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Personal info

Full name
BENCH, Marion Franklin Jr
Date of birth
19 October 1916
Age
27
Place of birth
Chillicothe, Livingston County, Missouri
Hometown
Chillicothe, Livingston County, Missouri

Military service

Service number
O-746024
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
79th Fighter Squadron,
20th Fighter Group
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
25 May 1944
Place of death
South of Wemeldinge, Holland

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
A 19 13

Immediate family

Members
Marion F. Bench (father)
Hattie E. (Ferguson) Bench (mother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-68094
Data
Type: P-38J
Nickname: Hattie E
Destination: Brussels, Belgium
Mission: Escort and Strafing
MACR: 5283

More information

1st Lt Marion F. Bench was a clothing salesman with J.C. Penney and Co.

He joined the Regular Army at Vancouver Barracks, Washington, on 11 January 1941.

He named his airplane 'Hattie-E' in honor of his mother.

Statement of 1st Lt Russell W. Bebout:
"At about 0930 25 May 1944, Yellow flight led by 1st Lt Marion F. Bench went to the dock at Bergen op Zoom to strafe railroads and highways. Lt Bench followed a railroad up Zuid Beveland Island and strafed a railroad bridge and the protecting gun emplacements. It appeared to me that a 20 mm shell hit and exploded in his cockpit. He pulled up about 150 feet, split, and crashed on his back. His plane burst into flames as it crashed."

His parents were invited by the American Battle Monuments Commission to attend the dedication of the Ardennes Cemetery on 11 July 1960.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Carla Mans, MACR 5283, 20th Fighter Group, Jackie Stoner, www.ancestry.com - Bobbie Bench Family Tree, The Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune - 6 June 1944 / 13 November 1946 / 13 June 1960

Photo source: Michel Beckers, Jackie Stoner, Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - The Chillicothe Constitution Tribune - 23 March 1944, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 43-E, Rankin Field, Tulare County, Texas