Duane Willard Beeson (July 16, 1921 – February 13, 1947) was an American fighter pilot and flying ace of World War II.

[1] Beeson was one of ten United States Army Air Forces pilots who became an ace in two different types of fighter aircraft.

At Boise High School he joined the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program as platoon bugler.

Beeson joined the Royal Canadian Air Force on June 23, 1941, in Vancouver and trained at Prince Albert and Yorkton, Saskatchewan.

By February 26, 1942, Beeson had 201 hours of flight time and had successfully completed the training curriculum with a rating of "A good average pilot and is slightly overconfident.

The RAF Eagle Squadrons were being absorbed into the Eighth Air Force, and Beeson among those who resigned their RCAF commissions and transferred to the USAAF.

The newly formed 4th Fighter Group continued to fly its RAF-issued Supermarine Spitfires until it received the P-47 Thunderbolts in early 1943.

On January 29, 1944, Beeson shot down a Bf 109 and a Focke-Wulf Fw 190, earning him the Distinguished Service Cross.

Operation Pointblank was aimed at the destruction of the Luftwaffe through air combat, the strafing of German airfields, and the bombing of aircraft factories.

When the group flew its first missions on February 25, the pilots had less than one hour and ten minutes' flight time in the new fighter.

During the week, Beeson was awarded an oak leaf cluster to his Distinguished Flying Cross and promoted to captain.

Beeson's awards include:[6] For extraordinary heroism in action with the enemy, Captain Beeson, while leading a flight of P-47 aircraft escorting bombers attacking Frankfurt, Germany, led his flight and his squadron down to engage enemy fighters harassing a formation of heavy bombers.

The unselfish bravery of Captain Beeson reflects great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.