William Dent Banks

Military

Assigned to 344BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. Flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid in B-24 42-40208 'Sad Sack'. 50 x combat missions. ETD





Awards: SS, DFC, AM, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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Units served with

Three airmen of the 389th Bomb Group stand with a B-24 Liberator used as a Flight Assembly Ship. Image via Tim Bivens. Handwritten caption from Bivens: 'My friend remembers it being named "Bucksheesh Benny" that it was used to fly Jack Benny around USA shows. Says it flew in North Africa with Benny and was eventually assigned to 389th as a hack and later as a form-up ship. He thinks it was originally with another group (possibly 376th or 98th).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '389th BG Form-up ship.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33012746
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18046474 / O-?
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11038921
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13056340 / O-?
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Co-pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: The Sad Sack
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Columbus, OH 8 March 1918 Son of Thomas Dent and Ethel [Jones] Banks.

Enlisted

Fort Hayes, Columbus, OH 27 January 1942 Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio

Other

Discharged USAAF

3 January 1946 Honourable discharge.

Died

Dayton, Montgomery County, OH 13 June 2010

Other

Based

Benghazi, Libya Assigned to 344BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF.

Buried

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia