WILBUR B. BEEZLEY
PILOT OF B-17 "SALLY"
GENERAL GEORGE KENNEY'S B-17
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII
Photo:- via Alan Beezley
Wilbur B. Beezley, 2nd from the left, in the Civilian Conservation Corps in about 1939
In January 2003, I was contacted by Alan H. Beezley, the second son of Wilbur B. Beezley. Alan's daughter Cyndy had stumbled across my web page on "Sally" which was General George C. Kenney's private B-17 during WWII. Wilbur B. Beezley was the pilot of "Sally". Cyndy alerted her father Alan of its existence. Alan advised me that his father, Wilbur B. Beezley (86 years young), was well and living in Southern California.
In July, 2002, Wilbur bought himself a brand new black Chevrolet Corvette for his 86th birthday. Alan told me "Still needs those flying machines even on the ground." He always talked to his family about flying "Sally". Alan told me that this was apparently one of the many highlights of his military career. He retired from the USAF as a full Colonel in 1964 from Dyess AFB, Abilene, Texas, where he was deputy base commander for a couple years.
Photo:- via Alan Beezley
Wilbur Beezley in flight school (c1942), probably at Randolph Air Base in San Antonio, Texas
Photo:- via Alan Beezley
Brisbane in 1944, standing beside
B-17 "Sally" Left to right:- Son of General
Kenney?,
General George C.
Kenney, General
Douglas MacArthur, Wilbur B. Beezley
Photo:- via Alan Beezley
Wilbur B. Beezley and General George C. Kenney in front of "Sally"
Photo:- via Alan Beezley
General Douglas MacArthur and General George C. Kenney with Wilbur B. Beezley
Photo:- "Dick" Graf
General
Douglas MacArthur shaking hands with Wilbur Beezley,
the regular pilot of B-17E "Sally", General George C. Kenney's
personal aircraft. Photo taken in about August 1943
Photo:- via Alan Beezley
General Douglas MacArthur shaking hands with Wilbur B. Beezley in about 1944
Photo:- "Dick" Graf
Wilbur Beezley is trying out a
camera while
the rest of the crew of "Sally" watch on
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I'd like to thank Alan Beezley, the son of the late Wilbur B. Beezley who passed away on 26 October 2006, aged 90 years.
Can anyone help me with more information?
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This page first produced 22 August 2010
This page last updated 15 January 2020