Jump to content

Uniform of “50 mission” SSM and DFC recipient Lt. Donald E. Benjaminsen, 346th BS, 99th BG


ww2guymandude
 Share

Recommended Posts

ww2guymandude

Recently got this one off of ebay. The seller decided to withhold all the info on the vet, which was somewhat of a gamble however I think it paid off in my favor.

 

This uniform is ID’d to Lt. Donald E. Benjaminsen of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Benjaminsen flew as a navigator with the 346th BS of the 99th BG starting out in North Africa, where he would fly missions in support of allied ground troops in Tunisia. The young Lt. earned his Distinguished Flying Cross under General Orders #1406 in June, 1944. He would stay with the 346th throughout the war, flying his 50th mission over Yugoslavia in 1944, eventually rotating back to the states in 1945. Lt. Benjaminsen was only 21 when he finished his 50 missions... quite a lot of action for someone that young. He was tragically killed in 1945 in a non-military related plane crash, just a year after he finished his lengthy tour overseas.

 

I have yet to find any info on his Silver Star award, however I plan to get his file once NARA is back open.

 

dfbab6888b5552c3d8d7d9bf4a619b69.jpg

c98436418d0dd08797273f6d028791eb.jpg

55c8b410aa9041f0622b53b91977a47d.jpg

7b21ba213e72f081210b053f4e60862b.jpg

48541efbb41d0e802d0b2f3e9218c79e.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...