Major William G. Benn
U.S. Army Air Force, 5th Air Force, Headquarters Squadron

Background
William Grover Benn was born on September 4, 1909 to parents Marshall Leon Benn and Sarah Eugenie (née Grover) Carothers in Tioga County, Pennsylvania.

Wartime History
Benn enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with serial number O-21524. Prewar, assigned to the 4th Air Force (4th AF) as an aide to the Commanding Officer (C. O.). When General George C. Kenney took command, he continued to serve as his aide and was recognized as a capable officer and leader who he "fired" to instead make him the commander of a Bombardment Squadron. When Kenny was transferred to the 5th Air Force (5th AF) in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) assigned Benn to the 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG), 63rd Bombardment Squadron (63rd BS) flying the B-17 Flying Fortress.

On September 6, 1942 he became Commanding Officer (C. O.) of the 63rd BS until November 13, 1942. While flying combat missions, he was one of the early pioneers of "skip bombing" techniques and earned the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) from General MacArthur for his efforts. Afterwards, he was transfered back to 5th Air Force Headquarters Squadron in a staff role but continued to fly combat mission.

Mission History
On January 18, 1943 at 9:45am took off piloting B-25C "Algernon IV" 41-12485 from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby on a reconnaissance over the north coast of New Guinea. After takeoff, no reports were ever received from this aircraft. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). In fact, this B-25 crashed into a mountain in the Chapman Range near Mount Strong.

Memorials
Benn was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing.

On July 30, 1957 the entire crew including Benn was buried in a group burial at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery at section I site 260K in a single grave.

Relatives
Alfred Hagen (great-nephew of William Benn):
"[In 1998] I visited the crash site near the village of Omo."

References
Missing Air Crew Report 8648 (MACR 8648) created retroactively circa 1945-1946
Johnstown Tribune "Maj. 'Bill' Benn, Fortress Squadron Leader, Missing" by UP February 26, 1943
General Kenney Reports (1949) by George C. Kenney page 12
"The last thing I [Kenney] did before leaving Washington was to get Major William Benn fixed up with orders to go along with me as my aide. I inherited Benn as an aide when I took over the Fourth Air Force"
Lansing State Journal "Status of Bomber Crew Now 'Killed In Action'" by AP March 10, 1957 page 12
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William G. Benn "remains were recovered"
FindAGrave - MAJ William Grover Benn (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - William Grover Benn (group burial photo, photo)
Thanks to Alfred Hagen for additional information

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