BEAIRD Jr. Thomas
E
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BEAIRD Jr. Thomas
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PROMOTIONS
/ AFFECTATIONS
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194?
1945 |
| Grade | Date |
Unités
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Arrivée | Départ | Fonction | Secteur | ||
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Slt
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194?
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USAAF | 194? | 1943 | Elève Pilote | Etats-Unis | |
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Lt
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194?
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HQ / 55 FG | ~10/43 | 04/44 | Pilote | Grande Bretagne | |
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Cpt
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194?
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USAAF | 04/44 | 1945 | Pilote | Etats-Unis | |
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Mal
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04/04/44
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55th Fighter Group
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38th Fighter Squadron |
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Traducteur / Translator / Traduttore / übersetzer / vertaler |
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DECORATIONS
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Victoires aériennes
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Victoires
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1
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o
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Collaboration
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Probables
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1
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o
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Collaboration
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Non confirmées
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o
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o
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Collaboration
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Endommagés
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1
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o
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Collaboration
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Objectifs terrestres . |
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Avions détruits
au sol
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Endommagés
au sol
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Blindés
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Véhicules
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Locomotives
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Bateaux
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VICTOIRES
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| Date | Heure | Revendic | Type | Unité | Avion d'arme | Unité | Lieu | Référence | ||
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13.11.43
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11.35 - 11.40 | Endommagé | Fw 190 |
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- | 38 FS / 55 FG | Ouest Bremen |
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(Cpt) Beaird Thomas E | |
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We had joined the bombers and were
at an altitude of 24,000 ft. We made a pass at a single Focke-Wulf 190
with checkerboard markings, at approximately 20,000 ft. I only had a 90
degree deflection and fired very short bursts, missed of course, and broke
in a climbing turn to the left toward the first element. we continued
to climb in a slight right hand turn when I suddenly saw a single FW 190
about 500 feet below and climbing approximately 90 degrees to us. I lowered
my nose and fired several short bursts and closing from approximately
70 degree deflection to approximately 30 degree deflection and observed
something fly off the left wing. However, E/A kept right on into same
course and took no evasive action. I then observed three Focke-Wulfs trailing
my element, so I broke and rejoined my flight. Two P-38's came diving
down from above and drove the three E/A off.
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29.11.43
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Probable | Me 109 |
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- | HQ / 55 FG | 75 m Ouest Bremen |
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(Cpt) Beaird Thomas E | ||
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On my second bounce going into the
target, I lost the rest of my flight and tacked onto the nearest semblance
of a flight I could find. We ended up with five ships and made three bounces
on ME 109's attacking two P-38's below us, then we were bounced by five
ME 109's from above. When we got out of that skirmish, in which I did
not get to fire nor did not see anyone go down, I found myself way behind
the rest of the P-38's. I pushed everything to the fire wall and after
about ten minutes caught four P-38's flying very loosely. I joined them
and had just throttled back when somebody started telling the bunch, who
were high in the back, that there were a number of enemy fighters catching
from 6 o'clock. We pored everything to our ships (were at 34,000) and
somebody told us they were still gaining. At this time I saw five ME 109's about our same level over my right shoulder. I looked over my left shoulder and saw one ME 109 right on the tail of the P-38 to my left and behind. I called for Major Joel's wingman to break right ( I thought I had joined Major Joel's flight). I broke left to meet the ME 109 head on. The P-38 ahead of me to my left also broke left. The ME 109 dove for the clouds. I continued in a left turn to take up my original heading and came out almost directly behind a ME 109 with one P-38 off to my right. I started closing on the ME 109 that seemed to be in a very steep climb for that altitude. I fired one fair burst; saw a flash on his canopy and observed him pull his nose straight up hang on his prop and then spin under my left wing. I turned to the left to clear my tail, looked back and saw him spin into the overcast. I believe this plane was destroyed by my strikes on the canopy. |
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05.02.44
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12.00 | Détruit | Me 109 |
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- | 38 FS / 55 FG | En route vers Chartres |
1
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(Cpt) Beaird Thomas E | |
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I was leading Swindle Blue Flight
home from the target area at an altitude of 20,000 feet, when Swindle
Blue 3 called in two Me109's taking off from Chartres Airport directly
below us. Under my left wing I caught a glimpse of two flashes, apparently
enemy aircraft, so I kicked it over and shoved the nose down. At 15,000
ft. I lost sight of the Huns and leveled off. After a 180 degree turn,
I kicked it over again and dove straight out of the sun. When I leveled
off I was on the tail of two Me109's. I picked the leader, who was on
the left, so that my wingman, Lt. Watts, could go after the right one.
When three-fourths of my sight was filled I opened fire and held it until
I had to pull up and over to avoid a collision. I observed 7 or 8 cannon
strikes at the root of the right wing and saw a large piece of the wing
rip off. When I last saw the E/A he was in a tight turn to the right,
slipping off his right wing, at an altitude of 500 feet. Black smoke poured
from the plane and it was obviously out of control. About that time I
sighted more E/A coming in, so I told the flight to break off and hit
the deck fro home. I claim one (1) Me109 destroyed.
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Sources
STARS & BARS - Frank Olynyk - Grub Street Editions
http://www.station131.co.uk/55th/Pilots/Beaird%20Thomas%20E%20Jr%20Maj.htm
