Asturians under American flag
Historical page about of those young people of Asturian origin who participated with the US in World War II.
The Tampa Times - Oct 6, 1945
WW2 Pilot Badge
The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. The medal was established on July 2, 1926, and is currently awarded to any persons who, after April 6, 1917, distinguish themselves by single acts of heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight.
Joe Manuel Benito was born in Tampa (Florida) on August 28, 1922, he was the last of the four siblings of the marriage formed by Luis Benito Valle (Infiesto – Asturias, 1890) and María Concepción Bonera (Oviedo – Asturias, 1891).
He studied at Hillsborough High School where he was an outstanding athlete, being part of the baseball team in 1939 and 1940. Before his enlistment in the US Army Air Force, on October 20, 1942, he worked at the Weil-Mass Co and in Jensen's Inc. He attended Gunter Air Force basic flight school and qualified as a fighter pilot at Marianna Army Air Field in March 1944.
In July of that same year he was assigned to the 87th Fighter Squadron (79th Fighter Group) of the 12th Air Force at the controls of a P-47 Thunderbolt (the “Sack Time Baby”) at the Italian base of Fano. From there he would carry out missions, in six different campaigns, over France, Germany, Yugoslavia, Austria and Italy, being decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals. He would end World War II with the rank of Captain and 93 combat missions, returning home on November 6, 1945.
After the war, Joe graduated from the University of Florida and played infield for the Tampa Smokers in the old and highly competitive Intersocial League. He married Mary and had two sons, Mike and Joe. He worked in the Hillsborough County Tax Collector's Office, where he remained for 40 years.
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Joe Manuel Benito passed away on April 16, 2015 and his remains rest in the Florida National Cemetery.
Sources: Ancestry, Fod3, Find a Grave, https://79thfightergroup.com/, National Archives Catalog.
Joe Manuel Benito nació en Tampa (Florida) el 28 de agosto de 1922, fue el ultimo de los cuatro hermanos del matrimonio formado por Luis Benito Valle (Infiesto – Asturias, 1890) y María Concepción Bonera (Oviedo – Asturias, 1891).
Estudio en el Hillsborough High School donde fué un destacado deportista, formando parte del equipo de beisbol en 1939 y 1940. Antes de su alistamiento en el US Army Air Force, el 20 de octubre de 1942, trabajó en la Weil-Mass Co y en la Jensen´s Inc. Asistió a la escuela de vuelo básica Gunter Air Force y obtuvo su calificación como piloto de combate en Marianna Army Air Field en marzo de 1944.
En julio de ese mismo año es asignado al 87º Fighter Squadron (79º Fighter Group) de la 12th Air Force a los mandos de un P-47 Thunderbolt (el “Sack Time Baby”) en la base italiana de Fano. Desde allí realizaría misiones, en seis diferentes campañas, sobre Francia, Alemania, Yugoslavia, Austria e Italia, siendo condecorado con la Distingished Flying Cross y cuatro Air Medals. Finalizaría la Segunda Guerra mundial con el grado de Capitán y 93 misiones de combate, regresando a casa el 6 de noviembre de 1945.
Después de la guerra, Joe se graduó en la Universidad de Florida y jugó en el cuadro interior de los Tampa Smokers en la antigua y altamente competitiva Liga Intersocial. Contrajo matrimonio con Mary y tuvo dos hijos, Mike y Joe. Trabajó en la Oficina del Recaudador de Impuestos del Condado de Hillsborough, donde permaneció durante 40 años.
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Joe Manuel Benito falleció el 16 de abril de 2015 y sus estos descansan en el Cementerio Nacional de Florida.
Fuentes: Ancestry, Fod3, Find a Grave, https://79thfightergroup.com/National Archives Catalog.