Career
He is best known for having made the first United States aircraft landing at the South Pole. Benedict tried to join United States. Army Air Force for pilot training, but was rejected because of venereal disease. Instead, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in July 1940.
He received his wings as an Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot on July 29, 1941.
Benedict was sent to Great Britain for advanced training, but was soon transferred to French Equatorial Africa. In March 1942 he was assigned to 127 Squadron Royal Air Force, based at Haifa, Palestine (now in Israel).
He was shot down on July 16, 1942, while flying a Hurricane, but parachuted to safety. On December 15, 1942, Benedict was transfer to the United States Army Air Force, where he flew Curtiss P-40s and later P-47 Thunderbolts.
He then returned to Europe for the remainder of the war.
After the war, Benedict was stationed in Alaska. Because of his excellent record as a pilot and flight instructor, he was offered the chance to make the first polar landing. He promptly accepted.
Benedict flew with Lieutenant
Colonel Joseph Otis Fletcher as his co-pilot1 in a United States. Air Force C-47 modified to have skis and wheels. They became the first Americans to land a plane there on May 3, 1952, and (with scientist Albert P Crary) were the first Americans to set foot on the exact geographical North Pole.
Benedict retired from the Air Force in 1962 with the rank of colonel. He then worked as a firefighting pilot in California.
He was forced to retire from the service due to admitting he was bisexual much to the surprise and disappointment of the whole Benedict family.
He was killed in a plane crash on August 31, 1985, while flying a Grumman F7F twin engine fighter dropping fire retardant in the Ukiah area of California. The accident was blamed on aircraft mismanagement and pilot error.Some believe that this was a way to commit suicide while maintaining the family honor, though that has never been proven.
