A WW II Airman’s Story Europe: Normandy through VE-Day

1. A WW II Airman’s Story Europe: Normandy through VE-Day Presentation make to Special Friends June 2005 6Z Special Friends

2. Sources: Photos by Anando Kramer Photos & Data from “Into the Valley” Col. Charles H. Young, 1995 Y’s Tales, York High Year Book Tower ’44, Wheaton College year book Photos from family albums

3. Anando Kramer, photographer

4. Prologue 1924 to 1942 My Name is Donald Frank Beaumont

5. Life Changing Events 1924 - Born with two wonderful parents

6. I am the oldest of three sons of Frank Beaumont 1900-1990 Beatrice Beaumont 1900-1997

7. Life Changing Events 1924 - Born with two wonderful parents 1930 - Moved 6 times by end of 1st grade

8. Life Changing Events 1924 - Born with two wonderful parents 1930 - Moved 6 times by end of 1st grade 1928 - First airplane ride

9. First Flight:1928 Pittsburg: Dad & Me Curtis Robin

10. Most Recent Flight: 2004 Georgetown, Texas

11. 76 Years!!!

12. Life Changing Events 1924 - Born with two wonderful parents 1930 - Moved 6 times by end of 1st grade 1928 - First airplane ride 1934 – Chose Jesus Christ, Savior & Lord 1936 – Joined Villa Park Bible Church 1938 – Attended York High School

13. The High School Years Teen Years: Family, Church Cars, a Girl Named Frances

15. Don and the ‘35 Ford Roadster

16. June 1942 I graduated from York High School Elmhurst, Illinois

17. List of York Servicemen from Classes before 1942! Three more classes were added by war’s end.

18. Young Men in Villa Park Bible Church Class of 1942 Kenny Goodheart Fred Damerion Killed in France, 1945

19. Life Changing Events 1924 - Born with two wonderful parents 1930 - Moved 6 times by end of 1st grade 1928 - First airplane ride 1934 – Chose Jesus Christ, Savior & Lord 1936 – Joined Villa Park Bible Church 1938 – Attended York High School 1942 – Attended Wheaton College

20. September 1942 to January 43 I attended Wheaton College, Illinois Wheaton, Dear old Wheaton live forever Brave Sons and Daughters true We will ever uphold thy colors The Orange and the Blue

21. Life Changing Events 1924 - Born with two wonderful parents 1930 - Moved 6 times by end of 1st grade 1928 - First airplane ride 1934 – Chose Jesus Christ, Savior & Lord 1936 – Joined Villa Park Bible Church 1938 – Attended York High School 1942 – Attended Wheaton College 1943 – Drafted into US Army

22. The War Years 1943 to 1945 1943 February 1943 Drafted: 36737213

23. I served in the Army Air Corps Feb. 27, 1943-Nov. 23, 1945 I served in the Troop Carrier Command 96th TCS 440th TCG Aircraft Electrical Specialist

24. Oh, What a difference 61 years makes

25. 96th TCS 440th TCG February 1944 – August 1945 European Theater of Operations Dropped Airborne Infantry Towed GC-4A & Horsa Gliders Dropped parapack re-supplies Hauled gasoline jerry cans Repatriated wounded & POW’s

26. 96th TCS 440th TCG February 1944 – August 1945 European Theater of Operations D-Day Normandy: Op. Neptune Southern France: Op. Dragoon Holland: Op. Market Bastogne: Battle of the Bulge Rhine Crossing: Op. Varsity

27. February 27, 1943 Chicago, Illinois Induction Physical Camp Grant, Rockford, Illinois Induction into army

28. March 1943 Assigned to Army Air Corps Kessler Field Biloxi, Mississippi Basic training

29. March 1943 Kessler Field Biloxi, Mississippi Basic training

30. May 1943 Aircraft Mechanics School Amarillo Field Amarillo, Texas

31. August 1943 Aircraft Electrical Specialist School Chanute Field, Illinois

32. Life Changing Events 1924 - Born with two wonderful parents 1930 - Moved 6 times by end of 1st grade 1928 - First airplane ride 1934 – Chose Jesus Christ, Savior & Lord 1936 – Joined Villa Park Bible Church 1938 – Attended York High School 1942 – Attended Wheaton College 1943 – Drafted into US Army 1943 – Flight Crew Physical Exam; Eye Test

33. August 1943 Chanute Field, Illinois E C D A M O F P N Aircraft Electrical Specialist School headed for B-29 in the Pacific?

34. On Furlough, December 1943 with Dad Waiting for Notification of Assignment

35. December 1943 Assigned to the Troop Carrier Command 440th Troop Carrier Group 96th Troop Carrier Squadron 6Z The C-47 transport!

36. Douglas DC-3

37. Cockpit of a C-47 Dakota

38. December 1943 Sedalia Army Air Field, Missouri 440th Troop Carrier Group 96th Troop Carrier Squadron 6Z

39. 440th Troop Carrier Group 96th Troop Carrier Squadron 6Z December 1943 Sedalia Army Air Field, Missouri

40. January 1, 1944 Pope Field, Fort Bragg North Carolina Training with Airborne Infantry

41. January 1, 1944 Pope Field, Fort Bragg North Carolina GC - 4A glider Training with Airborne Infantry

42. Vs of Vs in Trail

43. February 1944 Baer Field, Fort Wayne, Indiana Ground Echelon leaves for England Via Camp Shanks, Orangeburg, NY

44. February 1944 Baer Field, Fort Wayne, Indiana Air Echelon leaves for England Via South America & North Africa

45. C-47 cargo area with ferry tanks

46. The War Years 1943 to 1945 1944 England, France, & Holland

47. February 1944 Camp Shanks, Orangeburg New York Ground Echelon Sails for England

48. Troop Ship Louis Pasteur Former French Luxury Liner E7Port Ground Echelon’s carrier: New York to Liverpool No convoy: 3rd fastest ship at that time!

49. March 1944 Landed in Liverpool Bottesford Air Base Nottinghamshire, England

50. March 1944 Bottesford Air Base Nottinghamshire, England Training with Airborne and British Horsa Gliders