Ben Waldo – Dec 26, 1922 – March 6, 2020

Benjamin C. Waldo,
12/26/22 – 3/6/2020

Just over 75 years ago on January 10, 1945,
in the SWPT (Southwest Pacific Theater), Lt. Benjamin C.
Waldo, Bombardier, 307th BG, 372nd BS, Lt. Winston Brown
Crew, would be bumped from their combat mission to the
Japanese airdrome (airbase) at Grace Park, Philippines.
Ben was replaced by a senior officer who needed just one.
more combat mission credit to meet the requirement.
enabling his return home. Severely damaged by

anti-aircraft fire (ack-ack) as they approached their target, they
would release their bombs on the Japanese airfield and turn
for home. Ben’s original crew, the men with whom he had
he trained and bonded, his friends, would not return. This
10-man crew would crash and burn on the Philippines with
one airman, James Moody, killed in action and most of the
others suffering severe and extensive burns. Back at his
307th BG airbase on Morotai, Lt. Ben Waldo would be
spared this horror of his crews’ fate on what was only their
2nd combat mission. Like so many of our servicemen and women who would experience similar tragedies, Lt. Ben Waldo would endure.
He would become a 307th BG journeyman Bombardier, for
any crew, any squadron, in need of his expertise. Ben
became a master of his MOS (Military Occupational
Specialty), Bombardier. Ben would become a Lead
Bombardier for the 307th BG’s, 424th BS. Lt. Jim Helms
Crew At times, he would be pulled from his new crew to
participate in secret combat missions designed by 307th BG
HQ, what today would be referred to as, “special ops”. The
after-mission reports, which assessed the accuracy of his
combat mission bombings included a repetitive phrase,
“this mission is rated excellent”. The significance of this
goes beyond the destruction of the target. As lead
Bombardier, the formation would release their bombs when
Lt. Waldo released his. Accurate strikes could mean that the
group would not have to return to these targets which if
missed, would be on high alert, often reinforced by the
Japanese with additional anti-aircraft guns and Japanese
fighter aircraft. Ben’s expertise saved the lives of his fellow
airmen. Never boastful, he would tell you that he was just
doing his job. In addition to his WWII Victory and Good
Conduct medals, Lt. Ben Waldo would earn the Air Medal
with 3 Oak Leaf clusters, an Asiatic Pacific Campaign
medal, and from the thankful Republic of the Philippines,
the Philippine Liberation Medal.
Ben was fun-loving. He infused energy into our 307th BG
Association. There was no one more excited to see his
fellow airmen and our members at reunions than Ben. He
was generous with his time and imparting knowledge at our
reunions. His doing so on a WWII aviator panel in
Indianapolis several years ago was an eye-opener for our
members and his family as like so many of our airmen, Ben
had not previously spoken of his experiences. At this same
reunion, while touring the Indy War Memorial and Museum,
there was a Norden Bombsight in their display case and a
teenage member of a large group of boys in uniform asked
me how it worked. I replied, “don’t ask me, ask him”, as I
pointed to Ben just a few steps away. As Ben began to
instruct them on its usage, the adult leaders of this group
asked if Ben would instead speak to the entirety of their
group at their luncheon. He readily agreed and in the next
hour a group of about 30 young men and several of our
307th BG Association members sat transfixed as Ben
thoroughly detailed the use of the Norden Bombsight during
WWII, including the responsibility a bombardier and crew
had upon crashing to put a 45 caliber bullet threw the sight
as the Japanese equivalent did not compare.
At a following reunion in New Orleans, Ben would speak
at the National WWII Museum to a large group of our
members and scores of museum visitors that day. He
described a bombing run on the Japanese Oil Refinery at
Balikpapan, Borneo, a 17-hour round-trip combat mission,
and Japans’ most heavily defended target in the SWPT. As
he spoke, Ben became razor sharp focused describing how
as he was looking through his bombsight, flying his B-24,
the Japanese had bracketed their bomber and the ack-ack
shells were just missing them. For these several seconds,
Ben was back in the SWPT with nerves of steel, Japans
worst nightmare. At our recent reunions, Ben would play
taps on his harmonica during our functions honoring the
307th BG’s fallen while a fellow 424th BS member, John
Wright, sang the verses.
Ben was funny. A few years ago, he called me as he had
misplaced the phone number of one of the members of his
original aircrew. I missed the call but listened to his lengthy
message which ended with his saying, “it was good talking
to you, even though you haven’t said much”. Ben was
respectful and unassuming to a fault. In that same
message, he apologized for the requested contact
information should it not be appropriate for me to give it to
him. Ben never fully understood that the survivors of his
original air crew and any member of this organization would
do anything for him simply upon his request. Ben flew
combat missions with my father and the beloved veterans
of countless members of our association. We know that we
may not be walking on this earth only because of his
professionalism and the expertise he so consistently
demonstrated 75 years ago. Like all of you, I will miss our
meals-especially dinners, hospitality room conversations,
his humor and laughter, and his knowledge. Ben was a
warrior and he was my friend, our friend. It pleases me to
no end that my father, a 307th BG, 424th BS Navigator, flew
combat missions with him. Rest in peace Ben.
“Day is done, gone the sun, from the lake,
from the hill, from the sky. All is well,
safely rest, God is nigh.” -Taps