Beamish completed a course at RAF Staff College, Andover and was appointed to command No.
504 Squadron RAF at RAF Digby on 13 September 1939 before sailing to Canada in January 1940 on staff duty, he was Mentioned in Despatches on 20 February 1940 for his service in command,.
Beamish was promoted Wing Commander on 1 March 1940, and returned to England assuming command of RAF North Weald on 7 June 1940.

As evidenced by his tally as a fighter pilot he took every opportunity to fly operationally.
On 18 June 1940 he claimed two Messerschmitt Bf 109s destroyed, on 9 July 1940 one Messerschmitt Bf 110 damaged, then on 12 July 1940 a Dornier Do 17 bomber shot down.
 In action during the height of the Battle of Britain on 18 August 1940 Beamish claimed a probable Junkers Ju 88, on 24 August 1940 a Dornier Do 17 bomber damaged and on 30 August 1940 two probable Messerschmitt Bf 110s.
On 6 September 1940 Beamish claimed two Junkers Ju 87s, on 11 September 1940 a probable Heinkel He 111 bomber, on 15 September 1940 a shared Heinkel He 111 and on 18 September 1940 and 27 September 1940 he scored probable Messerschmitt Bf 109s.
Beamish damaged a Messerschmitt Bf 109 on 12 October 1940, on 25 October 1940 he probably destroyed a Messerschmitt Bf 109 and damaged another finally probably shooting down another on 30 October 1940.

Beamish was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 23 July 1940, when his citation stated:
Wing Commander Beamish took over command of a Royal Air Force station after two squadrons there had been intensively engaged in successful fighting operations over France for thirteen days and personally led them on many patrols against the enemy.
In June, 1940, during an offensive mission over France, six Messerschmitt Bf 109s were destroyed, two of them by Wing Commander Beamish himself and twelve driven off.
One day recently he assisted in the destruction of a Messerschmitt Bf 110 whilst leading the escort to a convoy and three days later he shot down a Dornier Do 17.
This officer's outstanding leadership and high courage have inspired all those under his command with great energy and dash.

Beamish was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 8 November 1940, when his citation stated:
The work of this station commander has been outstanding.
He has displayed exceptional keenness in his engagements against the enemy and has recently destroyed one and possibly a further seven enemy aircraft.
His coolness and courage have proved an inspiration to all.

On 7 November 1940 Beamish collided with Pilot Officer TF Neil of No.
249 Squadron RAF whilst on patrol and made a forced-landing at Leeds Castle in Kent.
In all his sorties in 1940, he was damaged by enemy action three times, on each occasion getting his aircraft down safely.
 On 11 November 1940 an attack was carried out by Italian aircraft based in Belgium during which Beamish claimed a probable Fiat CR 42  bi-plane fighter.
On 13 November 1940 he damaged a Messerschmitt Bf 109 near Dover.
On 10 January 1941 he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 but was posted to HQ No.
11 Group RAF on 17 March 1941.
Beamish was unable to fly regularly by now but occasionally flew over occupied Europe and claimed a probable Messerschmitt Bf 109 near Mardyck on 9 August 1941.

Acting Group Captain Beamish was awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Service Order on 2 September 1941, when his citation stated:
Group Captain Beamish commanded a Royal Air Force Station from October 1940 to March, 1941 and during that period carried out 71 operational sorties in which he destroyed an enemy fighter, probably destroyed three other hostile aircraft and damaged others.
Since his appointment to Group headquarters he has taken part in further sorties and has probably destroyed two more enemy aircraft.
The courage and devotion to duty displayed by Group Captain Beamish are of the highest order and he has set a magnificent example.

Beamish was appointed to command RAF Kenley on 25 January 1942 and was able to fly more frequently with his squadrons.
Accompanied by flying ace Wing Commander RF Boyd he took of
Beamish completed a course at RAF Staff College, Andover and was appointed to command No. 504 Squadron RAF at RAF Digby on 13 September 1939 before sailing to Canada in January 1940 on staff duty, he was Mentioned in Despatches on 20 February 1940 for his service in command,. Beamish was promoted Wing Commander on 1 March 1940, and returned to England assuming command of RAF North Weald on 7 June 1940.
As evidenced by his tally as a fighter pilot he took every opportunity to fly operationally. On 18 June 1940 he claimed two Messerschmitt Bf 109s destroyed, on 9 July 1940 one Messerschmitt Bf 110 damaged, then on 12 July 1940 a Dornier Do 17 bomber shot down.  In action during the height of the Battle of Britain on 18 August 1940 Beamish claimed a probable Junkers Ju 88, on 24 August 1940 a Dornier Do 17 bomber damaged and on 30 August 1940 two probable Messerschmitt Bf 110s. On 6 September 1940 Beamish claimed two Junkers Ju 87s, on 11 September 1940 a probable Heinkel He 111 bomber, on 15 September 1940 a shared Heinkel He 111 and on 18 September 1940 and 27 September 1940 he scored probable Messerschmitt Bf 109s. Beamish damaged a Messerschmitt Bf 109 on 12 October 1940, on 25 October 1940 he probably destroyed a Messerschmitt Bf 109 and damaged another finally probably shooting down another on 30 October 1940.
Beamish was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 23 July 1940, when his citation stated:
Wing Commander Beamish took over command of a Royal Air Force station after two squadrons there had been intensively engaged in successful fighting operations over France for thirteen days and personally led them on many patrols against the enemy. In June, 1940, during an offensive mission over France, six Messerschmitt Bf 109s were destroyed, two of them by Wing Commander Beamish himself and twelve driven off. One day recently he assisted in the destruction of a Messerschmitt Bf 110 whilst leading the escort to a convoy and three days later he shot down a Dornier Do 17. This officer's outstanding leadership and high courage have inspired all those under his command with great energy and dash.
Beamish was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 8 November 1940, when his citation stated:
The work of this station commander has been outstanding. He has displayed exceptional keenness in his engagements against the enemy and has recently destroyed one and possibly a further seven enemy aircraft. His coolness and courage have proved an inspiration to all.
On 7 November 1940 Beamish collided with Pilot Officer TF Neil of No. 249 Squadron RAF whilst on patrol and made a forced-landing at Leeds Castle in Kent. In all his sorties in 1940, he was damaged by enemy action three times, on each occasion getting his aircraft down safely.  On 11 November 1940 an attack was carried out by Italian aircraft based in Belgium during which Beamish claimed a probable Fiat CR 42  bi-plane fighter. On 13 November 1940 he damaged a Messerschmitt Bf 109 near Dover. On 10 January 1941 he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 but was posted to HQ No. 11 Group RAF on 17 March 1941. Beamish was unable to fly regularly by now but occasionally flew over occupied Europe and claimed a probable Messerschmitt Bf 109 near Mardyck on 9 August 1941.
Acting Group Captain Beamish was awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Service Order on 2 September 1941, when his citation stated:
Group Captain Beamish commanded a Royal Air Force Station from October 1940 to March, 1941 and during that period carried out 71 operational sorties in which he destroyed an enemy fighter, probably destroyed three other hostile aircraft and damaged others. Since his appointment to Group headquarters he has taken part in further sorties and has probably destroyed two more enemy aircraft. The courage and devotion to duty displayed by Group Captain Beamish are of the highest order and he has set a magnificent example.
Beamish was appointed to command RAF Kenley on 25 January 1942 and was able to fly more frequently with his squadrons. Accompanied by flying ace Wing Commander RF Boyd he took of
Victor Beamish