Kennet Beauchamp - 2 Bomber Tours then Command of a Night Fighter Squadron
Beauchamp first flew G-ADGT at No 6 E&RFTS at Sywell on 12 November 1937. He completed much of his training on 'GT with his regular instructor, Flt Lt Barber. After completion of advanced training on Avro Ansons with No 6 FTS at Netheravon and a course at the School of Air Navigation at Manston, Beauchamp joined 49 (Bomber) Sqn, where he soloed the Bristol Blenheim light bomber before converting to the Handley Page Hampden, where his career started as second pilot / navigator to Flt Lt Lowe.
49 Sqn, RAF Scampton - Armourers fitting fuses 10 250lb GP bombs (IWM)
He remained with 49 Sqn for a full tour of operations until November 1940, during which time his targets included the first RAF raid on a German town, the first 'strategic' attack on German industry, the first raid on Berlin and attacks on channel ports / invasion barges in addition to the Hampden's frequent task of laying mines; details of his missions with 49 Sqn are here. Beauchamp then spent a 'rest' period at No 16 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at RAF Upper Heyford before converting to the Vickers Wellington as a Squadron leader at No 25 OTU.
207 Sqn Avro Manchester (IWM)
In September 1941, Beauchamp joined the RAF's first Avro Manchester squadron, 207 Sqn, as a flight commander, flying operations on Manchesters before converting to the Lancaster in February 1942, flying operations until July 1942, after which he spent a further period as an instructor, this time on Manchesters and Lancasters. Details of his missions and other flights of interest with 207 Sqn, which tell the story of the evolution of a Bomber Command Squadron are here. Beauchamp's missions highlight the unreliability of the Manchester, but include the first two '1000 Plan' raids and an 'experimental' raid on Danzig, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service order (DSO).
June and July 1944 saw Beauchamp attend No 51 OTU at RAF Cranfield, where he flew the Beaufort, Beaufighter and Mosquito before joining 23 Sqn, based at Little Snoring in Norfolk as part of 100 (Bomber Support) Group, the Squadron's task being night intruder raids over Germany, flying the Mosquito FBVI. On promotion to Wing Commander, Beauchamp assumed command of No 157 Sqn, a Mosquito XIX night fighter squadron within 100 Group and based at RAF Swannington in Norfolk. Beauchamp commanded 157 Sqn until its disbandment on 16 August 1945; details of his Mosquito missions are here.
Mosquito NFXIX (RAF Museum)
Post War, Beauchamp worked as an airline pilot, retiring from the BOAC VC10 fleet. More to follow on the detail of each of his bomber and night fighter missions.
