World War II Honoree

Benjamin Franklin Warmer, III

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

San Francisco County, California

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

ENLISTED ON 18 APRIL 1942 AT SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. ASSIGNED TO THE 15TH AIR FORCE, 99TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 348TH BOMB SQUADRON, AS A RIGHT WAIST AERIAL GUNNER ONBOARD A B-17 FLYING FORTRESS NICKNAMED 'TORCHY TESS'. ON 5 JULY 1943, WHILE ON A BOMB RUN AT 21,000 FEET OVER SICILY, HE FIRED 1,200 ROUNDS OF 50-CALIBER AMMUNITION AND SHOT DOWN SEVEN GERMAN FIGHTER AIRCRAFT. IN AUGUST 1943, HE WAS AWARDED THE TITLE OF 'ACE' BY GENERAL CARL A. SPAATZ; MAKING HIM THE ONLY ENLISTED ACE OF WWII. HE FLEW A TOTAL OF 50 COMBAT MISSIONS. HE ALSO RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS AND WAS COMMISSIONED AS AN OFFICER.