| Title |
Simon K. Benson, Provo, Utah: an interview by Benjamin Bahlmann, August 29, 2002: Saving the Legacy tape no. 526 |
| Alternative Title |
Simon K. Benson, Saving the legacy: an oral history of Utah's World War II veterans, ACCN 2070, American West Center, University of Utah |
| Creator |
Benson, Simon K., 1923-2003 |
| Contributor |
University of Utah. American West Center; Bahlmann, Benjamin J. |
| Publisher |
Digitized by J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah |
| Date |
2002-08-29 |
| Date Digital |
2015-12-16 |
| Access Rights |
I acknowledge and agree that all information I obtain as a result of accessing any oral history provided by the University of Utah's Marriott Library shall be used only for historical or scholarly or academic research purposes, and not for commercial purposes. I understand that any other use of the materials is not authorized by the University of Utah and may exceed the scope of permission granted to the University of Utah by the interviewer or interviewee. I may request permission for other uses, in writing to Special Collections at the Marriott Library, which the University of Utah may choose grant, in its sole discretion. I agree to defend, indemnify and hold the University of Utah and its Marriott Library harmless for and against any actions or claims that relate to my improper use of materials provided by the University of Utah. |
| Spatial Coverage |
England; Germany |
| Subject |
Benson, Simon K., 1923-2003--Interviews; Veterans--Utah--Biography; World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American |
| Description |
Transcript (59 pages) of an interview by Benjamin Bahlmann with Simon K. Benson on August 29, 2002. From tape number 526 in the "Saving the Legacy" Oral History Project |
| Collection Number and Name |
Accn2070, Saving the Legacy oral history project, 2001-2010 |
| Abstract |
Benson (b. 1923) grew up in Parowan, Utah. He discusses his family, farming, schooling, and work. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps, was inducted at Fort Douglas, and sent to Pullman, Washington, for civilian flight training in March 1943. From there, his training included: pre-flight at Santa Ana, California; basic flight at Marana Air Base in Tucson, Arizona; and advanced training at Pecos, Texas. He was sent to Yuma, Arizona, for B-17 gunnery training before joining his crew in Lincoln, Nebraska. Transported across the Atlantic on the Queen Mary in March 1945, he joined the 8th Air Force, 94th Bombardment Group, 410th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) at Bury St. Edmund, England. His first mission was in April 1945. He completed six missions before the war ended. After the war, he helped ship supplies into Germany and other war-affected countries. He returned home during the summer of 1946 for discharge. Benson worked as a school teacher in civilian life. Interviewed by Benjamin Bahlmann. 59 pages. |
| Type |
Text |
| Genre |
oral histories (literary works) |
| Format |
application/pdf |
| Extent |
59 pages |
| Language |
eng |
| Rights |
 |
| Scanning Technician |
Mazi Rakhsha |
| Conversion Specifications |
Original scanned with Kirtas 2400 and saved as 400 ppi uncompressed TIFF. PDF generated by Adobe Acrobat Pro X for CONTENTdm display |
| ARK |
ark:/87278/s6rf7x5w |
| Topic |
Personal narratives--American; Veterans; World War (1939-1945) |
| Setname |
uum_slohp |
| ID |
1027634 |
| Reference URL |
https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6rf7x5w |
| Title |
Page 40 |
| Format |
application/pdf |
| Setname |
uum_slohp |
| ID |
1027614 |
| OCR Text |
Show IMO K.BE 0 29 2002 !aimed a total of 509 Allied plane during the war. After the war, ME 262 aptured by American and Ru ian became the design basis for both the US F-86 and the Ru ia MIG 15 fighter jets that clashed over Korea.] SKB: Yes, we were lucky. Their vapor trails were all over the kies it eemed like. BB: When you were over the targets, what was that like? SKB: Well, it was like a bird being shot at by shotguns. The flak was always up there. It was quite a sight to see. You hoped they didn't hit too close. BB: How big a role did your religion play in helping you on those combat missions? SKB: For me, it meant a lot and also with my Jewish friends. They were who I was closest to. BB: Did your crew have any of group religious practices, like a prayer or whatever? SKB: No, not that I remember. BB: It was more an individual-type thing? SKB: Yes. BB: So by the time of your first combat mission, was that in 1945 or was it still late '44? SKB: It was April10, 1945. It was a combat mission to Berlin. [Editor 's note: Mr. Benson's plane was probably one of 372 B -17 s of the 3rd Air Division sent to bomb German airfields at the Briest, Brandenburg, Zerbst and Burg-Rei-Magdeburg. Mr. Benson's 4th Combat Air Wing of 138 B-17s apparently bombed Brandenburg near Berlin. Altogether, the 3rd Air Division lost eight B-17s, two were damaged beyond repair and 160 were damaged. Two P-51 escorts were lost. Altogether, the 8th Air Force put over 1300 bombers and 900 fighters in the air over Germany on April] 0. A total of nineteen bombers and eight fighters were lost.] 40 |
| Reference URL |
https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6rf7x5w/1027614 |
