Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps
(VMF-221)Air Mission
Service # 0-009033
United States Marine Corps
Awards: Purple Heart, Navy Cross
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Thomas W. Benson (0-9033), Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as a Pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE (VMF-221), Marine Air Group TWENTY-TWO (MAG-22), Naval Air Station, Midway, during operations of the U.S. Naval and Marine Forces against the invading Japanese Fleet during the Battle of Midway on 4 June 1942. Delivering a dauntless and aggressive attack against a vastly superior number of Japanese bomber and fighter planes, Second Lieutenant Benson aided in disrupting the plans of the enemy and lessening the effectiveness of their attack, thereby contributing materially to the success of our forces. As a result of his courageous and daring tactics and because of the circumstances attendant upon this engagement, there can be little doubt that Second Lieutenant Benson gallantly gave up his life in the service of his country. He displayed the characteristics of an excellent airman in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Commander In Chief, Pacific Forces, Serial 21 (Approved November 10, 1942)
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Last Known Activity
VMF-221 Second Division - MF-10 01528 2Lt. Thomas W. Benson USMCR MIA
F2A-3 buNo 01528 tranferred from VF-2 to VMF-221 in April 1942.
On 4 June 1942, while endeavoring to find and sink the Japanese Carriers Kaga, Akagi, Soryu, and Hiryu, and in the defense of USS Yorktown, 170 United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Army Air Force aviators gave their lives while winning the Battle of Midway
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Marine Fighting Squadron 221 (VMF-221) was a fighter squadron of the United States Marine Corps in World War II, VMF-221 was formed in July 1941. During the war, they flew the Brewster F2A-3 and, after reconstitution in 1943, the F4U Corsair. The squadron, also known as the "Fighting Falcons," is most notable for its actions on June 4, 1942 during the Battle of Midway, which resulted in 23 members of the squadron, many posthumously, being awarded the Navy Cross for their actions in combat. VMF-221 ended WWII with 185 air to air victories, the second most of any Marine Fighting Squadron in the war. Their final combat deployment was from January 24, 1945, to June 6, 1945
(VMF-221)Air Mission
Service # 0-009033
United States Marine Corps
Awards: Purple Heart, Navy Cross
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Thomas W. Benson (0-9033), Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as a Pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE (VMF-221), Marine Air Group TWENTY-TWO (MAG-22), Naval Air Station, Midway, during operations of the U.S. Naval and Marine Forces against the invading Japanese Fleet during the Battle of Midway on 4 June 1942. Delivering a dauntless and aggressive attack against a vastly superior number of Japanese bomber and fighter planes, Second Lieutenant Benson aided in disrupting the plans of the enemy and lessening the effectiveness of their attack, thereby contributing materially to the success of our forces. As a result of his courageous and daring tactics and because of the circumstances attendant upon this engagement, there can be little doubt that Second Lieutenant Benson gallantly gave up his life in the service of his country. He displayed the characteristics of an excellent airman in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Commander In Chief, Pacific Forces, Serial 21 (Approved November 10, 1942)
-----------------------------------------------
Last Known Activity
VMF-221 Second Division - MF-10 01528 2Lt. Thomas W. Benson USMCR MIA
F2A-3 buNo 01528 tranferred from VF-2 to VMF-221 in April 1942.
