an Irish-born Royal Air Force fighter pilot and flying ace of the Second World War. After flying during the Battle of Britain he continued to lead fighter operations until he was killed in action in 1942.
Towards the end of the year, Beamish was posted to British India, joining No. 31 Squadron at Ambala. He transferred to No. 60 Squadron at Kohat in April 1926. Returning to England in October, Beamish participated in a course at the Central Flying School at RAF Wittering before commencing a tour as an instructor at No. 5 Flying Training School at RAF Sealand.
Beamish played rugby union for Harlequins, Leicester Tigers, Hampshire, Royal Air Force and Irish Trials for several years. He was the eldest of the Beamish brothers who were all accomplished sportsmen and RAF officers; his brothers being George Beamish, Charles Beamish and Cecil Beamish.
In September 1927 Beamish returned to Cranwell College as a member of the staff. He was promoted flight lieutenant late the following year. Beamish was posted to Canada in March 1929 on an exchange with the Royal Canadian Air Force, where he worked in training and development of an aerobatics display team. During his time in Canada he developed pleurisy. On his return to the United Kingdom two years later, he was posted to No. 25 Squadron at RAF Hawkinge as a flight commander. In January 1932 he was appointed personal assistant to the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) at RAF Uxbridge. By 1933, his pleurisy worsened into tuberculosis and he was hospitalised. He reluctantly relinquished his commission in the RAF in October 1933 due to ill-health.
In 1934 Beamish secured a civilian post at No. 2 Flying Training School RAF Digby which he held until appointed civilian adjutant at RAF Aldergrove on 18 May 1936 simultaneously being granted a commission as flight lieutenant in the Reserve of Air Force Officers. A notice in the London Gazette in February 1937 recorded that Flight Lieutenant Francis Victor Beamish (RAF retired) had been reinstated on the active list as a flight lieutenant with effect from 27 January 1937 (with seniority dated 23 March 1932, having relinquished his commission with the Reserve of Air Force Officers, Having recovered his health he was reinstated with full flying status and posted to command No. 2 Armament Training Camp and then the Meteorological Flight at RAF Aldergrove. He was appointed to command No. 64 Squadron RAF at RAF Church Fenton on 8 December 1937.
Squadron Leader Beamish served as Honorary Aide-de-Camp representing the Royal Air Force on the staff of the Governor of Northern Ireland from 6 April 1937 until 6 January 1938.
Beamish was awarded the Air Force Cross on 1 January 1938, for his work in the formation of the "Met Flight".
In action during the height of the Battle of Britain on 18 August 1940 Beamish claimed a probable Junkers Ju 88 bomber, on 24 August 1940 a Do 17 damaged and on 30 August 1940 two probable Bf 110s. On 6 September 1940 Beamish claimed two Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers, on 11 September 1940 a probable Heinkel He 111 bomber, on 15 September 1940 a shared He 111 and on 18 September 1940 and 27 September 1940 he scored probable Bf 109s. Beamish damaged a Bf 109 on 12 October 1940, on 25 October 1940 he probably destroyed a Bf 109 and damaged another and finally probably shooting down another on 30 October 1940.
On 7 November 1940 Beamish collided with Pilot Officer Tom Neil of No. 249 Squadron RAF whilst on patrol and made a forced-landing at Leeds Castle in Kent. The following day, it was announced in The London Gazette that Beamish had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The published citation read:
In all his sorties in 1940, he was damaged by enemy action three times, on each occasion getting his aircraft down safely. On 11 November 1940 an attack was carried out by Italian aircraft based in Belgium during which Beamish claimed a probable Fiat CR.42 Falco bi-plane fighter. On 13 November 1940 he damaged a Bf 109 near Dover.
Beamish was appointed to command RAF Kenley on 25 January 1942 and was able to fly more frequently with his squadrons. Accompanied by Wing Commander Robert Boyd he took off on the morning of 12 February on a reconnaissance flight during which they chased two Bf 109s before sighting part of the German Fleet making its 'Channel Dash'. The ships had been reported ten minutes earlier by two pilots of No. 91 Squadron RAF but the report had not been fully believed until such senior confirmation was received. Attacks were then planned. MOD RAF Website – FV Beamish On 13 February Beamish shared in the destruction of a Heinkel He 115 float plane over the Channel. On 9 March, he claimed a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter destroyed claiming a second one and a Bf 109 on 26 March 1942.
On 28 March, Beamish was flying with the New Zealand No. 485 Squadron, which operated from Kenley, on a sweep involving eight RAF squadrons along the French coast; the intention was to draw out Luftwaffe fighters. A formation of Fw 190s was sighted near Cap Griz Nez and in the engagement which followed, Beamish was attacked and damaged by a Fw 190. He requested a position over the radio and was last sighted crossing the French coast. Presumed to have crashed into the English Channel, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runneymeade Memorial at Englefield Green.
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