grave import

Obituary

Capt. Jack M. Beckman, Burlington, a fighter-pilot ace of the 8th AAF who has earned high honors from his government, is listed as missing in action over Germany since March 1(1945).
That’s the word received from the war department by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. David Lee Beckman, 1626 Dodge St. Beckman’s wife, Pauline Beckman, and the couple’s 1 ½-year-old daughter, Judith Karen, are visiting in Canada, but plan to return to Burlington next week.
The Beckman’s had reason to believe several days ago that the Mustang fighter pilot was missing, as they received a letter from him which he had written before taking off on a mission, which he had left at his base with instructions it be mailed in the event he did not return.
However, his folks had hopes that he might have landed at another field, or that he would turn up safe. They still are hoping… and praying.
There’s no word here as to the number of missions Beckman has flown, but he had more than 30 to his credit several months ago. He is credited with having destroyed 3 enemy planes and with having damaged several others.
He holds the Distinguished Flying Cross with one cluster, and the air medal with 3 clusters.
Beckman’s wife is a former Canadian girl and Beckman was once in the Royal Canadian air force. He enlisted in Canada in December 1941, the day before the Japs attacked Pearl Harbor, and transferred to the US Air force in October 1943. He was home on leave last year and saw his baby then for the first time.
Listed as Dead (March 7, 1946)
Capt. Jack M. Beckman, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Lee Beckman, and husband of Mrs. Pauline Beckman, all residing at 1626 Dodge Street, has been officially declared dead by the war department. He was reported missing over Germany as of March 1, 1945, while on a mission over Germany.
A fighter pilot ace who shot down and damaged a number of nazi planes, Capt. Beckman held the distinguished flying cross with 3 clusters and the air medal with 9 clusters. He had completed 99 missions over Germany and 441.30 hours of combat.
He was born in Burlington Sept. 13, 1922, and attended grade schools here and in Chicago. In 1940 he graduated from Ottumwa High School. He had enlisted in the 313th cavalry, Co. E. of Ottumwa Feb. 22, 1938, as a bugler, and on Jan. 6, 1941, re-enlisted, and went to Texas with the outfit as a sergeant. In July 1941, he obtained a discharge in order to enlist in the coast artillery in Hawaii, from which he was discharged in September 1941, at the request of his parents because of underage.
On Dec. 6, 1941, he enlisted with the Canadian air force as a student pilot and received his wings as a fighter pilot Dec. 4, 1942. Assigned to the RCAF in England, he arrived in England in January 1943, after taking a 6-week commando course, and completed his combat training in August 1943. He transferred to the US 8th Air Force Oct. 3, 1943.
He was married to Pauline Clark of Barrie, Ontario, Canada Aug. 3, 1942. There was one daughter, Judith K., 2 ½ years old. He was a member of the Grace Methodist Church, Burlington, and a charter member of the American Eagle club at London, England.
Missing Ring Found (May 23, 1947)
A ring that belonged to Capt. Jack M. Beckman, fighter pilot listed as missing in action since March 1, 1945, has been found according to word Friday to his parents from the war department. The Parents, Mr. and Mrs. David Lee Beckman, 1623 Dodge street, said the message gave no other particulars and they are without information as to which of the 2 rings he owned had been recovered, or where the ring was found.
Beckman was missing on a mission over Germany. The family had information from another air force pilot that he was seen fleeing into the woods after his ship went down. There had been no other word.
Germans Killed Capt. Beckman After He Landed by ‘Chute (Oct. 30, 1947)
Capt. Jack M. Beckman, reported missing in action in 1945, met his death at the hands of 4 Germans after he had parachuted safely from his plane behind enemy lines March 1, 1945, according to word received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. David L. Beckman, 1626 Dodge street.
The Germans, all apprehended, have confessed, and they identified an isolated grave near the edge of a wood in which they buried Beckman, a letter from Quartermaster General’s office in Washington stated.
Beckman, a fighter pilot, parachuted from his plane near Unterschwaningen, Germany, was captured and was taken to a point near Wassertrudingen where he was killed, the letter set out. It was later learned that one of the Germans had taken possession of his wedding ring which he later gave to a German girl. The ring has been returned to Beckman’s parents.
Identification of Beckman’s body was made through laundry markings, identification tags, and dental records. The body is now buried in the US Military cemetery at St. Avold, France.
Services Sunday for Capt. Beckman (Thurs., May 26, 1947)
The body of Capt. Jack M. Beckman, Burlington air force ace, will arrive in Burlington Friday afternoon accompanied by a military escort. Services will be held Sunday at 2 pm in Prugh’s chapel with Rev. Robert Hamill officiating. Burial with military rites by the American Legion will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery.
The son of Mr. and Mrs. David Lee Beckman, 1626 Dodge Street, he had destroyed a number of German planes and had flown 99 missions over Germany as a fighter pilot. According to word to his parents, he was forced to parachute from his plane over Bavaria on March 1, 1945, and was killed by citizens after he reached the ground safely. He had been awarded the distinguished flying cross and air medal with a number of clusters for each.
He enlisted in the Canadian air force in December 1941, later transferred to the American airforce in October 1943.
Beckman was born Sept. 13, 1922, in Burlington, the son of David Lee and Eunice Walker Beckman. He was a member of Grace Methodist Church, Burlington, and a charter member of the American Eagle club, London England. His parents and a daughter, Judith, survive.