Francis Beck was born on 16 April 1923 in Pierre, South Dakota.  He was the son of Felix Francis Beck and Clara Mae Benton.  At some point, the family moved to Rockford , Illinois, where Beck attended Middle School and High School.  He graduated in June of 1941, and worked as a machinist at the Parker Pump Company in Rockford.  On 22 January 1942, Beck enlisted in the Army Air Corps on 22 January 1942, and ultimately entered the Aviation Cadet program.  On 5 August 1943, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant.  He served as the Bombardier on the same crew as Lt. Gilbert Malrait who is buried in an isolated grave in Ronse, Belgium and Meddie Brouillette who is buried at the Ardennes American Cemetery.  Beck, Malrait, and Brouillette were Killed in Action during a mission to bomb Bucharest on 4 April 1944.

Information provided by Phiippe Vanderdonckt (http://users.skynet.be/2ltmalrait_gilbert/beckstoryE.htm)