Skip to main content
Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

The Navy Department Library

Tags
Related Content
Sources

Adapted from "Commander Richard A. Beveridge, United States Navy, Deceased"
[biography, dated 22 October 1951] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.

Topic
Document Type
  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War II 1939-1945
File Formats
Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC-Library

Richard Alexander Beveridge

12 May 1915-21 July 2011

PDF Version [4.7MB]

Richard Alexander Beveridge was born in Appleton, Minnesota, on May 12, 1915, son of James A. and Dot Pearl (Morris) Beveridge. He was graduated from Appleton High School and while a student at the University of Minnesota he enlisted in the US Naval Reserve as Seaman, Second Class, on August 29, 1936. Appointed Aviation Cadet on July 23, 1937, he was designated Naval Aviator on May 18, 1938, and commissioned Ensign on August 7, 1939. He subsequently advanced to the rank of Commander, to date from November 5, 1945, and on August 6, 1946, was transferred from the Naval Reserve to the US Navy.

Completing flight training at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, in May 1938, he reported for active duty with Fighting Squadron 3, based on USS Saratoga, and on March 10, 1939, his squadron was transferred to USS Lexington. Detached on February 19, 1941 he reported in March to Scouting Squadron 201, aviation unit of USS Long Island, which was later redesignated Escort Scouting Squadron ONE, and still later composite Squadron ONE. On January 1942 his squadron had one month of cold weather test operations from the Long Island based at Argentia, Newfoundland, and in June of that year operated from that vessel in the Battle of Midway.

In January 1943 Composite Squadron ONE was attached to USS Card for anti-submarine operaions in the Atlantic. He is entitled to the Ribbon for, and a facsimile of the Presidential Unit Citation to USS Card “For outstanding performance during anti-submarine operations in mid-Atlantic from July 27, 1943….” The citation states: “At a time when continental flow of supplies along the Untied States-North Africa convoy route was essential to the maintenance of our established military supremacy and to the accumulation of reserve the Card, her embarked aircraft and her escorts pressed home a vigorous offensive which was largely responsible for the complete withdrawal of hostile U-boats from this vital supply area….”

He assumed command of Composite Squadron ONE in September of that year, and the next month embarked in USS Block Island for an anti-submarine cruise in the Atlantic. He received a Letter of Commendation with Ribbon from the Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet, for outstanding service on October 28, 1943, when his squadron sighted attacked and probably destroyed one of two surfaced enemy submarines.

His squadron was attached to USS Croatan for one cruise in the Atlantic, and he was detached on March 6, 1944, to return to the Untied States.

On March 26, 1944 he reported to the Naval Air Station, Patuxen River, Maryland, where he served in the Tactical Test Division until his separation from the service on October 11, 1945. After a period of terminal leave he became inactive on February 11, 1946, and on August 5, 1946 he was ordered to active duty and transferred to the Regular Navy. Thereafter from August 11, 1946 until July 1947, he served at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland, as Service Test Production Officer.

Following instruction at the General Line School, Newport, Rhode Island, he reported in June 1948 USS Mindoro (CVE 120), of the Atlantic Fleet, as Navigator. Detached from that carrier escort vessel in December 1949, he reported the next month as a student at the Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, completing the course in 1951. He is now on duty in the Office of Naval Research, Navy Department.

In addition to the Commendation Ribbon and the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, Commander Beveridge has the American Defense Service Medal; the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; the American Campaign Medal the European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one star; and the World War II Victory Medal.

He died July 21, 2011. 

END 

Published: Mon Jul 20 11:14:26 EDT 2020