Tempest “R-B” Low Top Canvas Shoes
This design is based on Tempest JN751 “R-B’ flown by RAF ace Wing Commander Roland “Bee” Beamont, CBE, DSO and bar, DFC and bar, DFC (USA) and was his personal aircraft.
This particular aircraft became the first Tempest to shoot down an enemy aircraft (Bf109), on 8th June 1944, and during the period June/August it shot down over 30 V-1 flying bombs.
Wing Commander Roland P Beamont, CBE, DSO and bar, DFC and bar, DFC (USA), was born on August 10th 1920. He joined No 87. Squadron in France during November 1939, returning to England in May 1940 having already destroyed a Do17 and an Me109. He went on to destroy a further three enemy aircraft during the Battle of Britain.
In June 1941, he was posted to No 79 Squadron as a Flight Commander, and in December 1941, he went to Hawker Aircraft Limited as a Service test pilot flying Hurricanes. On June 29th, 1942, he was posted as Flight Commander to Hawker Typhoon-equipped No.609 (WR) squadron at Duxford and took command of the squadron in October. He returned to Hawker Aircraft in May 1943 to test-fly the Tempest.
When leader of the five squadron Tempest Wing No.122 over Germany on 12th October 1944, Roland Beamont was shot down by ground fire and became a POW. During his time with Nos 150 and 122 Wings, he destroyed one Bf109, one Fw190, one Ju88 on the ground, and thirty-two V1 flying bombs.
After the war Roland Beamont became Chief Test Pilot for English Electric, test flying the Canberra, P1, Lightning and TSR2 aircraft. He was the first British pilot to fly a British aircraft at Mach 1 in level flight, and later at Mach 2. He passed away on November 19th, 2001 aged 81.
His military decorations include Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), Distinguished Service Order & Bar, Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar, Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) and the Croix de guerre (Belgium).
