Trying to ID Pilot

[Charles Smith]

Hi,

A P/O Beloe operated briefly with No.38 (Bomber) Squadron in 1940. Trying to ID him, I have been told that he is in fact S.E Beloe 80057 KIA MTO 1941.

However, I have my doubts.

Can anyone please help.

Chaz

[CZ_RAF]

Hi Chaz, looking at our forum DB of casualties I have found 3 possibilities:

Flying Officer Charles Edward BELOE (33533) Pilot Wellington IC X9799 15 OTU
Pilot Officer Stephen Edward BELOE (80857) Blenheim IV Z5898
Flying Officer Peter Colston BELOE (150172) Pilot Spitfire Vb AD353

So what about the first one being posted to the 15 OTU as an instructor for example?

Pavel

[Charles Smith]

Pavel,

I will look into this, looks the likely pilot.

Chaz

[Resmoroh]

Hello All,
Interesting little side-line discovered relating to this thread. Stephen Edward Beloe was one of the Pilots mentioned in the early part of the thread. I looked him up. He was:
743255 Stephen Edward Beloe. B. Q3 1906. Cmm 1 Jun 1940 Off #80857. Cmm from AC2.
Nothing particularly unusual about that. He is in the RAFVR Pilots Block.
However, at one digit less of the OR number (743254) is:-
743254 John Cunningham. B. 27 Jul 1917. Cmm 10 Jan 1943 Off# 135776. “Cats Eyes” Cunningham.
The WW2 UK press was encouraged to emphasise the “Cats Eyes” aspect in order to hide the fact that AI radar was installed in some night-fighters.
Interesting how two fellows with adjacent OR service numbers (must have been together at the Recruiting location??) had such different careers?
Won’t answer the original question, but I thought it interesting enough to post it!!!
This attitude got me into trouble all my working life!!
Peter Davies

[Don Clark]

Chaz:
"A P/O Beloe operated briefly with No.38 (Bomber) Squadron in 1940. Trying to ID him, I have been told that he is in fact S.E Beloe 80057 KIA MTO 1941."

Pavel:
"Flying Officer Charles Edward BELOE (33533) Pilot Wellington IC X9799 15 OTU
Pilot Officer Stephen Edward BELOE (80857) Blenheim IV Z5898
Flying Officer Peter Colston BELOE (150172) Pilot Spitfire Vb AD353"

Peter: "Beloe...743255...80857 RAFVR Pilot's Block"


38 Sqn, Wellingtons, came to Egypt in late 1940 and on through 1941.
Beloe reported KIA Mediterranean Theatre Ops 1941.

Blenheim IV Z5898, 45 Sqn, shot down 28 April 41.
Beloe is recorded as 45 Sqn loss (CWGC, RAF CMds DB eg) but in fact he was not the pilot of the aircraft: that was P/O Bruce Allan of 45 Sqn, with Sgt Len Morling as his 45 Sqn WOp/AG.
They were tasked to evac 5 passengers from Tobruk: personnel of 73 Sqn and staff of 258 Wing.
On take off from Tobruk they were immediately spotted by a patrol of 5 Bf 109Es, intercepted, pursued, and shot down into the sea.

Beloe is not among the known 45 Sqn Aircrew roll in Jefford, The Flying Camels. However, a graphic account of the action that day is given by Jeff in the narrative p156, p157 as summarised above, with a full roll of the passengers. All seven aboard were lost, including P/O SE Beloe, passenger. KIA, Missing: Alamein Memorial.
Presumably detail recorded in a 45 Sqn Appendix - noted only v briefly in the Form 540 AIR 27/455/9.

As 73 Sqn were a Hurricane unit in the ME, and 258 Wing a "semi mobile Fighter Wing" it's uncertain with whom Beloe, apparently a Wellington pilot, was then serving.
The 15 OTU connection seems to me less likely, as the 18 OTU (Wellingtons)** and 6 EFTS were UK units at the time.
Likewise the Spitfire loss of 501 Sqn - again a UK unit.

On balance, given the 38 Sqn connection and timing, reported death timing, and 45 Sqn loss timing, it seems likley that
Pilot Officer Stephen Edward BELOE (80857)
was still in the Middle East in early 1941, and lost while being evac from Tobruk in Z5898.

The AIR 81 Casualty file might shed more light, though content can be quite variable in detail.

PS ** 18 OTU: typo for 15 OTU Harwell, Wellingtons.

[CZ_RAF]

Don many thanks for an expert analysis!

Pavel