Early life and ground service

After passing his childhood in his native England, Beaver sailed for Canada. His parents separated in 1911, and he was shipped off to Montreal, Canada. He was supposed to live with his uncle and study dentistry. He enlisted in the First Canadian Heavy Battery of the Canadian Expeditionary Force

Canadian Expeditionary Force

The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...

 on 7 August 1914. He served with the Field Artillery for the next two and a half years, including duty in France.

Aerial success

He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps

Royal Flying Corps

The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...

 on 28 February 1917. He trained at the RAF Training School at Oxford, England. He was posted to 20 Squadron to fly two-seater Bristol Fighter

Bristol Fighter

Bristol Fighter may refer to:*Bristol F.2 Fighter aircraft*Bristol Beaufighter aircraft*Bristol Fighter , an automobile by Bristol Cars...

s. He scored his first victory on 13 November 1917. On 6 January 1918, he became an ace. He continued collecting victories, with a double on 5 February 1918 and three wins on 27 May 1918. His final victory came on 13 June 1918. In the final analysis, Beaver and his observers (including fellow aces M. B. Mather

M. B. Mather

Corporal Malcolm Mather was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories while flying as an observer. He manned the rear guns for fellow aces Ernest Lindup and Wilfred Beaver, accounting for three enemy planes destroyed and five driven down out of control.-Honors and awards:Text of...

 and Ernest Deighton

Ernest Deighton

Sergeant Ernest Arthur Deighton was a World War I flying ace observer/gunner credited with 15 confirmed aerial victories; all but one of them was against enemy fighters....

) were credited 11 enemy airplanes destroyed and eight driven down out of control.

Between the wars

Beaver was transferred the unemployed list effective 13 April 1919. He returned to Canada, then emigrated to the United States on 23 April. He lived in Greenville, Mississippi

Greenville, Mississippi

Greenville is a city in Washington County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 48,633 at the 2000 census, but according to the 2009 census bureau estimates, it has since declined to 42,764, making it the eighth-largest city in the state. It is the county seat of Washington...

 in 1920. He became a naturalized citizen on 21 September 1926. His 1930 residence was Jamestown, New York

Jamestown, New York

Jamestown is a city in Chautauqua County, New York in the United States. The population was 31,146 at the 2010 census.The City of Jamestown is adjacent to Town of Ellicott and is at the southern tip of Chautauqua Lake...

.

World War II and beyond

He returned to service in World War II as a major and acting as the executive officer of the 447th Bomb Group, 3rd Air Force, on 25 June 1943. and was awarded a Bronze Star. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel and moved up to command the group from 1 July 1945 through August. He then continued on active duty until 15 January 1946. He later served in the U. S. Air Force Reserve from 1949 to 1955.

Honors and awards

Citation for Military Cross

T./2nd Lt. Wilfred Beaver, Gen. List, and K.F.C.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During the last five months he has destroyed five hostile machines, and has brought down completely out of control sixothers. During the recent operations he has performed exceptionally good work in bombing and firing upon hostile troops from very low altitudes. He has displayed marked gallantry and resource, and has proved himself a patrol leader of great dash and ability.

Reference