Maj. 'Bill' Benn, Fortress Squadron Leader, 'Missing'
"Gen. MacArthur's Headquarters, Australia - (UP) - Major William G. Benn of Washington, Pa, the man behind Allied Flying Fortress attacks in the New Guinea area for the past six months was officially reported missing today from a routine reconnaissance flight on Jan. 18 [1943].
'Benn was one of the most successful squadron leaders in the Southwest Pacific Area and organized the most effective raids over Rabaul on New Britain Island" an Army spokesman said.
Whenever the chips were down and the Japanese
convoy had to be smashed, it was Bell Benn's boys who got the job. He abandoned high level bombing. for which the Flying Fortresses are built, and taught his men to dive in mast-high on enemy vessels - using their big bombers like torpedo planes and virtually laying their bombs on the target's deck.
Perhaps Benn's greatest accomplishment as a leader was during November and December [1942], when the Allies were closing in on Buna and the Japanese were desperately trying to run destroyers and submarines, loaded with reinforcements past the blockade to their doomed garrison.
Benn maintained a tight aerial ring around the north coast of New Guinea. His
planes were forced to run many hours past the regulation time time for a motor overhaul, and and his pilots were dog-tired from daily patrols, but Benn kept them flying and beat off the Japanese convoys until the ground forces had won control.
During August and September [1942] Benn's boys first became famous for their spectacular long-range raids, particularly against Rabaul and Buin. His men flew their great Fortresses as if they were fighter plane and thought nothing of brining them home on two or three motors almost daily.
When a Benn pilot said he hit a Japanese ship, the news correspondents knew he was certain - because he flew so low that he couldn't miss."
Credit: Johnstown Tribune Date: February 26, 1943
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