Having actually gone "Missing" on the above date, he was not officially declared by the military as being dead until June 20, 1946, 1 year and 1 day after he went missing as was the custom.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Son of Mr. Andrew J. Benz.

Arthur served as a Corporal & Photographer on a PBJ, Marine Bombing Squadron Six-Eleven (VMB-611), U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.

He resided in Buffalo, Erie County, New York prior to the war.

Arthur's PBJ was in an air strike against Japanese positions north of Sarngani Bay, Philippines. The PBJ was hit by anti-aircraft fire, knocking out one engine. Unable to maintain altitude the pilot, 1st Lt. Griffith headed out to sea and prepared to ditch. The aircraft hit the sea about a mile offshore in Sarangani Bay sinking just minutes after ditching. 1st Lt. Griffith and two crew members failed to escape the aircraft and went down with the PBJ.

Arthur was one of the 3 crew members declared "Missing In Action" in this crash during the war.

He was awarded the "Distinguished Flying Cross", Air Medal with 2 Gold Stars, and the Purple Heart.

Service # 895681

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The crew lost on this PBJ:

Benz, Andrew D ~ Corp, Photographer, NY
Griffith, Robert A ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, CA
Sams, Clyde W, Jr ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, WV

Crew member S/Sgt. Stanley J. Aliskowitch, who served as a Radio Operator & Gunner, survived the crash and later died on May 31, 1946 possibly of wounds received as he also was awarded the "Distinguished Flying Cross", Air Medal with 3 Gold Stars, and the Purple Heart.

( Bio & Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Having actually gone "Missing" on the above date, he was not officially declared by the military as being dead until June 20, 1946, 1 year and 1 day after he went missing as was the custom.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Son of Mr. Andrew J. Benz.

Arthur served as a Corporal & Photographer on a PBJ, Marine Bombing Squadron Six-Eleven (VMB-611), U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.

He resided in Buffalo, Erie County, New York prior to the war.

Arthur's PBJ was in an air strike against Japanese positions north of Sarngani Bay, Philippines. The PBJ was hit by anti-aircraft fire, knocking out one engine. Unable to maintain altitude the pilot, 1st Lt. Griffith headed out to sea and prepared to ditch. The aircraft hit the sea about a mile offshore in Sarangani Bay sinking just minutes after ditching. 1st Lt. Griffith and two crew members failed to escape the aircraft and went down with the PBJ.

Arthur was one of the 3 crew members declared "Missing In Action" in this crash during the war.

He was awarded the "Distinguished Flying Cross", Air Medal with 2 Gold Stars, and the Purple Heart.

Service # 895681

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The crew lost on this PBJ:

Benz, Andrew D ~ Corp, Photographer, NY
Griffith, Robert A ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, CA
Sams, Clyde W, Jr ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, WV

Crew member S/Sgt. Stanley J. Aliskowitch, who served as a Radio Operator & Gunner, survived the crash and later died on May 31, 1946 possibly of wounds received as he also was awarded the "Distinguished Flying Cross", Air Medal with 3 Gold Stars, and the Purple Heart.

( Bio & Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~