Date of birth:

1907 (Liverpool, Great Britain)

Service number:

1399261 (NCO)/159901 (Officer)

Nationality:

British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Alter Beale, born as Alter Weinberg, served in the 1930's in the Manchester Regiment in South East Asia for which he was awarded the India General Service Medal 1908-35, 1 clasp, Burma 1930-32. He married Irene Gray in 1936. He enlisted in the RAF in 1941 and was recommended for serving as an Air Gunner. In January 1943 he joined no. 50 Squadron which was a Lancaster unit
After finishing his tour, he was posted to No. 53 Base in 5 Group as a Gunnery leader, in which capacity he served for much of the remainder of the war and attained the acting rank of Squadron Leader. He then was released from the RAF in 1946 to contest the Ashton-under-Lyne by-election as Liberal Party candidate. and probably was recalled for service in the 1950's.

Promotions:
? Sergeant
September 10th, 1943: Pilot Officer (probation/emergency)
March 11th, 1944: Flying Officer (war sub)
September 30th, 1944: Flight Lieutenant (war sub)
? Acting Squadron Leader
February 10th, 1954: Commission relinquished

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Pilot Officer

Unit:

No. 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

April 21st, 1944

Recommendation:
"Pilot Officer Beale is an outstanding gunner in his Squadron. He is exceptionally efficient and extremely enthusiastic about his job. Out of the seventeen successful sorties which he has completed, six were to Berlin, four to the Ruhr, two to Leipzig, and he also took part in the raid on Peenemunde. Pilot Officer Beale who is a qualified Gunnery Leader, has taken part in four combats and on the 20-21 October 1943, on returning from Leipzig, was instrumental in shooting down a twin engined enemy aircraft which was claimed as probably destroyed.On the 23-24th December, the electric circuit of his Taylor suit became unserviceable immediately after take-off. Pilot Officer Beale, in spite of the intense cold, did not mention this to his pilot until after the target had been successfully bombed. The temperature was then -27 degrees. The aircraft climbed to 24,000 feet where the temperature dropped to -35 degrees. Pilot Officer Beale remained in his turret, however and had to be assisted out of it when within a few miles of the English Coast. He was suffering from extreme cold and had also been frost-bitten on the body. When approaching the target, this Officer sighted an enemy aircraft and continued to give correct directions to his pilot, thus enabling his captain to make the appropriate defensive manoeuvres, to avoid the fighter, and press home his attack.For the great keenness and enthusiasm which Pilot Officer Beale has shown for his work, and his exemplary courage in action, he is strongly recommended for the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• - Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36276 published on the 3 December 1943
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36447 published on the 28 March 1944
  - Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36480 published on the 18 April 1944
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36809 published on the 21 November 1944
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 40175 published on the 14 May 1954
  - eMedals