World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Blase Benziger
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Brooklyn, New York
Honored By
Harold Dorfman
Relationship
The Crew 66 Family
AERIAL GUNNER, TECHNICAL SERGEANT, RADIO OPERATOR, B-24 LIBERATOR BOMBER, CROSSED THE ATLANTIC OCEAN EASTBOUND. HAD ORDERS TO DELIVER A B-24 LIBERATOR BOMBER SERIAL NUMBER 42-51549. CREW 66 ON BOARD. (LEG 1): TOPEKA ARMY AIR FIELD, KANSAS TO GRENIER FIELD, NEW HAMPSHIRE. (LEG 2): JULY 28, 1944, GRENIER TO GOOSE BAY, NEWFOUNDLAND, (LEG 3): JULY 29 GOOSE BAY TO MEEKS, ICELAND (BLEW A TIRE ON LANDING), (LEG 4): JULY 31, ICELAND TO VALLEY WALES. BOMBER DELIVERED TO 8TH AIR FORCE. U.S. TO WALES, EUROPE. OVER WATER 21 HOURS, 8 MINUTES. ONE MONTH IN NORTH IRELAND FOR PRE-COMBAT TRAINING. NEXT STOP, SEETHING AIR FORCE BASE, NORFOLK, ENGLAND. 35 MISSIONS OVER GERMANY. RECEIVED THE AIR MEDAL WITH 4 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, 3 BATTLE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND SMALL ARMS EXPERT MARKSMANSHIP RIBBON. SERVED WITH THE 8TH AIR FORCE, 448TH BOMB GROUP, 714TH BOMB SQUADRON, CREW 66 'BOXCARS' THE CREW 66 FAMILY, A BAND OF BROTHERS.