Bernard Paul Gascoigne Beanlands

Captain Bernard Paul Gascoigne Beanlands (9 September 1897 – 8 May 1919) was a Canadian World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.

Early life Bernard Paul Gascoigne Beanlands was born in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada on 9 September 1897. He was a minister's son; Canon Beanlands was rector of Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria. Beanlands' mother was Laura Maud Hills. Both parents predeceased their son.

The younger Beanlands was educated at Oundle School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, before joining the Hampshire Regiment in December 1914, in the first few months of World War I. On 31 May 1916, he was forwarded as a second lieutenant to be a Flying Officer with the Royal Flying Corps. On 1 September 1916, he was promoted to temporary lieutenant while serving with the RFC. Five days later, he scored his first aerial victory, killing aces Hans Rosencrantz and Wilhelm Fahlbusch in their reconnaissance two-seater.

He transferred postings to 24 Squadron, where he scored eight more victories between 25 August 1917 and 18 March 1918. By that time, he had won the Military Cross, which was gazetted 25 April 1918:

...He has brought down three enemy aeroplanes out of control and driven down several others over the enemy lines.

List of aerial victories

Beanlands' first victory was scored while he was with 70 Squadron. The rest of his triumphs came with 24 Squadron.

No.Date/timeAircraftFoeResultLocationNotes 1 6 September 1916 @ 1845 hours Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter serial number A1902 Roland reconnaissance plane Destroyed by fire Elincourt, France Observer/gunner: C. A. Good. Victory shared with William Sanday and three other members of the RFC. Wilhelm Fahlbusch, Hans Rosencrantz KIA. 2 25 August 1917 @ 0600 hours Airco D.H.5 s/n A9165 German reconnaissance plane Destroyed by fire Bellenglise, France 3 25 August 1917 @ 0600 hours Airco D.H.5 s/n A9165 German reconnaissance plane Driven down out of control Bellenglise, France Shared victory. 4 13 November 1917 @ 1230 hours Airco D.H.5 s/n A9304 Albatros D.III fighter Captured Schoorbakke 5 13 November 1917 @ 1230 hours Airco D.H.5 s/n A9304 Albatros D.III fighter Driven down out of control Schoorbakke 6 18 November 1917 @ 1105 hours Airco D.H.5 s/n A9304 Albatros D.III fighter Driven down out of control Nieuwpoort-Dixmude, Belgium Shared victory 7 30 November 1917 @ 1255 hours Airco D.H.5 s/n A9304 Albatros D.V fighter Driven down out of control East of Bourlon Wood 8 18 March 1918 @ 1140 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a fighter s/n C1081 German reconnaissance plane Driven down out of control Villers Le Sec, France Victory shared with Harold Redler

Post World War I After recovery from his injuries, Beanlands was appointed Wing Examining Officer for No. 18 Wing.