On 30 March 1942 Bela entered the service as a private from Detroit, Michigan. He had one year of college education, was divorced, without dependents and his civilian occupation was listed as: "Managers and officials, n.e.c.".

Bela was listed as the Crew Chief of C-47 #42-108884, Formation Position #62 for the resupply and air-evacuation Mission #49 on 24 August 1944.

MACR #10251 records the loss of C-47 #42-108884 on 17 September 1944, during Operation Market-Garden. Before reaching the assigned Landing Zone, the aircraft was shot down with the loss of all other crew members. T/Sgt. Benko was the only survivor.

Bela was also listed in the Operation VARSITY orders, Serial A-9 as the Crew Chief of C-47 #42-92084, Formation Position #41.

An article published in the Detroit Free Press on Monday, 25 September 1944 details the ordeal and rescue of 'Billie' and 10 other Americans who found themselves behind enemy lines, far from where they were supposed to have landed. The dispatch was filed by Walter Cronkite and described them hiding from the Germans, being assisted by Dutch partisans and ultimately making it to the British lines.