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.'

98th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Wilson Witman Cain

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33012746
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Walter Aloyssiuis Golec

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner

Floyd Marion Pleasant

  • 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

Henry Richotte

  • 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

Carl Frederick Root

  • 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

42-40208

  • 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/ Commemorated

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/106012309
https://www.fold3.com/image/681900634
https://www.fold3.com/record/84169484-william-d-banks
https://www.fold3.com/record/111503007-william-dent-banks
https://www.fold3.com/record/623052375-william-banks-1918
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53762508/william-dent-banks