John Downing Beach was born on December 25, 1919, in Jeffersonville, Ohio. He was the son of Darwin Beach and Nellie Edna Lucas Beach.

John served in the 851st Bomber Squadron, 490th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a First Lieutenant and Pilot on the B-17G #43-38324 during World War II. He was killed in action on September 9, 1944, when his airplane was hit by flak and crashed at Zweieichen, near Opladen, Dusseldorf, Germany. Two of his crewmates were also killed, the rest were taken as prisoners.

The crew members were: Pilot: John Beach, Co-pilot: John Terlecky, Tail gunner: James Vogt - chute failed (3 Killed in Action); Navigator: Stewart Biegler, NG-Dan Breckenridge, Bombardier: Willard Williamson, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Mike Walsh, Radio Operator: Albert Ackerman, Waist gunner: Ken Wolf (6 Prisoner of War)

1Lt Beach is now buried in the New Albany National Cemetery, New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.americanairmuseum.com