William Benger

Sergeant William Joseph Benger (21 November 1894 – 17 October 1917) was a British First World War flying ace credited with five aerial victories over German Albatros D.V fighters.

Biography Benger was born in Devizes, the son of Joseph William and Eleanor Dangerfield Benger. By 1903 the family had moved to Ewell, Surrey, as William and his brother Frank entered the Boys School there, while their father was employed as an attendant at Horton Asylum. William left school in April 1909 to work as an errand boy. By 1911 he was working as a butcher.

Benger initially served in the King's Royal Rifle Corps, On 17 October 1917 Benger was the observer in Bristol Fighter, No. A7271, piloted by Lieutenant Arthur Gilbert Vivian Taylor, which was shot down over Poelcapelle, Belgium, by Theodor Quandt of Jasta 36. Benger and Taylor were both captured, but died of their injuries shortly afterwards. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, Lance Sergeant Frank John Benger, 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, KIA 12 April 1917.