Name: |
BEAUPRE, Henry Harold, DFC, POW |
Nationality: |
Canadian |
Regiment/Service: |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Rank: |
Flight Lieutenant |
Service No.: |
J/16378 |
Unit Text: |
No.83 Squadron |
Date of Birth: |
4 October 1918 - |
Date of Death |
26 March 2002 - Waterloo, Waterloo, ON |
BEAUPRE, F/L Henry Harold (J16378) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.83 Squadron - Award effective 9 October 1945 as per London Gazette dated 19 October 1945 and AFRO 1822/45 dated 7 December 1945. Born 4 October 1918. Home in Kitchener; enlisted Hamilton, 28 October 1940. To No.1 WS (non-flying duty), 15 November 1940. To No.1 ITS, 7 February 1941; graduated and promoted LAC, 16 March 1941 but not to No.10 EFTS until 29 March 1941; ceased training and posted elsewhere, 13 May 1941; to No.4 AOS, 6 June 1941; graduated 1 September 1941 when posted to No.1 BGS; graduated and promoted Sergeant 11 October 1941 when posted to No.2 ANS; graduated and commissioned 27 November 1941. To "Y" Depot that date; to RAF overseas, 28 December 1941. Promoted Flying Officer, 27 November 1942. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 16 April 1943. Repatriated to Canada, 1 June 1945. To No.1 Composite Training School, 12 June 1945. To No.4 Release Centre, 24 September 1945. Retired 10 October 1945. Award presented in Hamilton, 27 July 1949. Died in Waterloo, Ontario, 26 March 2002 as per Legion Magazine of November 2002. The incident described occurred on the night of 16/17 April 1943 (raid on Skoda works) and resulted in Beaupre being made a POW.
This officer has displayed a high degree of courage, determination and devotion to duty throughout a large number of operational sorties. On one occasion in April 1943, he was navigator in an aircraft detailed for an attack against Pilsen. After leaving the target area his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and severely damaged. All members of the crew, with the exception of the bomb aimer, being wounded. For ten to fifteen minutes the aircraft was illuminated by searchlights and subjected to an intense barrage of fire from the enemy's defences. Although it was again hit, two engines being put out of action, the captain managed to keep the crippled bomber on a course for the French coast for approximately two hours. This was largely owing to the cool and concise instructions of Flight Lieutenant Beaupre. The aircraft was then attacked by an enemy fighter and the captain, wireless operator, and Flight Lieutenant Beaupre wounded. One of the two remaining engines was rendered useless and the aircraft was forced down to a low level and crashed. Despite his many wounds and suffering from shock due to the crash, Flight Lieutenant Beaupre, who has extricated himself from the wreckage, unhesitating entered the burning wreckage and freed the trapped gunner. Throughout this hazardous experience, this officer, both in the air and on the ground, subsequent to the crash, displayed outstanding courage and devotion to duty. |
The website "Lost Bombers" provides the following on this sortie, involving Lancaster R5484
(OL-V) of No.83 Squadron, target Pilsen, 16/17 April 1943. This aircraft had first been delivered to No.44 Squadron who coded it KM-K but did
not operate it before transfer to No.83 Squadron on 28 March 1943. With that unit it took part in the following operations: Essen, 3/4 April
1943; Pilsen, 16/17 April 1943 (one of two squadron Lancasters lost on this mission). When lost this aircraft had a total of 67 hours.
Airborne at 2117 hours, 16 April 1943 from Wyton. Last heard on W/T at 0411 hours, 17 April 1943 advising that the Lancaster was trying to
make base on two engines. Crashed at Pontavert (Aisne), 28 km SE of Laon, France. Crew consisted of F/O Glen Alexander McNichol, pilot. RCAF
(killed), Warrant Officer G.C. Mott (POW), F/O H.H.F.Beaupre, RCAF (POW), F/O Thomas William Lewis, RCAF (POW), Flight Sergeant G.S.
MacFarlane (POW), Sergeant H.R. Willis (POW), Flight Sergeant C.W.Hobbs, RCAF (POW). Beaupre was held Camp L3, POW number No.1253 with
T.W. Lewis, POW number 270, an American citizen serving in the RCAF. Flight Sergeant Hobbs (promoted WO1 during captivity) was held in Camps
L1, L6 and 357, POW number 1071 with Flight Sergeant Willis, POW number 1113, Flight Sergeant MacFarlane, POW number 1079 and Warrant Officer
Mott, POW number 1152.
Directorate of History and Heritage file 181.001 D.24 has his report of loss of aircraft based on interview of 10 May 1945. He stated he had
flown 37 sorties.
Took off at 2130 from Wyton, target Pilsen. Conditions were good until we reached the target when low cloud was encountered. We dropped our flares to light up the target area and then went below cloud to mark the target visually. Intense light flak and believe the aircraft was hit as the 4,000X hung up. We did a third run and finally a fourth when the 4,000X was released manually by the Flight Engineer. He said it was burning at the time. On returning we met the Frankfurt defences at 12,000 feet when the aircraft was coned by about 30 searchlights with both intense heavy and light flak. The first burst wounded the Mid-Upper, Wireless Operator and self. Another burst shot away the D.R. and P.4 compasses and intercom was unserviceable. The gunners fired at searchlights and flak batteries; turrets were unserviceable after leaving the area. The pilot carried out evasive action when in and we left the area at tree top height with the starboard engine [on] fire following the moon, which could be seen through 9/10 cloud. He climbed back to 10,000 feet and carried on at 90 K and 30 degrees of flap to maintain height. The fire was extinguished and a second engine had to be feathered. After two hours we saw the French coast - a Ju.88 attacked and set the fuselage on fire and wounded the Flight Engineer, Rear Gunner and Mid-Upper and self - the Mid Upper was on the rest chair and Rear Gunner was brought forward earlier to stand by to abandon aircraft or possible ditch. After the attack a second one was made wounding the pilot and self. The order to bale out had been given and the Flight Engineer and Bomb Aimer left the aircraft. The loss of a third engine and rudder controls caused the aircraft to dive; we crashed into a house when the pilot was killed. The Rear Gunner and Wireless Operator were thrown clear. I went head first through the instrument panel. After regaining consciousness I saw the aircraft in flames - apparently broken up and I found the Mid-Upper trapped under the main spar. We managed to get his leg free and left the aircraft in flames. Head, arm, leg and back injured. Hit at 2130 hours. |
SOURCE: Air Force Association of Canada website & Hugh Halliday (July 30, 2010).
Newspaper Stories
Return to Remembering Those Who Served Page
Return to Pennfield Ridge Air Station Page
Return to Pennfield Parish Home Page