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Beach Squadron Awards


Awards to Normandy Beach Squadron Personnel

This is a list that has been gradually compiled as information has become available, or by searching entries in The Gazette. The list remains incomplete.

Please note that this list is only about the 2nd Tactical Air Force Beach Squadrons in Operation OVERLORD and does not include awards given to RAF beach unit personnel for other operations.


Officer of the Military Division of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

75937Acting W/Cdr.L.S.N.B. FaulknerR.A.F.V.R.Officer Commanding No. 1 Beach Squadron
and Commander R.A.F., 101 Beach Sub Area
Gazette Issue 36544, 2nd June 1944,  Page 2583
31364Acting W/Cdr.B. ArmigerR.A.F.O.Officer Commanding No. 2 Beach Squadron
and Commander R.A.F., 102 Beach Sub Area
Gazette Issue 36866, 29th December 1944,  Page 19
31287Acting W/Cdr.J.E.T. MurphyR.A.F.O.Officer Commanding No. 4 Beach Squadron
and Commander R.A.F., 104 Beach Sub Area
Gazette Issue 36866, 29th December 1944,  Page 20

Croix de Guerre (avec étoile en vermeil)

A gilt star (étoile en vermeil) on the medal ribbon indicates an award made at Corps level. It is believed that two people in each R.A.F. Beach Squadron may have been awarded the Croix de Guerre. Only two recipients have been identified thus far. (The citation states that the award is for exceptional war service in the course of operations for the liberation of France.)

644472Acting F/Sgt.H.C. FryR.A.F.Landing Section101 Beach FlightNo. 1 Beach Squadron
142970Acting F/Lt.D. WoollacottR.A.F.V.R.Ammunition Officer104 Beach FlightNo. 2 Beach Squadron

Mentioned in Despatches

A single bronze oak leaf emblem worn on the ribbon of the War Medal 1939-45 signifies this award, which could be for gallantry in action or for other noteworthy service.

MiD awards were probably also on a quota basis but how many per R.A.F. Beach Squadron is not known. The following recipients have been identified thus far.

No. 1 Beach Squadron
67733Acting S/Ldr.J. N. Dobbin MCR.A.F.V.R.Beach Flight Commander101 Beach FlightGazette Issue 36866, 29th December 1944,  Page 69
105720Acting F/Lt.E. S. ArchboldR.A.F.V.R.Ammunition Officer101 Beach FlightGazette Issue 36866, 29th December 1944,  Page 71
Aus. 287435Acting F/Lt.G. McBrideR.A.A.F.Landing Officer101 Beach FlightGazette Issue 36866, 29th December 1944,  Page 99
364056W/OT. HughesR.A.F.M.T. Section101 Beach FlightGazette Issue 36866, 29th December 1944,  Page 77
644472Acting F/Sgt.H. C. FryR.A.F.Landing Section101 Beach FlightGazette Issue 36866, 29th December 1944,  Page 81
1007284Cpl.N. L. ThormanR.A.F.V.R.Provost Section101 Beach FlightGazette Issue 36866, 29th December 1944,  Page 91
87603Acting S/Ldr.H. G. RaeR.A.F.V.R.Beach Flight Commander102 Beach FlightGazette Issue 36866, 29th December 1944,  Page 67
No. 2 Beach Squadron
89074Acting S/Ldr.R. A. SandisonR.A.F.V.R.Beach Flight Commander103 Beach FlightGazette Issue 36866, 29th December 1944,  Page 68
79864Acting F/Lt.P. M. ButlerR.A.F.V.R.Officer i/c Assembly Area103 Beach FlightGazette Issue 36866, 29th December 1944,  Page 69
100197Acting F/Lt.J. R. AlcockR.A.F.V.R.Landing Officer103 Beach FlightGazette Issue 36866, 29th December 1944,  Page 71
104917Acting F/Lt.F. BinnsR.A.F.V.R.M.T. Officer103 Beach FlightGazette Issue 36866, 29th December 1944,  Page 71
31297S/Ldr.E. TowersR.A.F.O.Beach Flight Commander104 Beach FlightGazette Issue 36866, 29th December 1944,  Page 65
644104Sgt.E. G. IngeR.A.F.V.R.Ammunition Section104 Beach FlightGazette Issue 37407, 28th December 1945,  Page 111
No. 4 Beach Squadron
86962F/Lt.F. WilsonR.A.F.V.R.Landing Officer107 Beach FlightGazette Issue 37407, 28th December 1945,  Page 99
1605203F/Sgt.A. G. GouldR.A.F.V.R.Landing Section107 Beach FlightGazette Issue 37407, 28th December 1945,  Page 107
1215060LACG. A. HarveyR.A.F.V.R..Landing Section107 Beach FlightGazette Issue 36866, 29th December 1944,  Page 93
117132F/Lt.G. L. BruceR.A.F.V.R.Ammunition Officer108 Beach FlightGazette Issue 37407, 28th December 1945,  Page 96
119282F/Lt.J. E. MorrisR.A.F.V.R.Landing Officer108 Beach FlightGazette Issue 37407, 28th December 1945,  Page 98
366116F/Sgt.A. G. HouseR.A.F.Landing Section108 Beach FlightGazette Issue 37407, 28th December 1945,  Page 107
909879Sgt.W. J. WoodR.A.F.V.R.Clerk/GDHeadquartersGazette Issue 37407, 28th December 1945,  Page 113

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