On 4 June 1942, while endeavoring to find and sink the Japanese Carriers Kaga, Akagi, Soryu, and Hiryu, and in the defense of USS Yorktown, 170 United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Army Air Force aviators gave their lives while winning the Battle of Midway
-----------------------------------------------
Marine Fighting Squadron 221 (VMF-221) was a fighter squadron of the United States Marine Corps in World War II, VMF-221 was formed in July 1941. During the war, they flew the Brewster F2A-3 and, after reconstitution in 1943, the F4U Corsair. The squadron, also known as the "Fighting Falcons," is most notable for its actions on June 4, 1942 during the Battle of Midway, which resulted in 23 members of the squadron, many posthumously, being awarded the Navy Cross for their actions in combat. VMF-221 ended WWII with 185 air to air victories, the second most of any Marine Fighting Squadron in the war. Their final combat deployment was from January 24, 1945, to June 6, 1945
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps
(VMF-221)Air Mission
Service # 0-009033
United States Marine Corps
Awards: Purple Heart, Navy Cross
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Thomas W. Benson (0-9033), Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as a Pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE (VMF-221), Marine Air Group TWENTY-TWO (MAG-22), Naval Air Station, Midway, during operations of the U.S. Naval and Marine Forces against the invading Japanese Fleet during the Battle of Midway on 4 June 1942. Delivering a dauntless and aggressive attack against a vastly superior number of Japanese bomber and fighter planes, Second Lieutenant Benson aided in disrupting the plans of the enemy and lessening the effectiveness of their attack, thereby contributing materially to the success of our forces. As a result of his courageous and daring tactics and because of the circumstances attendant upon this engagement, there can be little doubt that Second Lieutenant Benson gallantly gave up his life in the service of his country. He displayed the characteristics of an excellent airman in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Commander In Chief, Pacific Forces, Serial 21 (Approved November 10, 1942)
-----------------------------------------------
Last Known Activity
VMF-221 Second Division - MF-10 01528 2Lt. Thomas W. Benson USMCR MIA
F2A-3 buNo 01528 tranferred from VF-2 to VMF-221 in April 1942.
On 4 June 1942, while endeavoring to find and sink the Japanese Carriers Kaga, Akagi, Soryu, and Hiryu, and in the defense of USS Yorktown, 170 United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Army Air Force aviators gave their lives while winning the Battle of Midway
-----------------------------------------------
Marine Fighting Squadron 221 (VMF-221) was a fighter squadron of the United States Marine Corps in World War II, VMF-221 was formed in July 1941. During the war, they flew the Brewster F2A-3 and, after reconstitution in 1943, the F4U Corsair. The squadron, also known as the "Fighting Falcons," is most notable for its actions on June 4, 1942 during the Battle of Midway, which resulted in 23 members of the squadron, many posthumously, being awarded the Navy Cross for their actions in combat. VMF-221 ended WWII with 185 air to air victories, the second most of any Marine Fighting Squadron in the war. Their final combat deployment was from January 24, 1945, to June 6, 1945
(VMF-221)Air Mission
Service # 0-009033
United States Marine Corps
Awards: Purple Heart, Navy Cross
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Thomas W. Benson (0-9033), Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as a Pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE (VMF-221), Marine Air Group TWENTY-TWO (MAG-22), Naval Air Station, Midway, during operations of the U.S. Naval and Marine Forces against the invading Japanese Fleet during the Battle of Midway on 4 June 1942. Delivering a dauntless and aggressive attack against a vastly superior number of Japanese bomber and fighter planes, Second Lieutenant Benson aided in disrupting the plans of the enemy and lessening the effectiveness of their attack, thereby contributing materially to the success of our forces. As a result of his courageous and daring tactics and because of the circumstances attendant upon this engagement, there can be little doubt that Second Lieutenant Benson gallantly gave up his life in the service of his country. He displayed the characteristics of an excellent airman in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Commander In Chief, Pacific Forces, Serial 21 (Approved November 10, 1942)
-----------------------------------------------
Last Known Activity
VMF-221 Second Division - MF-10 01528 2Lt. Thomas W. Benson USMCR MIA
F2A-3 buNo 01528 tranferred from VF-2 to VMF-221 in April 1942.
On 4 June 1942, while endeavoring to find and sink the Japanese Carriers Kaga, Akagi, Soryu, and Hiryu, and in the defense of USS Yorktown, 170 United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Army Air Force aviators gave their lives while winning the Battle of Midway
-----------------------------------------------
Marine Fighting Squadron 221 (VMF-221) was a fighter squadron of the United States Marine Corps in World War II, VMF-221 was formed in July 1941. During the war, they flew the Brewster F2A-3 and, after reconstitution in 1943, the F4U Corsair. The squadron, also known as the "Fighting Falcons," is most notable for its actions on June 4, 1942 during the Battle of Midway, which resulted in 23 members of the squadron, many posthumously, being awarded the Navy Cross for their actions in combat. VMF-221 ended WWII with 185 air to air victories, the second most of any Marine Fighting Squadron in the war. Their final combat deployment was from January 24, 1945, to June 6, 1945
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Iowa.
Family Members
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