Iowa
Old Press
The Daily Times
Davenport, Iowa
September 27, 1943
Lt. J. N. Beilstein, Whose Heroism In Air Raids on Nazis Earned Six Decorations, Is Reported Missing.
First Lt. John N. Beilstein of Davenport, whose heroism in nearly a score of air raids on Germany and Nazi-occupied Europe has earned him six decorations, has been missing since Sept. 16 [1943] it was revealed today.
A telegram received Sunday by his wife, who lives at 721 Taylor street, from Adj. Gen. Ulio of the War Department did not supply any additional information.
Newspaper dispatches of Sept. 16, however, said that, “American Flying Fortresses, following up an inaugural dusk raid on Hitler’s Europe and probably the Allies’ biggest night assault on the continent, bombed naval installations at Nantes in France in their second foray in two days.” Previously, it was said, “A combined force of American Flying Fortresses, Liberators and Marauders ….raided the Paris area.” Where the “Hispana-Suiza and Caudron-Renault aircraft plants and a ball bearing works were the main targets.”
Lt. Beilstein, a St. Ambrose college graduate from Williamsburg, was a bombardier and won wide publicity late in June when two Fortresses in which he flew figured spectacularly in raids on Germany.
He had been awarded the air medal and four oak leaf clusters by reason of these and other exploits, and had informed Mrs. Beilstein in a letter of Aug. 31 that he had earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, but that it would not be presented until had participated in his twentieth raid. He had been in 17 or 18 aerial attacks on the enemy then, and he and Mrs. Beilstein were looking forward to the time when he would make his twenty-fifth, and possibly have gotten leave to visit home.
Thrilling Experiences.
Lt. Beilstein was one of the bombardiers who blasted a synthetic rubber plant at Huls, Germany, June 22, and his Fortress “El Diablo” (The Devil) went through the major part of the raid on three engines after the supercharger of one broke over the German coast, seriously endangering the crew as its parts flow through the air like bullets.
In a raid on northwestern Germany June 25 in another Fortress, “Dangerous Dan,” Lt. Beilstein’s crew shot down seven of 20 attacking Nazi planes in 23 minutes, and then faltered home on two engines.
After the last raid which he mentioned in a letter toi his wife, he said:
“Another bad one—God has been with me in answer to your prayers, or I would not be back.”
It is recognized that he has rendered unusually outstanding service with the American air force to have qualified for the Distinguished Flying Cross without having completed the number of missions usually required.
Lt. Beilstein, who is 27 years of age, had made his first raid on Nazi installations toward the end of May after having been in England since April 24. He enlisted Jan. 5, 1942, and received his commission as a second lieutenant at Hobbs, N. M., Nov. 21, 1942, after training at Santa Ana, Visalia and Bakersfield, Calif.
Married in 1942.
He and Mrs. Beilstein, the former Miss Virginia Green, were married at Hobbs, Sept. 12, 1942, and after he was commissioned they visited his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Beilstein, Williamsburg, and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. B. A. Green, Davenport, during a leave of absence.
His last visit to Davenport was in April, 1943, and he was stationed at Kearney, Neb., when he received his orders for combat assignment shortly afterward. Mrs. Beilstein returned here to live with her parents, and he went overseas. His promotion to a first lieutenancy came July 23.
Lt. Beilstein was born in Marengo Jan. 5, 1916, and reared there, receiving his education in that city until he came to St. Ambrose college, from which he was graduated four years ago. He has a brother, Robert, in Williamsburg.
[transcribed by L.Z., Oct 2021]