Cyril Thomas Bendorf

Military
media-57322.jpeg UPL 57322 Tom Bendorf (right) attending a legislative committee on insurance legislation in 1986, while working as a trial lawyer in South Dakota.

Photo by David Nuss from the Statesmen Journal, 3 July 1987

Object Number - UPL 57322 - Tom Bendorf (right) attending a legislative committee on insurance legislation in 1986, while working as a trial lawyer in South Dakota.

Cyril Thomas 'Tom' Bendorf from Oakland, California enlisted in the US Army Air Forces in February 1943. He was assigned to the 84th Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group at Duxford on 10 November 1944, Bendorf was later transferred to the 55th Fighter Group at Wormingford, and in September 1945, transferred again to the 27th Fighter Group in Germany. Bendorf served with the US Air Force during the Korean war and retired as a Major from the US Air Force Reserve. Following his military service Bendorf pursued a career in politics, where he took part in a number of presidential campaigns, and became Washington DC representative for Lockheed. He retired in 1987 and moved to South Dakota.



Assigned to 84FS, 78FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 343FS, 55FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 27FG, 12AF USAAF. Completed Tour of Duty (ETD).



Awards: AM (4OLC), WWII Victory, EAME, UN and Korean medals.



Post war: Remained in the USAF, serving in Korea and rising to the rank of Major.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Aircraft

44-72325

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Shampoo 46
  • Unit: 78th Fighter Group 84th Fighter Squadron

Places

Line up of P-47 Thunderbolts of the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, at Duxford air base. September 1944. Printed caption on reverse of print: '55432 AC - War Birds Home To Rest - Republic P-47 Thunderbolts lined up on an 8th Air Force field in England after a daylight sweep over Germany. Crews have finished inspections and refueling.'

Duxford

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: "Duckpond"
Lieutenant-Colonel Elwyn G. Righetti of the 338th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group stands beside his P-51 Mustang, "Katydid". Print signed 'Best of everything your big loud Elwyn', 1944-1945.

Wormingford

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Bures / RAF Wormingford / RFC Wormingford / USAAF Station 159 / Wormingford Landing Ground

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Flagstaff, AZ, USA 4 June 1924 Son of Cyril and Madeleine Bendorf

Enlisted

San Francisco, CA, USA 10 February 1943 San Francisco, California

Based

Duxford 10 November 1944 Assigned to 84FS, 78FG, 8AF USAAF.

Died

Aberdeen, SD 57401, USA 6 October 2012

Buried

Saint Josephs Cemetery Turton Spink County SD 9 October 2012 Saint Josephs Cemetery Turton Spink County South Dakota USA.

Other

End Tour of Duty (ETD)

Germany Completed Tour of Duty (ETD).

Other

Promotion

52100 Saint-Dizier, France Promoted to 1st Lieutenant.

Other

Transferred

Wormingford, Colchester CO6, UK Transferred to 343FS, 55FG, 8AF USAAF.

Other

Transferred

52100 Saint-Dizier, France Transferred to 27FG, 12AF USAAF.
Oakland, CA, USA

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/138693770

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Associated images from Roger Freeman collection containing 'Bendorf' in caption, all of which were photographed by Tom Bendorf during his service at Duxford

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/125141701/cyril-t-bendorf

Date
Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
Changes
Sources

Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia;
- Unit roster on page 135 in 'Eagles of Duxford' book by Fry

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/page/90717216_cyril_t%20bendorf/details/
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Bendorf&GSfn=Cyri…;

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/page/90717216_cyril_t%20bendorf/details/
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Bendorf&GSfn=Cyri…;

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list

Cyril Thomas Bendorf: Gallery (11 items)

Silk escape map showing Holland, Belgium, France and Germany, belonging to First Lieutenant Cyril Thomas Bendorf

Object number: EPH 4833 - Silk escape map showing Holland, Belgium, France...

A P-51 mustang aircraft of the 84th Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group - based at Duxford. The aircraft (serial number 44-63209) was named "Sherman Was Right" - originally piloted by First Lieutenant Frank E. Oiler. The phrase referenced remarks made by General William T. Sherman (who had commanded Union forces during the American Civil War) - "There is many a boy here today who thinks war is all glory but, boys, it is all hell." This aircraft was lost on an escort mission on 3rd March 1945, when being

Object number: FRE 5603 - A P-51 mustang aircraft of the 84th Fighter...

A P-51 Mustang aircraft WZ-S, (serial number 44-63209), named “Sherman Was Right”. The phrase derives from a speech in which General William T. Sherman (commander of a Union Army in the American Civil War) said: “There is many a boy here who looks on war as all glory but, boys, war is all hell.” First Lieutenant Frank E. Oiler, pilot of the aircraft is stood alongside it.

Object number: FRE 5612 - A P-51 Mustang aircraft WZ-S, (serial number 44...

A P-51 Mustang aircraft. Handwritten on slide casing:"P51 coming into land Duxford C. Tom Bendorf"

Object number: FRE 5615 - A P-51 Mustang aircraft. Handwritten on slide...

The tail section of a P-51 Mustang aircraft, WZ-Y (serial number 44-63187), piloted by Captain Earl Stier. Whilst on a strafing mission over Luneburg airfield (3rd February 1945), the P-51 was struck by anti-aircraft fire. Stier succeeded in returning his stricken Mustang the 450 miles to Duxford. Handwritten on slide casing:"WZ:-Y 187 cpt Earl Stier C.T. Bendorf"

Object number: FRE 5617 - The tail section of a P-51 Mustang aircraft, WZ-Y...

A P-51 Mustang aircraft HL-D (serial number 44-63271), flying over Duxford airfield. Handwritten on slide casing:"HLD 463271 C.Tom Bendorf"

Object number: FRE 5619 - A P-51 Mustang aircraft HL-D (serial number 44...

A longshot of a P-51 mustang aircraft (HL: F) coming in to land at Duxford airfield. Handwritten on slide: "HL:F C.Tom Bendorf"

Object number: FRE 5626 - A longshot of a P-51 mustang aircraft (HL: F)...

A P-51 Mustang (HL:D – serial number 44-63271) of the 83rd Fighter Squadron flying over Duxford about early February 1945. Handwritten on slide:"463271 C Tom Bendorf"

Object number: FRE 5628 - A P-51 Mustang (HL:D – serial number 44-63271) of...

A P-47 Thunderbolt of the 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron lands at Duxford. Image via Tom Bendorf. Written on slide casing: 'P-47, 5 ERS landing Duxford.'

Object number: FRE 7481 - A P-47 Thunderbolt of the 5th Emergency Rescue...

Painted A-2 Flying Jacket worn by First Lieutenant Cyril Thomas Bendorf of the 84th Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group c. 1944

Object number: UNI 4393 - Painted A-2 Flying Jacket worn by First Lieutenant...

Object number: UPL 57322 - Tom Bendorf (right) attending a legislative...