Richard William Beck
Born 20 Nov 1921 - Died 11 Nov 1944
- Service number
- NZ415574 AWMM
- WWII 415574 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- Warrant Officer AWMM Royal Air Force, No. 224 Squadron AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- Richard William AWMM
- Surname
- Beck AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- —
- Service number
- NZ415574 AWMM
- WWII 415574 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
- —
- Religion
- —
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 20 Nov 1921 RNZAF Biographies (R17845607)
- Date of birth
- 20 November 1921Public - Martin - Other Relative - 3 June 2015 - Birth Certificate
- Place of birth
- Wellington New ZealandPublic - Martin - Other Relative - 3 June 2015 - Birth certificate
- Birth notes
- —
- Address before enlistment
- —
- Post war occupation
- —
- Next of kin
- WW2 Father: Mr K. M. Beck, 142 Totara Road, Miramar, Wellington AWMM
- Kenneth Martin BeckPublic - Martin - Other Relative - 3 June 2015 - Family
- Relationship status
- Single/WWII AWMM
- FatherPublic - Martin - Other Relative - 3 June 2015 - Family
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- Europe (Air) AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Service number
- NZ415574 AWMM
- WWII 415574 AWMM
- Military service
- 224 SquadronPublic - Martin - Other Relative - 3 June 2015 - Millitary records
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- Royal Air Force, No. 224 Squadron AWMM
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- The Atlantic Star - Air Crew Europe
The 1939-1945 Star - Battle of Britain
New Zealand War Service Medal
The Defence Medal 1939-1945
War Medal 1939-1945Public - Martin - Other Relative - 3 June 2015 - Minister of Defence
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 2 Wireless School, Calgary, Alberta, Canada AWMM
Course 1: Class 42A. Graduation Date: 7/12/1942. AWMM - British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 5 Bombing and Gunnery School, Dafoe, Saskatchewan, Canada AWMM
- British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 2 Wireless School, Calgary, Alberta, Canada AWMM
- Branch Trade Proficiency
- —
- Enlistment
- —
- Age on enlistment
- —
- Occupation before enlistment
- —
Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Vessel was Empress of Canada AWMM Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
- —
- Days interned
- —
- Liberation date
- —
- POW liberation details
- —
- Liberation Repatriation
- —
- POW serial number
- —
Medical history
- Medical notes
- Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM
Killed on air operations AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- Warrant Officer AWMM
Royal Air Force, No. 224 Squadron AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Richard Beck was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Martin Beck, of Miramar, Wellington, New Zealand.
Attended Terrace End School, Palmerston North and the Clyde Quay School, Wellington (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845607))
947 hours as wireless operator, air gunner (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845607)) AWMM - His Mother was Helen Hester Evelyn (Lord)
His date of birth was 20 November 1921Public - Martin - Other Relative - 3 June 2015 - I am his Nephew
- Richard Beck was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Martin Beck, of Miramar, Wellington, New Zealand.
About death
- Death
- 11 Nov 1944 AWMM
Age 22 AWMM - Date of death
- —
- Age at death
- —
- Place of death
- —
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action AWMM
- Death notes
- Anti-submarine patrol between Shetland and the Norwegian coast. Liberator GR.VI EW312/D - took off at 11.25 captained by Flight Lt P M Hill RAF, and shot down by fighters into the sea 30km west of Bergen.Public - Martin - Other Relative - 3 June 2015 - MoD file
- Cemetery
- —
- Cemetery name
- —
- Grave reference
- —
- Obituary
- —
- Memorial name
- —
- Memorial reference
- —
Memorial
- Memorial name
- Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, United Kingdom AWMM
Sources
- External links
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1083659
Sources Used - RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ab - B. Archives New Zealand (R17845607).
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845607
Sources Used - List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. Archives New Zealand (R17845745)
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845745
Sources Used
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
- References
- Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
- This record is a work in progress and was partially compiled from the “Database of New Zealand Airmen who took part in Advanced Air Training in Canada during WW2”. Researched by Ivan and Lorna Lindsey of Tauranga. N.Z. 2003 – 2012. Reproduced with permission.
- RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ab - B. Archives New Zealand (R17845607) - Former archives reference: AIR118
- Please note that the 11 volumes of the "RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939-1945" held at Archives NZ (formerly known as AIR118) should be used in conjunction with Errol Martyn's "For Your Tomorrow". FYT reflects detailed examination of all of the AIR118 bios which contain many inaccuracies and omissions.
- List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. [List of Missing - United Kingdom, Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845745)
- List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - Embarkation Lists, November 1940 - July 1942. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845762).
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