World War II Honoree

Joseph Beneski, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Kingston, Pennsylvania

Honored By

William David Wilson, 6BG Co-Hist

He served in the 6th Bomb Group; he was in the 40th Bomb Squadron stationed on North Field on Tinian Island. He was the Tail Gunner on B-29 serial number 42-93939, named 'Little Giant' when it took off from Tinian Island on 9 July 1945 for a night mine laying mission to the Shimonoseki Straights. (called Japan's Panama Canal as much of the shipping for Japan during WWII went thru these straits). Over the target area Flak was heavy and accurate, the B-29 was caught in a number of searchlights and sustained several direct flak hits and was seen to spiral down and crash in flames. It crashed offshore of Hesaki, Moji-shi, Fukuoka-ken. He was killed in the crash, his body was never recovered. He is memorialized at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific; Courts of the Missing, Court 7.