It feels like a very British response to the crisis. When World War II pilot Clive Beedon's bomber caught fire during a low-level attack on the Burma-Siam Railway, he and his crew poured tea from a flask to extinguish the flames.
The medallion of Lieutenant Colonel Beedon, who managed to fly 500 miles over the Bay of Bengal while his plane caught fire but the flames were largely contained, will be auctioned next week and is expected to fetch up to £5,000.
Beedon's logbooks from his two tours in Burma record engine failures, forced landings, and casualties from rifle fire, but his most dangerous mission occurred almost exactly in 1980. This happened on January 1, 1945.
His Liberator bomber was hit by a Japanese artillery shell while flying 45 meters (150 feet) above the railroad tracks, leaving a 60 cm (2 foot) square hole in the fuselage, which contemporary articles described as a “rivulet of flame.” The situation described has occurred. One crew member was killed, but others fought the flames.
The article states: “Gaining altitude to avoid further attacks over Japanese-occupied land, S/Ldr Beedon headed for the coast 60 miles away. The crew flew for five hours at sea before reaching friendly shores. Thermoses of tea and water and all fire extinguishers were used to extinguish the fire.
Their journey was described as “one of the most dangerous journeys experienced by the Liberators of Eastern Air Command.”
Beadon was awarded the prestigious Flying Cross, and King George VI told him that “we owe our freedom” to men like him.
His outstanding flying cross and other medals being auctioned by Noonan's Mayfair in central London January 15th.
