Biographical data

Biographical Data
Beeman, John Henault Photo Credit: Unknown

Biographical Data

Beeman, John Henault

Photo Credit: Unknown

Title	Lieutenant-Commander (P) (O) (RCN)
Official Number	(nk)

Birth	13/08/1923	Death	21/12/2010
Place	Fort William	Place	Ottawa
Area	ON	Area	ON
Country	Canada	Country	Canada

Titles
Honours	GM. M.I.D.
Awards
Qualifications

Biography
After his naval service he joined Bell Helicopter at Ottawa. (He retired again on 06/1975.) Afterwards he joined Custom Helicopters in Winnipeg MB flying in the north. (He retired again in 12/1991.)

Military Service
He was appointed as a Probationary Sub-Lieutenant (Temp.) RCNVR (With seniority dated 09/11/1942). He served in HMCS KingsTraining Establishment) in EE Division 1942. He was appointed as a Sub-Lieutenant (Temp.) RCNVR (With seniority dated 09/11/1942). He served in HMC HMC ML-065 (In command) 1944. He was appointed as a Lieutenant (Temp.) RCNVR (With seniority dated 09/11/1943). He served in HMC 65th MTB Flotilla as Executive Officer for Flotilla Leader 1944. Ostend Belgium for 65th MTB Flotilla 1945. He was wounded in action with German E-boats off Ostend Belgium 13/04/1945. He served in H.M.S. St. Vincent for #88 Pilot Training Course 1945. He served in RNAS Rattray for Observer Qualification Course 1945. Awarded Observer Wings 22/06/1946. He served in RNAS Arbroath for Naval Air Signals Course 1946. RAF Panshanger for Elementary Flying Training Course 1946. RAF Church Lawford for Service Flying Training 1947. Awarded Pilot Wings 17/09/1947) (Transferred to RCN 1945). He was appointed as a Lieutenant (O) (P) RCN (With seniority dated 09/02/1945). He served in HMCS Shearwater for 743 Squadron 1947. He served in RNAS Lossiemouth for 766 RN Squadron 1948. He served in RNAS Miltown for 767 Squadron for Deck Landing Tring 1948. He served in H.M.S. Implacable for Carrier Qualifications 1948. He served in HMCS Shearwater and HMCS Magnificent for 825 Squadron as Observer 1948. He served in HMCS Shearwater as Assistant Operations Officer 1949. He served in HMCS Shearwater for 880 Squadron 1951. He served in USNAS Ellyson Field for Helicopter Training 1951. He served in USNAS Lakehurst and USS Palau and USS Edisto for HU-2 (USN) 1952. He served in HMCS Shearwater for No.1 Naval Helicopter Flight 1952. He served in RCAF Edmonton for Winter Survival Course 1953. He served in HMCS Shearwater for VH-21 Squadron 1953. He was appointed as a Lieutenant-Commander (P) (O) RCN (With seniority dated 09/02/1953). He served in HMCS Shearwater For VH-21 Squadron as Commanding Officer 1953. He served in HMCS Shearwater for HU-21 Squadron as Commanding Officer 1955, He was awarded the George Medal for the rescue 26/11/1955 of 21 crew members of the Liberian freighter Kismet II. He served in HMCS Niagara for Canadian Joint Defence Liaison Staff as as Helicopter Liaison Staff Officer 1956. He resigned on 08/05/1959.

Military Service

He was appointed as a Probationary Sub-Lieutenant (Temp.) RCNVR (With seniority dated 09/11/1942). He served in HMCS KingsTraining Establishment) in EE Division 1942. He was appointed as a Sub-Lieutenant (Temp.) RCNVR (With seniority dated 09/11/1942). He served in HMC HMC ML-065 (In command) 1944. He was appointed as a Lieutenant (Temp.) RCNVR (With seniority dated 09/11/1943). He served in HMC 65th MTB Flotilla as Executive Officer for Flotilla Leader 1944. Ostend Belgium for 65th MTB Flotilla 1945. He was wounded in action with German E-boats off Ostend Belgium 13/04/1945. He served in H.M.S. St. Vincent for #88 Pilot Training Course 1945. He served in RNAS Rattray for Observer Qualification Course 1945. Awarded Observer Wings 22/06/1946. He served in RNAS Arbroath for Naval Air Signals Course 1946. RAF Panshanger for Elementary Flying Training Course 1946. RAF Church Lawford for Service Flying Training 1947. Awarded Pilot Wings 17/09/1947) (Transferred to RCN 1945). He was appointed as a Lieutenant (O) (P) RCN (With seniority dated 09/02/1945). He served in HMCS Shearwater for 743 Squadron 1947. He served in RNAS Lossiemouth for 766 RN Squadron 1948. He served in RNAS Miltown for 767 Squadron for Deck Landing Tring 1948. He served in H.M.S. Implacable for Carrier Qualifications 1948. He served in HMCS Shearwater and HMCS Magnificent for 825 Squadron as Observer 1948. He served in HMCS Shearwater as Assistant Operations Officer 1949. He served in HMCS Shearwater for 880 Squadron 1951. He served in USNAS Ellyson Field for Helicopter Training 1951. He served in USNAS Lakehurst and USS Palau and USS Edisto for HU-2 (USN) 1952. He served in HMCS Shearwater for No.1 Naval Helicopter Flight 1952. He served in RCAF Edmonton for Winter Survival Course 1953. He served in HMCS Shearwater for VH-21 Squadron 1953. He was appointed as a Lieutenant-Commander (P) (O) RCN (With seniority dated 09/02/1953). He served in HMCS Shearwater For VH-21 Squadron as Commanding Officer 1953. He served in HMCS Shearwater for HU-21 Squadron as Commanding Officer 1955, He was awarded the George Medal for the rescue 26/11/1955 of 21 crew members of the Liberian freighter Kismet II. He served in HMCS Niagara for Canadian Joint Defence Liaison Staff as as Helicopter Liaison Staff Officer 1956. He resigned on 08/05/1959.

