The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. M A Beatty

Marcus Alfred Beatty was born on 11th August 1919 in Belfast and joined the RAFVR in May 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot.

Called up on 1st September 1939, he carried out his elementary flying training at 12 EFTS Wick, after which he was at 5 FTS Sealand, on No. 49 Course which ran from 16th June to 7th September 1940.

He converted to Spitfires at 7 OTU Hawarden and joined 266 Squadron at Martlesham Heath on 30th September 1940. Beatty was commissioned in May 1941.

He was one of the pilots chosen to appear alongside David Niven in the film 'First of the Few', shot at RAF Ibsley, Hampshire in 1942.

He married Moya Alison Bewick in July 1943.

His subsequent service is currently undocumented until he was released from the RAF in 1946 as a Flight Lieutenant.

Beatty flew postwar for BOAC.

British Airways Heritage Centre kindly supplied his ID photo (below).

He died on 17th August 1959 in Fleet, Hampshire.