Seven In A Day
by
Marii Chernev
An item of pride for the 308th Bomb Group was having the top gunner in all the Air Forces during World War II. A 308th BG B-24D with the name of “The Goon” got its name from a noted comic strip artist, E. C. Segar, however, her real fame related to her top turret gunner, T/Sgt Arthur Benko. He was written up in the 18 Oct 43 issue of 'Time' magazine after setting the record for an enlisted gunner in China when he shot down 7 Japanese aircraft during a raid over the Hankow docks in August 1943. Officially Benko was finally credited with 18 Japanese aircraft shot down. The crew's aircraft victories (flags) shown on the fuselage below the upper turret indicate sixteen kills for the 'GOON' at the time. Most of these were claimed by Benko. In early December 1943, on the homeward bound leg from a Hong Kong mission with one engine out and one faltering, the pilot, Sam Skousen, hit the bailout button so that maybe the plane could clear a mountain range. Benko and Lt. Malcolm S. Sanders landed on the Jap side of the river and were captured. Later, a Catholic missionary sent the Air Force photographs of their crucifixion."

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