Hugh John Beazley

Hugh John Sherard Beazley
Birth name	Hugh John Sherard Beazley
Nickname(s)	Beazle
Born	(1916-07-18)18 July 1916
Died	13 June 2011(2011-06-13) (aged 94) Cornwall
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1939–1946
Rank	Wing Commander
Unit	No. 249 Squadron RAF, No. 89 Squadron RAF
Commands held	No. 249 Squadron RAF
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross
Other work	Colonial Office

Wing Commander Hugh John Sherard "Beazle" Beazley, DFC (18 July 1916 – 13 June 2010) was a famed World War II Royal Air Force fighter pilot.

Early life

Hugh John Sherard Beazley was born on 18 July 1916, the son of a judge His Honour Sir Hugh Beazley. He was educated at Cheltenham College and Pembroke College, Oxford, where he read History. Whilst at university he began flying with the Oxford University Air Squadron^[1] and played rugby for Richmond.^[2] 25 Sept. 1941.

Royal Air Force

On the outbreak of war, Beazley was called up to serve in the Royal Air Force and completed his training as a pilot at Royal Air Force College Cranwell.

Battle of Britain

Beazley joined No. 249 Squadron RAF at RAF Church Fenton on its formation in May 1940^[3] as a Flying Officer^[4] flying Hurricanes. He was promoted to the rank of Flying Officer on 25 September 1940.^[5]

On 8 July Beazley shared in the destruction of an enemy bomber over Yorkshire. No. 249 Squadron RAF then moved to RAF North Weald to join No. 11 Group RAF in the main Battle in the south of England. On 2 September he probably destroyed a Messerschmitt but was attacked in turn; his Hurricane burst into flames. Beazley bailed out and landed safely near Gillingham – despite being fired on by the local artillery battery. He was soon back in action, and four days later shared in the destruction of another enemy fighter. On 15 September, now known as Battle of Britain Day, he accounted for a Dornier Do 17 and two days later he shared in the destruction of a Junkers Ju 88.

On 27 September 1940, whilst attacking a Messerschmitt Bf 110, Beazley was badly wounded in the foot but managed to nurse his aircraft back to RAF North Weald. He was subsequently hospitalized and therefore it was his last action during the Battle of Britain.^[6]

Later War

After being wounded in action, he spent five months in hospital before rejoining the squadron in March 1941 in time to sail for Malta on the carrier HMS Ark Royal. Beazley, along with the rest of the squadron, was launched from the ship on 21 May 1941, arriving at Ta' Qali in Malta. He was promoted again to the rank of Flight Lieutenant on 25 September 1941.^[7]

Beazley damaged an Italian bomber, a Messerschmitt Bf 109 and, on an intruder mission over Sicily, destroyed a train. On 19 January 1942 his Hurricane was hit by ground fire during an attack on the Italian airfield at Comiso and he was forced to crash land on his return to Malta. In February 1942 he probably destroyed a German Junkers 88. After the loss of the squadron commander in December, Beazley was made 249 squadron's commanding officer but, in February 1942, after 10 months of continuous action and 215 combat sorties over Malta, he was rested.

After serving on Air Marshal Tedder's staff, Beazley returned to operations in December 1942, flying the twin-engined Beaufighter. He was posted to No. 89 Squadron RAF in North Africa before, in October 1943, travelling with it to join the fighting in South East Asia. In March 1944 he was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for "displaying the highest standard of courage and leadership" and appointed to command the operational airfield at Minneriya in Ceylon. He was promoted Squadron Leader on 13 June 1944.^[8]

In the final stages of the war Beazley was offered further promotion, but since this meant he would have to stop flying, he transferred to Transport Command and flew Dakotas with No. 246 Squadron RAF in Europe, the Middle and Far East^[9] until 1946, when he left the RAF. He officially relinquished his commission on 23 August 1954.^[10]

Post RAF Career

After leaving the RAF, Beazley joined the Colonial Office and was posted to Nigeria, where he worked for 10 years, rising to become a Senior Resident. He loved Nigeria and its people and remained lifelong friends with his Nigerian colleague, Simeon Adebo – later United Nations Under-Secretary General. After Nigeria was granted independence, Beazley became a chartered accountant and joined the BET group, where he worked as a finance director until his retirement in 1981.

In Hertfordshire he was an important supporter of the Conservative Party, serving as a councillor and then as chairman of Hoddesdon district council. He was also president of the Broxbourne Conservative Association.

He was a trustee and treasurer of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, playing a major role in establishing a permanent memorial to "The Few" at Capel-Le-Ferne.

In 1947 he married Mary Rawlings, daughter of Admiral Sir Bernard Rawlings. John Beazley died on 13 June 2011 and was survived by his wife their two sons and one daughter.

References

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