Louis Bennett, Junior.

September 22, 1894 (age 23)

He died near Marguillies, France in combat on 24 August 1918 Louis Bennett"s father, a prominent Lewis county politician, was the Democratic nominee for governor of West Virginia in 1908. In October 1917 he went to Canada and joined the Royal Flying Corps at Toronto, Ontario. After training, he was deployed to France where he was assigned to Number. 40 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Like fellow American Frank Luke, Bennett was fond of shooting down balloons. During his brief but remarkable nine day career, Bennett flew 25 sorties against the Germans, shooting down nine enemy balloons from an South.E.5a. On 24 August 1918, after destroying his last two balloons, his aircraft burst into flames when it was hit by ground fire. Bennett crashed but was pulled from his plane shortly before he died from his injuries.

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Background

Born in Weston, West Virginia, he was the son of Louis and Sallie Maxwell Bennett.

Education

Louis Bennett Junior. attended Cutler and Saint Luke"s preparatory schools in Pennsylvania before enrolling at Yale in 1913.

Career

He died near Marguillies, France in combat on 24 August 1918

Louis Bennett"s father, a prominent Lewis county politician, was the Democratic nominee for governor of West Virginia in 1908. In October 1917 he went to Canada and joined the Royal Flying Corps at Toronto, Ontario. After training, he was deployed to France where he was assigned to Number.

40 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Like fellow American Frank Luke, Bennett was fond of shooting down balloons.

During his brief but remarkable nine day career, Bennett flew 25 sorties against the Germans, shooting down nine enemy balloons from an South.E.5a. On 24 August 1918, after destroying his last two balloons, his aircraft burst into flames when it was hit by ground fire.

Bennett crashed but was pulled from his plane shortly before he died from his injuries.

Achievements

Bennett received no medals for his actions in combat, but Weston"s airport was later named Louis Bennett Field in his honor.

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