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World War II Honoree

World War II Veteran

Elmer S. Bendiner

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

New York

Honored By

Jerry L. Curry

Branch Seal
Activity During WWII

NAVIGATOR. SERVED WITH 8TH ARMY AIR FORCES, 379TH BOMB GROUP (HEAVY), 527TH BOMB SQUADRON, 1ST AIR DIVISION. STATIONED AT KIMBOLTON, ENGLAND. AFTER HIS B-17 FLYING FORTRESS 'TONDELAYO' RETURNED FROM THEIR BOMBING RUN OVER KASSEL, GERMANY IN SEPTEMBER 1943, THE PLANE RECEIVED 11 DIRECT HITS FROM GERMAN 20MM SHELLS INTO THE GAS TANKS AND DID NOT EXPLODE. WHEN THE SHELLS WERE RETRIEVED FROM THE TANKS THEY WERE FOUND TO HAVE NO EXPLOSIVE CHARGE INSIDE. IN ONE THERE WAS A NOTE FROM A CZECH SLAVE LABOR CAMP.