Evening star., 1943-10-06
Gunner Who Downed
J zeros on Flight
Just Likes Firearms
BY the Associated Press,

BY the Associated Press
NEW YORK, Oct. "Details OF
how Technical Sergt. Arthur P
Benko of Bisbee, Ariz.. shot down
seven zeros in raid over Haiphong
October l to raise his total score to
l6 and become the leading ace in
the Southern Chinese theater is told
in an Associated Press cable from
J. Reilly O'Sullivan. Mr.. O'Sullivan
gave this account of the raid and an
interview with Sergt. Benko:
Aerial photograp phs showed bombs
exploding on an electric power plant
and fires started in auxiliary build
lngs. Bomb bursts were strung
down the heart of the warehouse
and dock area, every one striking
among buildings of this vital port
which is furnishing much material
for the japanese war machine.
A formation of ZeroS, numbering
10 to Is made the first attack, but
our fighters prevented them from
coming in on the bombers from the
front.
Attacked by 30 or 40 Zeros.
Then 80 to 40 Zeros pressed home
| an attack on the rear bombers In
running battle.
From his top gun turret in a Lib
orator called the Coon. Benko
who has been quite hand with a
gun since his childhood days, got
/ busy.
1T was the busiest time 7 ever
had said the raW-boned blue -eved
Benko in his Arizona draWl. They
say the fight lasted more than halt
an hour, but it seemed only a few
minutes to me
There were plenty of them in the
air. | shot at l9 and of them
won't fly any more. l never worked
the tulret so fast in my life
I did most of my firing upward
as they came down from above
I One Zero blew up in all four direc-
tlons, opening up in the middle like
a blossom. While I was giving an
other a burst l had a lucky break
A third Zero made a pass and
struck into my line of fire. Both
went down
Sergt. Benko's hair is prematurely
gray at 80. He said. Il began turn
ing gray IN the tenth grade worry
| ing about getting out of the class
! room to go hunting" In the Coon :
crew was another Arizona lieuten
ant. Samuel Skousen of Thatcher
who was missionary in Argen-
Una before going into the Army.
IL Downed by One Bomber.
Sergts. Caspar Chirieleison OF
Washington. D. c.. and Robert Kirk
of Alpha. Ill, crewmates OF Benko
each shot down two, which were
confirmed. making the Goon's score
| II for the mission and % in all
Others of Liberator crews who
were credited with confirmed de-
struction of enemy planes included
James Drake of Hvattsville. Nd.
During combat a slug from a
Zero's guns ripped through Sergt
. Benkos glass turret and nicked
him slightly on the left wrist and
neck
What does it take to become a
top flight gunner? II its GOODNESS
and teamwork. his crewmates swear
he's got it under FIRE
He is very honest about il. MY
dad gave me my love for hunting
and firearms" he said.
Before joining the Army l6
months ago Sergt Benko worked as
movie operator and an electrician
IN, copper mines. He was Arizona
rife champion and went to the na-
tlonal rife matches at Camp Perry.
Ohio, for three years. where he
learned the fine points of marks
manship from Army instructors.
He's good with a pistol. too. and al
skeet-"lVe got IL guns at home and
reload my own ammunition
Sergt. Chirieleison OF BOB Upshur
street NV entered the service two
years ago and received an Air Media
for MS participation in aerial &C
tlvlties over China, Burma. India and
Indo-C China
Born IN Washington 81 wears ago.
he was educated in public schools.
Relatives said his parents were dead