Beck Francis H.

Monuments

The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan

Name:

Francis H. Beck

Rank:

First Lieutenant

Serial Number:

Unit:

51st Fighter Group

Date of Death:

1944-05-21

State:

Michigan

Cemetery:

National Memorial Cem. of the Pacific, Hawaii

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

785

Decoration:

Distinguished Flying Cross

Comments:

Francis H. Beck, aged 24, was born on May 13, 1920 in Flint, Genesee County, Michigan. He was the son of Otto Anthony Beck and Alice Clela Stiles Beck. Francis was a volunteer pilot with the Flying Tigers in China between December 1941 and July 1942. He was twice shot down during the war but Chineese citizens risked their lives to return him to his base. After July 1942 he became part of the 51st AAC Fighter Group. A propeller malfunction caused his plane to crash in May 1944. He received a Distinguished Flying Cross. He died on May 21, 1944 and is now buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA.

He was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China but death date is inscribed as 1944-12-21.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com