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Squadron Leader Percival H. Beake DFC

Joining the RAFVR in April 1939, Percival Beake was mobilised at the outbreak of war. Posted to 64 Squadron on Spitfires in the summer of 1940 at the height of the Battle of Britain, he flew with them until June 1941 when he was posted first to 92 Squadron at Biggin Hill, and then 601 Squadron at Duxford. After a spell instructing he returned for his second tour in December 1942, joining 193 Squadron as a Flight Commander. In May 1944 he took command of 164 Squadron at Thorney Island flying Typhoons, moving to France shortly after the Normandy Invasion. With two victories to his credit he was awarded the DFC in September 1944.

Starting with 6th August 1944 my log book records that a successful attack was carried out on an enemy strong point in a quarry and that on the following morning I flew home on a very rare 48 hour leave. For a few days after my return we had only one specific target - an enemy dump which we effectively bombarded with rockets on 11th August - so we were deployed on armed reconnaissances. After landing from one of these on 13th August my Wing Commander, Walter Dring, called me to his caravan and said - Beaky, you have just done your last op. You are not to fly again and that is an order, until returning to the UK. I am arranging for your relief as soon as possible. - I was absolutely stunned and my lasting memory of that period is not of carnage but of acute embarrassment at having been grounded. I just hated sending the squadron up without myself leading and remember making frequent calls to the met office hoping to get forecasts of filthy weather that would make operational flying impossible. In the event, my relief, Squadron Leader Ian Waddy, was shot down by flak within two or three days of taking over command, so maybe Wally Dring had some sort of premonition that prompted my grounding.
Percival Beake died on 25th June 2016.

Squadron Leader Percival H. Beake DFC - Signed Aviation Art Prints, Paintings and Drawings
Pilot and Aircrew Signatures

Spitfires Over the Needles by Philip West.


Spitfires Over the Needles by Philip West.
2 editions.
Both editions feature up to 3 additional signatures.
£160.00 - £200.00

Closing the Gap by Robert Taylor.


Closing the Gap by Robert Taylor.
One of 5 editions available.
All 5 editions feature up to 26 additional signatures.
£210.00

Rocket Firing Typhoons at the Falaise Gap - Normandy 1944 by Frank Wootton.


Rocket Firing Typhoons at the Falaise Gap - Normandy 1944 by Frank Wootton.
One edition.
The edition features 10 additional signature(s).
£250.00


Portrait of Pilot Officer Percival Beake, 64 Sqn (2nd Ver.)  by David Pritchard


Portrait of Pilot Officer Percival Beake, 64 Sqn (2nd Ver.) by David Pritchard
One edition.
The edition features an additional signature.
£40.00

Portrait of Pilot Officer Percival Beake, 64 Sqn by David Pritchard


Portrait of Pilot Officer Percival Beake, 64 Sqn by David Pritchard
One edition.
The edition features an additional signature.
£40.00

Fleeting Moments by Philip West.


Fleeting Moments by Philip West.
2 editions.
Both editions feature up to 6 additional signatures.
£125.00 - £150.00


Coastal Patrol by Richard Taylor.


Coastal Patrol by Richard Taylor.
One of 2 editions available.
Both editions feature 3 additional signatures.
£150.00

Those Valiant Few by Robert Taylor.


Those Valiant Few by Robert Taylor.
All 3 editions sold out.
All editions feature up to 60 additional signatures.


Aircraft for : Squadron Leader Percival H. Beake DFC (deceased)
A list of all aircraft associated with Squadron Leader Percival H. Beake DFC (deceased). A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
SquadronInfo

Spitfire




Click the name above to see prints featuring Spitfire aircraft.

