Benjamin B. Cummings
Rank: Flight Officer
Branch: United States Army Air Force
Serial: T-005736
Unit: 599th Bomber Squadron, 397th Bomber Group
Entered the service from: New Jersey
Died:
Buried at: Crescent Burial Park, Route 130 & Union Avenue, Pennsauken NJ
Introduction
Benjamin B. Cummings
Flight Officer Benjamin B. Cummings was born at Blenheim NJ on January 16, 1924. He was a graduate of Glassboro (NJ) State Teachers College, today known as Rowan University. He had lived at 301 West High Street in Glassboro NJ.
Upon entrance into the Army, Benjamin Cummings qualified for flight duty. He completed his training and was commissioned as a Flight Officer at Deming Army Air Field, Deming NM, in August of 1944. He went overseas in November of 1944. He was killed over Germany on December 23, 1944. He was survived by his wife, Mrs. Dorrit Cummings, of 4400 Pacific Avenue, Wildwood NJ. After the war, his body was brought back to the United States, and he is buried at Crescent Burial Park in Pennsauken NJ.
Services Sunday For B.B. Cummings
Camden Courier-Post
Glassboro, July 29.—Services for Flight Officer Benjamin B. Cummings will be held Sunday at 1 p. m. in the funeral home at 43 North Delsea drive, where friends may call Saturday night. Conducting the services will be Rabbi N. Riff, of Congregation Sons of Israel, Camden, and Rabbi J. Wintner, Philadelphia. Military rites will be conducted by G.I. Levy, President, Cummings Post, Jewish War Veterans of Gloucester county; Shaw-Paulin Post 341, American Legion, of Glassboro, and the VFW, American Legion and Trembling A. Roosevelt Posts, all of Wildwood. Burial will be in Crescent Burial park, Route 25.
Killed Over Germany
Cummings was killed in action over Germany Dec. 23, 1944, while serving as bombardier-navigator on a B-26 with the 397th Bombardier Group. His plane was shot down after completing a mission which earned for the 397th group the Distinguished Unit Citation. He was listed as missing in action for 18 months, after which time his grave was found in Germany. His body was transferred to the U. S. Military cemetery in St. Avoid, France.
Cummings attended high school at Haddon Heights and at Glassboro High school, from which he graduated in 1941. A member of the class of 1945 at the New Jersey State Teachers’ College, at Glassboro, he was president of the sophomore class and a member of the basketball team for two years.
Enlisted in 1942
He enlisted in the Air Corps in May, 1942, and received his wings at Deming, N.M., air field before going overseas in 1944. Surviving are his widow, Dorrit, and a son, Benjamin Jr., both of Wildwood; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Cummings, of 305 High street, Glassboro; and three brothers, Dr. Martin Cummings, Decatur, Ga., who served five years in the army and navy; Reuben, Glassboro, who served three years in the navy, and Henry, Glassboro, who served two years in the army Air Corps.