World War II Honoree

Russell Leslie Bentley

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Decatur, Illinois

Honored By

Mark R. Foutch III

Relationship

Stepson

AFTER PEARL HARBOR, VOLUNTEERED FOR NAVAL AVIATION BUT WAS DISQUALIFIED FOR COLOR BLINDNESS. WORKED ASSEMBLY LINE AT CURTISS-WRIGHT AIRCRAFT, ST. LOUIS, UNTIL INDUCTION FALL 1942. AFTER BASIC TRAINING IN FLORIDA, GRADUATED TELETYPE REPAIR SCHOOL AT CHANUTE FIELD, ILLINOIS. RETRAINED AND SERVED AS WEATHER OBSERVER AT LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. DEPLOYED FROM LOS ANGELES BY SEA VIA HOBART, TASMANIA, TO INDIA WITH 10TH WEATHER SQUADRON, 10TH WEATHER WING, 10TH AIR FORCE, BASED IN CALCUTTA. UNIT SUPPORTED U.S. ARMY AIR FORCE OPERATIONS IN CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS INCLUDING B-29 MISSIONS FROM CHINA TO JAPAN, WITH DETACHMENTS AS FAR AS CHINA AND SIBERIA. SUPPLY SERGEANT. RETURNED TO U.S., DECEMBER 1945 VIA SUEZ CANAL AND NEW YORK CITY, COMPLETING A 'ROUND-THE-WORLD VOYAGE.