Former La Conner resident Dr. Robert E. Benner, 70, died Thursday, Nov 16, 1989, in a local nursing home.
He served as a lieutenant in the U. S. Army during World War II. He was a pilot and was recognized for valor in combat in Italy.
He is survived by three daughters, two sons, one brother and three grandchildren.
Private cremation was conducted at Mount Vernon Crematory under the direction of Kern Funeral Home. Private family service will be conducted with inurnment at Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Maxwell, Neb.
20 May 1944
At a 12th AAF B-26 Marauder Bomber Base -- Robert E. Benner has been promoted to the rank of first Lieutenant. He has been awarded the Air Medal and the European Campaign ribbon.
Lieutenant Benner is first pilot in a fast B-26 Marauder in Major General John K. Canon's 12th AAF. He attended flying school at Bonham, Tex., Perrin FIeld, Sherman, Tex., and graduated from advanced flying school at Altus, Okla., where he received his flying wings.
One of his hottest attacks was on a road bridge at Caprano. The formation enountered intenst, heavy, accurate flak and the cockpit was filled with smoke. Lieutenant Benner piuloted the plan through the flak without injury to the crew or serious damage to the plane.
In a raid over Perogia in June, 1943, his place was hit and seriously damaged by flak. The hydraulic system was shot out making necessary the landing gear be pumped down by hand. And in addition, unknown to the crew, one of the main tires was flat. Added to these hazards, as he came in for a landing a truck started across the runway in front of him. It was necessary to get up a great deal of speed suddenly to hope over the truck. As a result the plane landed with far too much speed, the flat tire threw the plane left of the landing strip into the parking area. With coolness and skill, Lieutenant Benner managed to dodge all the parked aircraft with the fast moving ship bringing his place to a stop in a ditch. None of the crew were injured.
Lieutenant Benner graduated from Scribner High school in 1936, and attended the University of Nebraska Engineering School for four years. He is son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Benner of Scribner, and has a brother, Charles H. Benner, also serving with the Army Air Corps.
