Joseph S. Benjamin served in the 554th Bomb Squadron, 386th Bomber Group, Medium, as a First Lieutenant and was a crew member on the B26 #41-31771 during World War II.

1st Lt. Joseph S. Benjamin was pilot of the B-26B-15 Marauder 41-31771 nicknamed “4F” on 16 February 1945. Mission number 335 was a bombing run on the Unna ordnance depot located east of Dortmund. The identification marking on this aircraft was RU-R. According the Missing Air Crew Report 12435, around 12:30 hours, the plane was hit by flak and caught fire. The pilot gave the order to bail. Kichen (Tail Gunner), Woody (Engineer/Gunner) and Staff Sgt. John Zitnyar, Jr. (Radio Operator/Gunner) were able to bail out. However, pilot Benjamin, co-pilot 2nd Lt. Henry F. McGrady, bombardier 2nd Lt. Harold S. Tiller, and Major John W. Meldrum who was an observer were all killed when the ship crashed 8 miles southwest of Coesfeld, Germany. It was completely destroyed but local citizens found several personal documents belonging to Harold S. Tiller. Kichen, Woody and Zitnyar were able to meet up but were later captured near Darfeld and sent to Dulag-Luft (Oberursol) on 18 February 1945. The four KIAs were buried in the Darfeld Church cemetery on 19 February 1945.

1Lt Benjamin is now buried in the Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Maxwell, Lincoln County, Nebraska, USA, in a common grave with 2Lt McGrady, Major Meldrum, and 2Lt Tiller. We believe their headstone with the inscription “US Army” should be “USAAF” or “US Army Air Forces” because their group is there inclusive.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.fold3.com