Bennett, Donald K.

Rank
Class Of
1936
MIA/KIA
KIA
Conflict
Born
Aug. 9, 1914
Died
May 21, 1944
Awards
Distinuished Flying Cross, Air Medal W/ 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart, Croix De Guerre w/ Palm
Buried
Cambridge American Cemetery (Plot F, Row 6, Grave 62) Colon, South Cambrdgeshire District, Cambridgeshire England
Image
Biography

Lt. Col. Bennett's last mission was to destroy 303 Locomotives, 35 German military supply trains, and more with his squadron. During the bombing run on his first locomotive, it blew up and shrapnel took a chunk of his wing.Lt. Col. Bell didn't care though, and continued the mission eliminating another locomotive. After his second strafe run Bell's plane was caught in flak gun fire, and set ablaze. Lt. Col. refused to be disuaded from his mission, and began a successfully run on a third locomotive, destroying it completely. After his third strafe further flak gun fire caused Bell to emergency land in a near by channel. Lt. Col. Bell was seen climbing into a dinghy in the water, but his body was later found washed up on the shoreline. (His aircraft was fixed up and sent back into the war, only to be shot down later into the sea)

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56287747