Benjamin Kaplan
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Army Air Force
Serial: 15018448
Unit: 410th Bomber Squadron, 94th Bomber Group, Heavy
Entered the service from: Ohio
Died:
Memorialized at: Tablets of the Missing, Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Introduction
Benjamin Kaplan
Staff Sergeant Benjamin Kaplan and his twin sister Jennie were born in May of 1913 in New Jersey to Jewish immigrant parents, Joseph and Rebecca Kaplan, the fifth and sixth children born to them, after four boys previously. Sadly, Jennie Kaplan was killed in a fire only four weeks after the twins were born. By 1920, Joseph Kaplan had remarried. His second wife was also named Jennie, and it appears that they met and wed in Camden.
The Kaplan Family, less Ben & Jennie
At the time of the 1930 Census the family lived at 1111 Baring Street, between Kaighn Avenue and Sycamore Street, just east of Broadway, in Camden NJ. The elder Kaplan worked as a laborer in a machine shop. Benjamin had left school after his junior year of high school to work as a salesman for a watchmaker, and Jennie was working as a painter in a leather works. The Kaplan family tree shows that he was related to the Denbo and Greenetz families, both prominent in Camden’s business community. The Greenetz & Greenetz jewelry store was located on Broadway, two short blocks from his Baring Street home; it is likely that Benjamin Kaplan worked there.
During the 1930s Benjamin and Jennie Kaplan both went out into the world. Jennie Kaplan married Louis Edwards and moved to Grant Street in North Camden, where her son Gene was born. Benjamin Kaplan moved to Tuscarawas County, Ohio to attend a school for watch repair. When the draft was instituted, Benjamin Kaplan chose not to wait, and enlisted in the United States Army on March 22, 1941 at Fort Hayes in Columbus OH.
Benjamin Kaplan qualified for flight duty, and was trained as a waist gunner of a B-17 bomber crew, assigned to the 94th Bomb Group.
The 94th Bomb Group of the U.S. Army Air Force was formed at McDill Field, FL, on January 28, 1942 under the command of Col. John G. (Dinty) Moore. It was moved to Davis Monthan Field, AZ, October 28, 1942, where a cadre of men were first assigned. On November 1, 1942, the 94th moved to Biggs Field, El Paso, TX. Phase training was begun here in the B-17 Flying Fortresses.
On January 2, 1943 the 94th moved to Pueblo, CO, with a full complement of aircraft and crews for final phase training. The group was composed of the 331st, 332nd, 333rd, and 410th Bomb Squadrons. Overseas deployment was initiated in late March 1943 and completed in April. Ground support personnel were transported by train and ship. The air echelon flew the B-17s to England.
Upon arrival in England, the 331st and 332nd squadrons were assigned to the 91st Bomb Group at Bassingbourn and the 333rd and 410th squadrons to the 306th Bomb Group at Thurleigh for combat indoctrination. They flew six combat missions under supervision of their hosts, the first on May 13, 1943 to St. Omer, France.
On May 25, 1943 the 94th moved to Earls Colne, its assigned base. But Rougham Field near Bury St. Edmunds was better suited for B-17 operations, so on June 13, 1943 the 94th exchanged bases with a B-26 unit stationed there.
June 13, 1943 was a fateful day for the 94th, as seven planes were lost that day on a mission to bomb Kiel, Germany. Benjamin Kaplan was one of those lost that day. He was reported as missing in action, and his body was not recovered.
Photos
Jennie & Benjamin Kaplan, about 1930
Sergeant Benjamin Kaplan on leave in Camden. Note from the enlarged and enhanced photo at right that Benjamin Kaplan had completed his flight training and had been promoted to Sergeant, but had not yet been elevated to Staff Sergeant when the picture was taken.
Staff Sergeant Benjamin Kaplan with nephew Gene Edwards on Howard Street in North Camden
Gold Star in the window, & flags over the doorway at 926 Howard Street, August 1945; Twin sister Jennie Kaplan Edwards at 926 Howard Street
Adjutant General's Office Notification
The Adjutant General's Office —
War Department, The Adjutant General’s Office, Washington
In reply refer to: AG 201 Kaplan, Benjamin (18 Jan 44)F C-8
14 June 1944
Mrs. Jennie Edwards, 906 Howard Street, Camden, New Jersey
Dear Mrs. Edwards:
Since your brother, Staff Sergeant Benjamin Kaplan, 15,018,448, Air Corps, was reported missing in action in Section 13 of 1943, the War Department has entertained the hope that he survived and that information would be revealed dispelling the uncertainty surrounding his absence. However, in many cases, the conditions of warfare deny us such information. The record concerning your brother shows he was a crewmember of a plane which failed to return from a heavy bombardment mission over Kiel, Germany, on 13 June 1943.
Full consideration has recently been given to all available information bearing on the absence of your brother, including all records, reports and circumstances. These have been carefully reviewed and considered. In view of the fact that twelve months have now expired without the receipt of evidence to support a continued presumption of death, the War Department must terminate such absence by a presumptive finding of death. Accordingly, an official finding of death has been recorded under the provisions of Public Law 490, 77th Congress, approved March 7, 1942, as amended by Public Law 565, 77th Congress, approved December 24, 1942.
This finding does not establish an actual or probable date of death for the termination of pay and allowances, settlement of accounts and payment of death gratuities. The presumptive date of your brother’s death has been set as 14 June 1944, the day following the expiration of twelve months’ absence.
I regret the necessity for this message but trust that the ending of a long period of uncertainty may give at least some small measure of consolation. I hope you may find sustaining comfort in the thought that the uncertainty with which war has surrounded the absence of your brother has enhanced the honor of his service to his country and of his sacrifice.