USS LEXINGTON Former Crew Member

Name: Beckman, James W

Service Dates: 1943 to KIA 14 Dec 1944

Rank/Duty Assigned: Ltjg

Pilot wings Corpus Christi Ap 1943. Hellcat training San Diego.
Trained as photo pilot. As such he was the last plane of strafing runs in order to take photos of damage to enemy assets. First time he was shot down was Sept 1944 (USS Enterprise). Picked up by USS Finback off of Chi Chi Jima. Second time KIA over Clark Field 13 Dec 1944 (USS Lexington).