John Becke

John Harold Whitworth Becke
Brigadier-General Becke
Born	17 September 1879
Died	7 February 1949
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army  Royal Air Force
Years of service	1899–1920
Rank	Brigadier-General
Commands held	No. 6 Squadron RFC No. 2 Squadron RFC 1st (Corps) Wing, RFC IV Brigade II Brigade
Battles/wars	World War I

Brigadier-General John Harold Whitworth Becke CMG DSO AFC (17 September 1879 – 7 February 1949) was an infantry officer in the Second Boer War and squadron, wing and brigade commander in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I. He transferred to the RAF on its creation on 1 April 1918 as a temporary Brigadier-General. He retired from the RAF in 1920.

He was born in Liverpool on 17 September 1879 and as a Captain in the Sherwood Foresters seconded to the Royal Flying Corps he was awarded his Royal Aero Club aviators certificate on 18 June 1912 flying a Bristol Biplane at Brooklands.^[1] Becke was the first commanding officer of No. 6 Squadron, one of a handful of flying squadrons to be established before World War I.

Becke at Upper Dysart in 1913.

Honours and awards

• Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George - 3 Jun 1918
• Distinguished Service Order - 1 Jan 1917
• Air Force Cross - 3 Jun 1919
• Mentioned in Despatches - 17 Feb 1915, 20 May 1918
• Officers of the Légion d'honneur - 24 Feb 1916
• Croix de Guerre (France) - 18 Apr 1918

References

• Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Brigadier-General J H W Becke
• No. II(AC) Squadron - Major J H W Becke