Help identifying awards please!?!?

[Ian Jewison]

Thanks for that Tony, Beisiegel was CO of 616 Sqn which took part in the BoB, however I see he left May 1940 to Staff College....thus rendering him a desk job!!!
All these years and my dad has got the wrong guy!!! I wonder if he really is German then!?!? And where is Beisiegel as he was there on that day in Kenya!?!?!?!

/Ian

[Tony Farrell]

He's probably being followed by the bloke in the picture. It looks like a typical AOC's visit walkaround snap - no different than today. They don't usually go as far as 'medals will be worn' these days unless it's an official parade as such, but then again, it was the 1950s. I'm more interested as to why the bloke had his piccie taken. Maybe he was the squadron's 'pet' Battle of Britain survivor. Still quite a clain even in the early fifties.

[Ian Jewison]

As mentioned my dad took this photo as AOC East Africa was on "patrol" that day and he was adamant that it was Beisiegel....he obviously took a snap of the wrong guy, however there are only 3 in the picture! One Flt/Lt., some other geezer and Wng/Cmdr.
I have spoken to my dad and he is going to have a chat with a couple of his mates who were there at the same time and see what they can remember.

/Ian

[JBFloyd]

There are no Beiseigel's in the list of Gazetted Silver Stars to the RAF.

Also, no Beiseigel's in the roll of DFCs.

I'd guess that the name and photo aren't connected to the same man.

[Ian Jewison]

H'mmm I don't know what to think!

My Father went to see a fellow chap who served with him in Kenya and without giving the guys name said "Who is this bloke?"....."Why that is AOC Beisiegel"....
This guy was in another Squadron to my Father and he said it's the same guy!

Maybe some more research is required... I will contact Cranwell or Hendon and see if they can help

/Ian

[Ian Jewison]

Old thread but has anyone any other ideas?

Since this date, the photo has been shown to 4 other members of the same Sqn. all coming up with the same guys name!!!



/Ian

[peter monahan]

Interesting puzzle.

[Ian Jewison]

After all this time, my father and his friends got it wrong....the medals as we knew did not match up....because this is not Walter Karl Beisiegel

God knows who it is but all this time they thought it was!

/Ian

[paddywhack]

Youl need to check the londan gazzete!there arent to many SS winners who where british!il giveit a look tonight!

[byterock]

My guess he is South African, lots of what one could call 'Germans' and even the odd 'German' aircraft in the South Africa defense forces and a large number stayed on with the RAF

My guess

-DFC
-39/45 star (might have the "Battle of Britain" clasp?)
-ACE Star (appears also to have a clasp which would be either "Atlantic" or "F&G"
-Defence medal (probably)
-39/45 War medal
-General Service medal?
-South African Medal for War Services
-US Bronze star
-Belgian Croix de Guerre