Benny Joe Bigley
Military
Ancestry.com
Object Number - UPL 57208 - 1Lt. Benny J. Bigley
Assigned to 748BS, 457BG, 8AF USAAF. ETD
Awards: AM (2OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (2 x Battle Stars)
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Wild Hare
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Connington
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Arkansas City, KS | 11 March 1923 | Son of Ernest and Ferol Genevieve [Heath] Bigley. |
|
Died |
Renton, WA | 26 May 2008 | Benny J. BIGLEY March 11, 1923 ~ May 26, 2008 Ben died peacefully at home at the age of 85. He was born and raised on a farm in Arkansas City, Kansas. In WWII, Ben was a B-17 pilot in Europe. In 1944 he married the love of his life, Barbara, his wife of 63 years. Ben was an aeronautical engineer and retired from the Boeing Company after 35 years. He was an avid golfer, sailor and snow skier. He was blessed to continue these activities up until his last illness. He lived his life by strong principles and he was known to be steady, optimistic, and honest. He was willing to take on any challenge, from teaching himself to drive a Model A, sailing in the San Juan Islands, flying twice the speed of sound on the Concord jet, golfing and skiing all over the US and Europe, and hula dancing in Hawaii. Ben is survived by his wife; brother; two children; four grand children; and one great grandchild. |
|
Buried |
Tahoma National Cemetery Kent, King County, WA | 2 June 2008 | Tahoma National Cemetery Kent, King County, Washington |
|
Based |
Glatton | Assigned to 748BS, 457BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / www.457thbombgroup.org/roster/Bnames.html
