Beall, H.

Helped Pave Way for Ramree Raid

Wing Cmdr. H. Beall
Flying Liberators with the KAF South-East Air Command in the India-Burma war theatre, Wing Cmdr. Hugo Beall, RCAF, son of George Beall, of Lindsay, was one of those who helped prepare the way for the recent invasion of Ramree Island, off the Burma coast. The air offensive, aimed at Jap gun positions, is reported as probably the greatest yet launched in the Burma war.

Leading one of the squadrons taking part, Beall watched his men obliterate their target. Not a single enemy aircraft rose to intercept the bombers. Reports say Allied naval vessels were blasting away when the Liberators arrived and when the order bombs away was given, landing barges were moving into shore to land Allied troops.

The young flyer has been in the thick of the fighting since the war started. He received his commission as pilot officer with the RCAF before Canada actually entered the war, and later, as squadron leader with the RAF Bomber Command, took part in heavy raids over German occupied Europe.

Beall is a graduate of Lindsay Collegiate and, while still attending school, commenced his military career by enlisting with the Old Victoria and Haliburton 45th Regiment (Res.) He was home on furlough last summer and for a time was an instructor at an air training school in Canada before going to the Far East.