Manufacturer : Supermarine
Production Began : 1936
Retired : 1948
Number Built : 20351

Spitfire

Royal Air Force fighter aircraft, maximum speed for mark I Supermarine Spitfire, 362mph up to The Seafire 47 with a top speed of 452mph. maximum ceiling for Mk I 34,000feet up to 44,500 for the mark XIV. Maximum range for MK I 575 miles . up to 1475 miles for the Seafire 47. Armament for the various Marks of Spitfire. for MK I, and II . eight fixed .303 browning Machine guns, for MKs V-IX and XVI two 20mm Hispano cannons and four .303 browning machine guns. and on later Marks, six to eight Rockets under the wings or a maximum bomb load of 1,000 lbs. Designed by R J Mitchell, The proto type Spitfire first flew on the 5th March 1936. and entered service with the Royal Air Force in August 1938, with 19 squadron based and RAF Duxford. by the outbreak of World war two, there were twelve squadrons with a total of 187 spitfires, with another 83 in store. Between 1939 and 1945, a large variety of modifications and developments produced a variety of MK,s from I to XVI. The mark II came into service in late 1940, and in March 1941, the Mk,V came into service. To counter the Improvements in fighters of the Luftwaffe especially the FW190, the MK,XII was introduced with its Griffin engine. The Fleet Air Arm used the Mk,I and II and were named Seafires. By the end of production in 1948 a total of 20,351 spitfires had been made and 2408 Seafires. The most produced variant was the Spitfire Mark V, with a total of 6479 spitfires produced. The Royal Air Force kept Spitfires in front line use until April 1954.

Typhoon




Click the name above to see prints featuring Typhoon aircraft.

Manufacturer : Hawker
Production Began : 1941
Number Built : 3330

Typhoon

Single engine fighter with a maximum speed of 412 mph at 19,000 feet and a ceiling of 35,200 feet. range 510 miles. The Typhoon was armed with twelve browning .303inch machine guns in the wings (MK1A) Four 20mm Hispano cannon in wings (MK!B) Two 1000ilb bombs or eight 3-inch rockets under wings. The first proto type flew in February 1940, but due to production problems the first production model flew in May 1941. with The Royal Air Force receiving their first aircraft in September 1941. Due to accidents due to engine problems (Sabre engine) The Hawker Typhoon started front line service in December 1941.The Hawker Typhoon started life in the role of interceptor around the cost of England but soon found its real role as a ground attack aircraft. especially with its 20mm cannon and rockets. This role was proved during the Normandy landings and the period after. The total number of Hawker typhoons built was 3,330.
Squadrons for : Squadron Leader Percival H. Beake DFC (deceased)
A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by Squadron Leader Percival H. Beake DFC (deceased). A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name.
SquadronInfo

No.164 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 6th April 1942
Fate : Disbanded 31st August 1946
Argentine British

Firmes Volamos - Firmly we fly

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.164 Sqn RAF

No.164 Sqn RAF

Full profile not yet available.

No.193 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 18th December 1942
Fate : Disbanded 31st August 1945
Fellowship of the Bellows

Aera et terram imperare - To govern the air and the earth

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.193 Sqn RAF

No.193 Sqn RAF

Full profile not yet available.

No.601 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 14th October 1925
Fate : Disbanded 10th March 1957
County of London (Auxiliary)

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.601 Sqn RAF
No.601 Sqn RAF

Full profile not yet available.

No.64 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 1st August 1916
Fate : Disbanded 16th June 1967

Tenax proposite - Firmness of purpose

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.64 Sqn RAF

No.64 Sqn RAF

Flew Mustangs from November 1944.

No.92 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 1st September 1917
Fate : Disbanded 1st October 1994
East India

Aut pugna aut morere - Either fight or die

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.92 Sqn RAF

No.92 Sqn RAF

92 Squadron was formed in the First World War, as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps, on 1st September 1917. It flew Pups, Spads and SE5s during the war, becoming an RAF squadron on the formation of the RAF on 1st April 1918, before being disbanded on 7th August 1919. On the outbreak of hostilities of World War Two, 92 Sqn reformed on 10th October 1939, flying Blenheims before converting to Spitfires. It transferred to North Africa, and for some time flew as part of 244 Wing RAF. After the war, the squadron was disbanded on 30th December 1946. On 31st January 1947, the former 91 Squadron was redesignated 92 Squadron, flying the Meteor before re-equipping with the Sabre and then the Hunter. While flying the Hunter in 1960, the squadron was designated as the RAF's aerobatic squadron, with the name Blue Diamonds, a name the squadron carried on after tranferring to the Lightning. The squadron then re-equipped with Phantoms, before being disbanded on 1st July 1991. It was reformed from a rserve squadron on 23rd September 1992, and became No.92 (Reserve) Squadron, flying the Hawk aircraft before being disbanded once more on 1st October 1994.

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