Benjamin H. King

Benjamin Hardin King (December 9, 1919 - October 5, 2004) was a United States Air Force Brigadier General and a flying ace. King flew combat missions in World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War, and was credited in destroying 7 enemy aircraft in aerial combat during World War II. He retired in 1971, after 29 years of distinguished service.

Early life King was born on December 9, 1919. He attended high school in Fayetteville, Arkansas before completing one year of college at the University of Oklahoma. Afterwards, he was employed as a welder.

Military career On February 28, 1942, King enlisted as an aviation cadet in the United States Army Air Forces at Will Rogers Field in Oklahoma City and was flying cadet at Kelly Field in Texas. In October 1942, he completed his flight training at Foster Field in Texas, and earned his wings and commission of Second lieutenant.

After ditching, King successfully deployed his life raft and spent five days at sea before reaching Mono Island on July 22, 1943. The natives of the island rescued him, and hid him and six U.S. Navy aviators from Japanese patrols on several occasions for 60 days. On September 13, King and four other aviators departed and spent four days in the raft at sea observing Japanese and Allied aircraft overhead. On September 18, the men heard a Royal New Zealand Navy PBY Catalina flying over them and they lit a flare in a can of kerosene as a signal. Spotting the light, the Catalina kept circling for hours before landing next to the raft and picking the men up. They were flown to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal.

After his recovery, King continued flying combat missions. On November 1, 1943, he scored his third and final aerial victory in the Pacific, when he shot down a Zero over Empress Augusta Bay. After his return to the United States in August 1944, he was assigned as a P-51 Mustang pilot and operations officer of the 368th Fighter Squadron of the 359th Fighter Group in England. Stationed at RAF East Wretham, he flew missions in the European Theater of Operations.

His biggest day was on September 11, 1944. On that date, during a bomber escort to Merseburg, Germany, King's formation encountered 50 German fighters over Eisleben, Germany. In the aerial battle, King shot down two Fw 190s and one Bf 109. For his heroism, he was awarded the Silver Star. King scored his last aerial victory of the war, when he shot down a Bf 109 on September 12.

During World War II, King was credited with the destruction of 7 enemy aircraft in aerial combat. During his time with 347th FG and 358th FG, he flew P-38 and P-51s named 'Matilda', in honor of his mother.

After returning to the United States in July 1951, he was appointed as commander of the 121st Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland and served until November 1952. Over the next five years, he served in a variety of command and staff positions in the Air Force.

King was assigned in October 1963 as deputy director, Office of the Secretary of Defense Advisory Research Project Agency Field Unit in Bangkok, Thailand. During this period, he flew some 100 missions in Vietnam in T-28 Trojan, C-47 Skytrain, L-28 and B-26 Invader.

He died on October 5, 2004, at age of 84. During his memorial services, he was honored with a missing man formation by F-15 Eagles of the Oregon Air National Guard. In accordance to his wishes, he was cremated and his ashes scattered over the Pacific Ocean.

Aerial victory credits SOURCES: Air Force Historical Study 85: USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II

Awards and decorations He has accumulated more than 6,000 hours of flying time, including 1,146 combat hours logged in 400 combat missions. His decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 24 oak leaf clusters and Purple Heart, and the French and Belgian Croix de Guerre.

U.S. Air Force Command Pilot BadgeU.S. Air Force Parachutist BadgeAir Force Distinguished Service MedalSilver StarLegion of Meritwith bronze oak leaf clusterDistinguished Flying Crosswith three bronze oak leaf clusterPurple HeartAir Medalwith four silver oak leaf clustersAir Medalwith four bronze oak leaf clusters(second ribbon required for accoutrement spacing)Air Force Commendation Medalwith bronze oak leaf clusterAir Force Presidential Unit Citationwith bronze oak leaf clusterAir Force Outstanding Unit AwardAmerican Campaign MedalAsiatic-Pacific Campaign Medalwith four bronze campaign starsEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medalwith four bronze campaign starsWorld War II Victory MedalNational Defense Service Medalwith bronze service starKorean Service Medalwith silver campaign starArmed Forces Expeditionary MedalVietnam Service Medalwith bronze campaign starAir Force Longevity Service Awardwith silver and bronze oak leaf clustersSmall Arms Expert Marksmanship RibbonCroix de Guerrewith silver star(France)Croix de Guerre with Palm(Belgium)Republic of Korea Presidential Unit CitationRepublic of Vietnam Gallantry CrossUnited Nations Service Medal for KoreaVietnam Campaign MedalKorean War Service Medal

Silver Star citation

King, Benjamin H. Major (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces 368th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force Date of Action: September 11, 1944

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