No.516285, Leading Aircraftsman, Howard Eric BEAUMONT
Aged 25
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Howard Eric Beaumont appears to have been born in Mansfield in Q4-1914, son of Herbert Edward and Edith Ann BEAUMONT (née HEATH).
He married Mildenhall born Winifred Mary CLEMENTS [27 May 1915] in Newmarket Q3-1939. Their daughter Kay was born after her father's death, in 1940. They lived with farmer John T WEBB in Wilde Street,Beck Row, there is one closed record. Winifred married William A SHARPE in 1947. |
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Thirty three members of 99 Squadron died on 14th December 1939 when an armed reconnaissance mission to Heligoland Bight was ordered with the aim of also
attacking major units of the German fleet believed to be in Schillig Roads on the approach to Wilhelmshaven. It was mistakenly believed, from previous operations,
that the Luftwaffe fighter were only equipped with rifle calibre machine guns and that a massed formation of bombers could adequately defend itself.The Luftwaffe
had however progressed and their fighter were armed with cannon.
Taking off from Newmarket at 11:43 they set off, via Yarmouth flying just below the cloudbase at 1,000 feet. The weather deteriorated en route and flying almost
at sea level they came across flak ships which forced a change of course. Then the Luftwaffe arrived on the scene, with Me 110's and Me 109's. In the ensuing air
battles the Wellingtons were easy prey to the fighters. The only bombs dropped were those jettisoned by the returning bombers. In all 5 Wellingtons and their crews were lost to the Germans, either to flak or to fighters. Even then one returning bomber crashed in the final approach at RAF Newmarket, killing three of it's crew (the pilot, New Zealander, F/Lt Eugene Hetherington is buried in West Row). Howard had already taken part in the squadron's first operation of the war, on 8th September, in Wellington L4225, to drop leaflets over Hanover. That mission had to be aborted due to leaflets coming loose and jamming some controls, and they were forced to land at Mildenhall. On 14th December he was air gunner aboard Vickers Wellington Mk 1A, N2886, piloted by Flight Sergeant J.E.K.Healey. They are believed to have been shot down near Wangerooge Island
Not his actual aircraft photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
