John D. Beeson was born on November 1, 1925, in Losantville to Donald H. and Julia (Brewer) Beeson. He was married to Betty Jean Spillers Beeson. He was a graduate of Losantville High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943 and trained at the University of Kentucky before transferring to the Army Air Corps. After entering the aviation student program and initially serving as a flight instructor, he became a B-17 tail gunner when the program ended, serving as a Staff Sergeant with the 837th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group (Heavy), Eighth Air Force, aboard B-17G #44-8276 in the European Theater during World War II.

On March 18, 1945, on their twenty-fourth mission, B-17G #44-8276 participated in a mission to bomb railroad marshalling yards in Berlin, Germany, but was severely damaged by German anti-aircraft fire just before the bomb run, forcing it to abandon the mission. As the aircraft became uncontrollable, the pilot attempted to reach a safer landing area; however, the crew was compelled to bail out about ten miles east of the Oder River near Massin, Germany (now Mosina, Poland). During the descent, Technical Sergeants Sunberg and Leonard A. Marino were killed when Russian Yak fighters strafed the parachuting airmen, while the remaining crew members landed safely.

SSgt Beeson successfully bailed out and survived, later being recovered and briefly detained by Soviet forces before returning to Allied control. After returning home from World War II, he attended Ball State Teachers’ College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Upon completing the USAF ROTC program, he re-entered the U.S. Air Force in June 1950. Following pilot training at Connally and Reese Air Force Bases, he spent the majority of his 26-year military career with the Strategic Air Command, except for a B-29 tour during the Korean War and a one-year assignment at Ubon, Thailand, during the Vietnam conflict. Over the course of his service, he served as a B-17 tail gunner in World War II, a B-29 co-pilot in Korea, and a B-52 commander during the Cold War, and later as chief of maintenance for a fighter wing during Vietnam. His assignments included two tours at SAC headquarters in personnel and aircraft roles, as well as positions as deputy chief of mission of the 99th Bomb Wing at Westover Air Force Base and the 42nd Bomb Wing at Loring Air Force Base. He later served as chief of maintenance for the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing in Thailand and commander of the 7th Bomb Wing at Carswell Air Force Base, ultimately retiring from the U.S. Air Force in 1975 with the rank of Colonel.

After retirement, he returned to Muncie and Ball State University, where he earned a master’s degree. He briefly taught industrial arts at Cowan High School before beginning a second aviation career as vice president of operations for Muncie Aviation Company and president of Muncie Airport, Inc. He managed Delaware County Airport and flew a wide range of Piper aircraft, from the Tomahawk trainer to the Cheyenne IV, training nearly 100 pilots before retiring. He died on November 15, 2023, and is now buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Maxville, Randolph County, Indiana, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR)