Foil: 9 Panel: 2 Column: 2 Line: 55

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Ms. Kimberly J. Jensen

Richard Bennett's interest in the Air Force stemmed from a passion for airplanes from when he was a young boy. Not long after he graduated from high school, drafting for the Korean War had begun, and he was advised by a man who worked with his father to enlist. Basic training was in New York State during autumn, in pleasant weather. The entire flight of sixty men was slated to be sent to Clarke Typist School. Each one was interviewed and those that had a reasonable excuse could opt out. Bennett told the interviewing sergeant that he couldn't sit behind a desk. The sergeant asked what he was interested in. Bennett replied, "Aircraft mechanic school." His aptitude was high for that classification, so he was sent to Texas for six months to receive training. He was then transferred to New Castle County airport in Delaware.

New Castle was a peculiar situation, because it was only partially military, an attachment at the airport. Bennett worked on B-26 bomber engines for about a year and a half. One day an announcement came on the P.A. system, asking if anyone was interested in Fabric and Leather school. Bennett didn't care to go, but was sent because he was the only one who expressed minor interest. After training, he returned to his mechanic position. He loved working on the bombers even though none of aircraft did any actual bombing. Instead they were used for towing targets for army anti aircraft, and aerial photography. Later, Bennett was shipped to Shaw Air Force base, South Carolina for the remainder of his career. He was reclassified as a "fabric and leather specialist," and became the Squadron painter. He painted B-57 bombers.

Bennett said, "I enjoyed most of my time in. the only thing I didn't like was being shipped to where you didn't necessarily want to live. But, there was a lot of camaraderie."

A few weeks before he mustered out, he made a suggestion for parking the planes that saved the government hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Bombers' engines were close to the ground. Often planes would suck things up into engines, causing damage or a rebuild cost up to $10,000 every time. While working on the planes, Bennett realized they were all parked in a line. His suggestion to park wingtip to wingtip instead of one plane behind the other eliminated the problem. This parking pattern is still used today. He did not receive formal recognition for his suggestion. Although he never served overseas, Bennett was awarded both a Home Defense Medal and Good Conduct medal. Richard Bennett ended his Air Force career as an Airman First Class.