Clive Beadon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wing Commander
Clive Beadon
|
|
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 April 1919 Coonoor, India, British Empire |
| Died | 14 September 1996 (aged 77) Windsor, Berkshire, England |
| Spouse |
Jane Corby Wigham
(m. 1965) |
| Education | Imperial Service College Royal Air Force College Cranwell |
| Occupation | Military officer, dowser |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross War Medal 1939-1945 1939-1945 Star Atlantic Star Defense Medal Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal Air Force Cross of Aeronautical Merit |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | United Kingdom Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1939–1966 |
| Rank | Wing Commander |
| Commands | No. 502 Squadron RAF No. 297 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II Burma campaign |
Wing Commander Clive Vernon Beadon DFC (born April 15, 1919 – died September 14, 1996) was a brave British pilot, a diplomat, and a unique person who practiced dowsing. He was known as a Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force.
Contents
Who Was Clive Beadon?
Clive Vernon Beadon was born on April 15, 1919. His birthplace was Coonoor, in what was then British India. His father was a British soldier.
Early Life and Military Training
Clive went to the Imperial Service College. He was offered a special scholarship. This scholarship would have sent him to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. This is a famous military school.
But Clive had other plans. He chose to train as a pilot instead. He went to the Royal Air Force College Cranwell. This was against his father's wishes. He became an officer in the Royal Air Force in 1939. This was just a few months before World War II began.
Flying in World War II
Clive first served with No. 502 Squadron RAF. In late 1940, he became an instructor. He taught other pilots at the Central Flying School. In August 1942, he was sent to the Middle East.
Later that year, he moved to Southeast Asia. There, he flew large Consolidated B-24 Liberator and Vickers Wellington planes. He flew hundreds of missions. These missions were against Japanese forces.
A Heroic Flight
In 1944, Clive flew a Liberator plane very low. He was bombing Japanese supply trains. These trains were on a railway in Thailand. During the mission, Japanese anti-aircraft guns fired. His gunner was sadly killed.
Clive's plane was on fire. Despite this, he flew the burning aircraft. He flew over one thousand miles. He made it back to a British airbase in India. His brave actions saved his crew. Their parachutes were destroyed by the fire. They could not have jumped out.
For his bravery, Clive received several awards. These included the Distinguished Flying Cross. He also got the Atlantic Star, the Defence Medal (United Kingdom), and the War Medal. He received the Burma Star from George VI in 1945.
After the War
After World War II ended, Clive held important jobs. He worked at RAF Bomber Command. He also worked at the Air Ministry. In 1950, he became a commanding officer. He led No. 297 Squadron RAF.
In 1953, he received another honor. Elizabeth II awarded him the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal. This was during her coronation year.
A Diplomatic Mission
In 1953, the British government sent Clive on a special mission. He went to Entebbe in Africa. His task was to bring Mutesa II of Buganda, a king, to London. The British government believed the king was in danger.
Clive kept his plane's engines running. His colleagues helped the king board the aircraft. When they landed in the United Kingdom, Clive apologized to the king. He bowed to him, showing respect.
Later Career and Retirement
From 1954 to 1957, Clive worked as an air attaché in Caracas. An air attaché is like a military diplomat. In the 1960s, he served as an air attaché in Paris. He was awarded the Air Force Cross of Aeronautical Merit. This award came from President Gustavo Rojas Pinilla of Colombia.
Clive retired from the Royal Air Force in 1966.
Dowsing and Research
Clive Beadon was also well-known for dowsing. Dowsing is a way of searching for things. People use rods or pendulums to find water, minerals, or other objects.
In 1979, Clive started a research program. He explored using "powerful magnetic energy" from gemstones. He believed this energy could help with "geopathic stress". This led to products like the "Spiral of Tranquility." He was a member of the British Society of Dowsers. Clive also helped create a device. It was called the Beadon cube. It was meant to remove harmful "Earth energies."
Personal Life and Passing
In February 1965, Clive married Jane Corby Wigham. They lived in Aboyne for many years. Later, they moved to Maidenhead in 1994.
Clive Beadon passed away on September 14, 1996. He died at a hospital in Windsor, Berkshire.
