Paul P Bensel

Military
media-45380.jpeg UPL 45380 Paul P. Bensel
Pilot
388th BG - 562nd BS
In his pre-war National Guard uniform

Object Number - UPL 45380 - Paul P. Bensel Pilot 388th BG - 562nd BS In his pre-war National Guard uniform

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Quarterback
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Second Chance" of the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group. Printed caption on reverse: 'A-61554 AC - The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Second Chance" at an airbase in England, 19 September 1943. 562nd Bomb Sqdn., 388th Bomb Gp. U.S. Air Force Photo.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Second Chance
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
Lieutenant Paul Bensel and his crew of the 388th Bomb Group stand with a bomb, personally addressed to Hitler, and their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5954) nicknamed "Mister Yank II" before the Regensburg Raid, August 1943. A B-17 nicknamed "Homesick Angel" is visible in the background.
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Mister Yank II
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron

Missions

  • Date: 25 November 1944

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Ridgefield Park, NJ 6 February 1922

Enlisted

Teaneck, NJ 16 September 1940

Other

388th BG Combat Tour

Knettishall Airfield, UK 24 July 1943 - 29 November 1943 19 Combat Missions

Died

Louisville, KY 12 April 2010 BENSEL, PAUL P. SR., 88, of Louisville, passed away at Baptist Hospital East on Monday, April 12, 2010 after a brief illness. He was a native of Richfield Park, N.J. and a retired Major with the U.S.A.F.. He was a aircraft commander, path finder lead crew in World War II and a strategic air command and select lead crew with the B29 and B50. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean conflict. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Marjorie Bensel. He leaves to cherish his memory, his children, Paul P. Jr. (Betty), Kathleen, Michael T., Mitch, and David Bensel and Joan M. Medert (Terry); 13 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. His Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, April 16, 2010 at 10 a.m. at St. Barnabas Catholic Church, 3042 Hikes Lane, Louisville, KY 40220, with burial in Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday, April 15, 2010 from 1-8 p.m. at Arch L. Heady at Resthaven, 4400 Bardstown Road. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Catholic Charities. Please visit us at www.archlheadyresthaven.com

Buried

Louisville, KY 16 April 2010 Evergreen Cemetery Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, USA

Paul P Bensel: Gallery (2 items)