ww2guymandude Posted June 12, 2020 Share #1 Posted June 12, 2020 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWIIinterviews Posted June 13, 2020 Share #2 Posted June 13, 2020 Really nice tunic and I love the bullion on this one. Nice pick up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1canpara Posted June 13, 2020 Share #3 Posted June 13, 2020 Very nice! Such a tragic end for a 50 mission pilot 😢 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
copper252 Posted June 13, 2020 Share #4 Posted June 13, 2020 Love the patch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntssurplus Posted June 13, 2020 Share #5 Posted June 13, 2020 Awesome uniform! Love it! Hunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Military_Curator Posted June 16, 2020 Share #6 Posted June 16, 2020 The photo of him getting the DFC is great! Parks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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