World War II Honoree

Willis George Bench

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Coweta, Oklahoma

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

ENLISTED IN THE OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARD DURING SEPTEMBER 1938. TRANSFERRED TO THE ARMY AIR CORPS AS AN AVIATION CADET ON NOVEMBER 24, 1940 AT FORT SILL NEAR LAWTON, OKLAHOMA. ASSIGNED TO THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATRES OF OPERATION, FIFTH AIR FORCE, 22ND BOMB GROUP (MEDIUM), HEADQUARTERS SQUADRON, STATIONED AT GARBUTT AERODROME NEAR TOWNSVILLE IN QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA. ON JUNE 8, 1942, HE FLEW TO PAPUA, NEW GUINEA FOR A REFUELING STOP AT 7-MILE STRIP; NORTH OF PORT MORESBY. ON JUNE 9, 1942, HE FLEW IN THE PILOT POSITION ABOARD A MARTIN B-26 MARAUDER NICKNAMED 'THE VIRGINIAN' (TAIL #40-1508). HIS AIRCRAFT WAS ONE OF ELEVEN B-26 BOMBERS JOINING A BOMB GROUP FORMATION OF B-25 AND B-17 AIRCRAFT ON A MISSION TO BOMBARD JAPANESE FORCES OCCUPYING THE AIRFIELDS AT LAE AND SALAMAUA, NEW GUINEA. THEY WERE ATTACKED BY A BAND OF 20 JAPANESE 'ZERO' FIGHTER PLANES, WITH 'THE VIRGINIAN' BEING SHOT DOWN OVER NASSAU BAY APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES SOUTH OF SALAMAUA, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF ALL ONBOARD.