Date of birth:

May 17th, 1923 (London, Great Britain)

Date of death:

October 24th, 2015

Service number:

135704

Nationality:

British

Michael Beetham joined the RAF in May 1941. After flying training in the United States and Great Britain, he was assigned to flying duties with No. 50 Squadron, a Lancaster bomber unit, just prior to the Battle of Berlin.
He was involved in dropping supplies to the Dutch and in the repatriation of prisoners-of-war.
After a long career with many postings, Michael Beetham retired from the RAF in 1982 and was made Deputy Lieutenant of Norfolk.
He holds the appointment of Honorary Air Commodore of No. 2620 Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment, is President of the Society of Friends of the RAF Museum. Beetham is also President of the Bomber Command Association.

Promotions:
December 13th, 1942: Pilot Officer probation
June 13th, 1943: Flying Officer (probation)
December 13th, 1944: Flight Lieutenant (war sub)
January 1st, 1952: Squadron Leader
January 1st, 1958: Wing Commander
January 1st, 1962: Group Captain
July 1st, 1966: Air Commodore
January 1st, 1970: Air Vice-Marshal
May, 21st, 1977: Air Chief Marshal
October 15th, 1982: Marshal of the Royal Air Force

Appointments and postings:
- September 27th, 1970: Commandant Royal Air Force, Staff College, Bracknell
- August 8th, 1972 - Assistant Chief of Staff (Plans and Policy) S.H.A.P.E.
- ? - March 22nd, 1975 Assistant Chief of Staff (Plans and Policy Division) Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
- June 7th, 1975 - ? :Deputy Commander in Chief Strike Command
- July 21st, 1977: Air Aide-de-Camp to The Queen
- December 27th, 1982: placed on half-pay
- April 17th, 1989: Deputy Lieutenant of Barn House, South Creake,
Fakenham, Norfolk

Post World War Two-decorations:
- January 1st, 1960: Air Force Cross
- January 1st, 1967: CBE
- January 1st, 1976: KCB
- January 1st, 1978: GCB

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• - Seventh Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36550 published on the 2 June 1944
  - The London Gazette
  - The Telegraph
  - Royal Air Force Museum London
  - Military Art