Harry BECKETT

Name:

BECKETT, Harry, DFC

Nationality:

Canadian

Regiment/Service:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Rank:

Flight Lieutenant

Service No.:

J/11103

Unit Text:

No.115 Squadron

Date of Birth:

12 August 1910 -

BECKETT, F/O Harry (J11103) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.115 Squadron - Award effective 1 July 1943 as per London Gazette dated 9 July 1943 and AFRO 1724/43 dated 27 August 1943. Born 12 August 1010. Home in Fort William; enlisted Hamilton, 28 May 1941 and posted to No.1 Manning Depot. To No.31 BGS (guard duty), 20 June 1941. To No.5 ITS, 8 August 1941; graduated and promoted to LAC, 27 September 1941 when posted to No.8 AOS; may have graduated 29 December 1941 but not posted to No.9 BGS until 3 January 1942; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 28 February 1942 when posted to No.2 ANS; graduated and commissioned 30 March 1942. To "Y" Depot, 31 March 1942; to RAF overseas, 20 April 1942. Promoted Flying Officer, 1 October 1942. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 1 September 1943. Repatriated 23 November 1944. Retired 6 February 1945. Award presented 7 December 1943. Photo PL-25540L is a portrait.

As navigator this officer has completed numerous sorties over enemy territory. These have included flights in such heavily defended objectives as Hamburg, Berlin and Essen and several long distance missions to such places as Spezia and Turin. Flying Officer Beckett has always displayed a most commendable enthusiasm for operations and great courage in the face of the enemy.

NOTE: Public Record Office Air 2/8964 has recommendation drafted 21 May 1943 when he had flown 25 sorties (139 hours 30 minutes). Sortie list and submission as follows:

16 November 1942 - Gardening, objective not stated (7.03) 7 February 1943 - Lorient (5.15)
4 December 1942 - Gardening, Frisians (4.30) 26 March 1943 - Duisburg (3.30)
15 December 1942 - Gardening, Lorient (6.20) 29 March 1943 - Berlin (7.15)
20 December 1942 - Duisburg (4.15) 14 April 1943 - Stuttgart (5.30)
28 December 1942 - Gardening, area not stated (4.10) 16 April 1943 - Skoda Works (7.50)
2 January 1943 - Gardening, La Rochelle (7.40) 18 April 1943 - Spezia (8.45)
13 January 1943 - Gardening, La Rochelle (6.35) 20 April 1943 - Stettin (7.45)
14 January 1943 - Lorient (6.10) 26 April 1943 - Duisburg (3.10)
15 January 1943 - Lorient (5.40) 30 April 1943 - Essen (3.15)
26 January 1943 - Lorient (5.35) 4 May 1943 - Dortmund (3.45)
27 January 1943 - Gardening, La Rochelle (7.40) 12 May 1943 - Duisburg (3.10)
3 February 1943 - Hamburg (5.15) 13 May 1943 - Bochum (4.05)
4 February 1943 - Turin (5.00)  

This officer has completed a total of 25 operational sorties as a navigator, including targets like Duisburg (four times), Hamburg, Berlin (twice), Essen and also long trips like Pilsen, Turin and Spezia. Flying Officer Beckett is a skilful and determined navigator and has always shown great courage in the face of the enemy. He has always shown great keenness to fly on operations.

SOURCE: Air Force Association of Canada website & Hugh Halliday (July 31, 2010).

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