| Bernard Paul Gascoigne Beanlands | |
|---|---|
| Born | 9 September 1897 Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
| Died | 8 May 1918 Northolt |
| Sevenoaks (St. Nicholas) Churchyard | Kent, England |
| Allegiance | King George V of the British Empire |
| Service/branch | Infantry; aviation |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Hampshire Regiment, No. 70 Squadron RFC, No. 24 Squadron RAF |
| Awards | Military Cross |
Captain Bernard Paul Gascoigne Beanlands was a Canadian World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.
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Bernard Paul Gascoigne Beanlands was born in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada on 9 September 1897.[1] He was a minister's son; Canon Beanlands was rector of Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria. Beanlands' mother was Laura Maud Hills. Both parents would predecease their son.[2]
The younger Beanlands joined the Hampshire Regiment in December 1914, in the first few months of World War I.[3]
On 3 March 1916, Beanlands was promoted to lieutenant in the Hampshires.[4] On 31 May 1916, he was forwarded as a second lieutenant to be a Flying Officer with the Royal Flying Corps.[5] On 1 September 1916, he was promoted to temporary lieutenant while serving with the RFC.[6] Five days later, he scored his first aerial victory, killing aces Hans Rosencrantz and Wilhelm Fahlbusch in their reconnaissance two-seater.[7] On 1 December 1916 he was appointed as Flight Commander, with a promotion to temporary captain.[8]
He transferred postings to 24 Squadron, where he scored eight more victories between 25 August 1917 and 18 March 1918.[9] On 11 April 1918, he was reported wounded in action in Flight magazine.[10] By that time, he had won the Military Cross, which was gazetted 25 April 1918:
....He has brought down three enemy aeroplanes out of control and driven down several others over the enemy lines.[11]
Bernard Paul Gascoigne Beanlands survived the war, only to die in a flying accident at RAF Northolt on 8 May 1919.[12] He was buried in the northwest corner of the new ground in the cemetery of his father's home parish, at Sevenoaks (St. Nicholas) Churchyard, Kent, England.[13][14]
Beanlands' first victory was scored while he was with 70 Squadron. The rest of his triumphs came with 24 Squadron.
| No. | Date/time | Aircraft | Foe | Result | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 September 1916 @ 1845 hours | Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter serial number A1902 | Roland reconnaissance plane | Destroyed by fire | Elincourt, France | Observer/gunner: C. A. Good. Victory shared with William Sanday and three other members of the RFC. Wilhelm Fahlbusch, Hans Rosencrantz KIA. |
| 2 | 25 August 1917 @ 0600 hours | Airco D.H.5 s/n A9165 | German reconnaissance plane | Destroyed by fire | Bellenglise, France | |
| 3 | 25 August 1917 @ 0600 hours | Airco D.H.5 s/n A9165 | German reconnaissance plane | Driven down out of control | Bellenglise, France | Shared victory. |
| 4 | 13 November 1917 @ 1230 hours | Airco D.H.5 s/n A9304 | Albatros D.III fighter | Captured | Schoorbakke | |
| 5 | 13 November 1917 @ 1230 hours | Airco D.H.5 s/n A9304 | Albatros D.III fighter | Driven down out of control | Schoorbakke | |
| 6 | 18 November 1917 @ 1105 hours | Airco D.H.5 s/n A9304 | Albatros D.III fighter | Driven down out of control | Nieuwpoort-Dixmude, Belgium | Shared victory |
| 7 | 30 November 1917 @ 1255 hours | Airco D.H.5 s/n A9304 | Albatros D.V fighter | Driven down out of control | East of Bourlon Wood | |
| 8 | 18 March 1918 @ 1140 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a fighter s/n C1081 | German reconnaissance plane | Driven down out of control | Villers Le Sec, France | Victory shared with Harold Redler[15] |
Aerial victory standards of World War I
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