Robert Amos Benward

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-26851.jpeg UPL 26851 1st row Sullivan, Scruggs, Houston, Lundberg
2nd Murray, Herrin, Benward, Spatz
Just after 1st mission over Germany

Information from John Houston's family

Object Number - UPL 26851 - 1st row Sullivan, Scruggs, Houston, Lundberg 2nd Murray, Herrin, Benward, Spatz Just after 1st mission over Germany

Assigned to 534BS, 381BG, 8AF USAAF. 26 x combat missions. Mechanical failure caused force landing in wheat field in B-17 44-6418 'Smashing Thru'. A/C nosed over into unseen railway cutting and fire caused bomb load to explode. Killed in Action (KIA). 13-Jul-44 No MACR



Awards: PH.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner, Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32073896 / O-757387
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35589038
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-676081
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Sweet Patootie
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Smashing Thru
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Wichita, KS 7 December 1922 Son of William and Merle Benward.

Died

Vicinity of Great Yeldham 13 July 1944

Buried

14 July 1944 Interred Cambridge American Cemetery
Kansas, USA

Based

Ridgewell 13 July 1944 Assigned to 534BS, 381BG, 8AF USAAF.

Buried

Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Maxwell, NE Re-Interred Fort McPherson National Cemetery Maxwell, Lincoln County, NE Section F, Site 1204

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

381st Bomb Group Memorial Association, March 1999, Roll of Honor / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Robert Amos Benward: Gallery (1 items)