Vessels Owned
Aircraft Flown	Total Military Flying Hours: 1888.2 Total Civil flying hours: 14,500. Total Fixed Wing Deck Landings: 8. Service Aircraft Flown: Tiger Moth, Barracuda, Firefly, Anson, Lancaster, SNB, Avenger, C-45, Expeditor, P5M, Hiller I, HTL-4 & 5 & 6, HO3S, HO4S-2 & 3, HSS-1, HUP-1 & 2 & 3, H21B, HTK, HOK-1, HUL-1, HTF-2
Named Features

Anecdotes
"On November 26, 1955 Lieutenant Commander J.H. BEEMAN, pilot; Lieutenant Commander F.R. FINK, co-pilot; and two seamen were jointly responsible for saving the 21 members of the crew of the Liberian Freighter S.S. 'KISMET II', which had run aground on the rocky coast of Cape Breton Island against a cliff which rose almost vertically from the sea to a height of some 400 feet and was being pounded to pieces by heavy seas. It was decided by the authorities concerned that the rescue could not be effected from shore while heavy seas and reefs made any attempts from sea impossible. At 0815 hours on November 26, 1955 LCdr. Beeman and LCdr. Fink, and the two seamen who had volunteered to be crew members, flew his helicopter towards the wreck. The wind had veered slightly and he found that along the cliff face, the turbulence was not so great and he was able to approach close to the 'KISMET II' and still maintain control of his helicopter. His co-pilot and crew, by hand signals, were able to make the crew of the ship understand that they wanted the after steering platform cleared away by the removal of ventilators, rails, etc., so that the helicopter could land. This operation was accomplished in short order and LCdr. Beeman succeeded in balancing his helicopter on the deck on three wheels; the fact that fairly heavy turbulence was still being encountered and that the cliff was only about 25 feet away, made any attempt at a rescue by hoist, with the helicopter hovering, impractical. He embarked four members of the ship's crew, and by watching his opportunity between gusts, was able to take off from his precarious position and land them ashore. Leaving his co-pilot and one seaman behind, LCdr. Beeman made a second trip to the 'KISMET II', this time removing 7 of the crew. LCdr. Beeman was considerably fatigued by this time, and the third and fourth trips in which the remaining 10 members of the ship's crew were removed, were made by the co-pilot Lieutenant Commander Fink."

Anecdotes

"On November 26, 1955 Lieutenant Commander J.H. BEEMAN, pilot; Lieutenant Commander F.R. FINK, co-pilot; and two seamen were jointly responsible for saving the 21 members of the crew of the Liberian Freighter S.S. 'KISMET II', which had run aground on the rocky coast of Cape Breton Island against a cliff which rose almost vertically from the sea to a height of some 400 feet and was being pounded to pieces by heavy seas. It was decided by the authorities concerned that the rescue could not be effected from shore while heavy seas and reefs made any attempts from sea impossible. At 0815 hours on November 26, 1955 LCdr. Beeman and LCdr. Fink, and the two seamen who had volunteered to be crew members, flew his helicopter towards the wreck. The wind had veered slightly and he found that along the cliff face, the turbulence was not so great and he was able to approach close to the 'KISMET II' and still maintain control of his helicopter. His co-pilot and crew, by hand signals, were able to make the crew of the ship understand that they wanted the after steering platform cleared away by the removal of ventilators, rails, etc., so that the helicopter could land. This operation was accomplished in short order and LCdr. Beeman succeeded in balancing his helicopter on the deck on three wheels; the fact that fairly heavy turbulence was still being encountered and that the cliff was only about 25 feet away, made any attempt at a rescue by hoist, with the helicopter hovering, impractical. He embarked four members of the ship's crew, and by watching his opportunity between gusts, was able to take off from his precarious position and land them ashore. Leaving his co-pilot and one seaman behind, LCdr. Beeman made a second trip to the 'KISMET II', this time removing 7 of the crew. LCdr. Beeman was considerably fatigued by this time, and the third and fourth trips in which the remaining 10 members of the ship's crew were removed, were made by the co-pilot Lieutenant Commander Fink."

References
MacFarlane, John and Robbie Hughes (1997); Blatherwick, John (1992); Government of Canada The Canadian Navy List Ottawa ON; http://www.blatherwick.net/documents/british%20orders%20to%20canadians/George%20Medal%20Citations%202014.pdf;;
Last update
2011-02-21 00:00:00

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Biographical Data

Beeman, John Henault