During WWII, the U.S. Army Air Force trained pilots at newly constructed and existing airfields. Stateside deaths from accidents caused these trainees to become World War II casualties with a DNB — Died Non-Battle status.

From the June 9, 1943 The Charlotte Observer article titled “20 Killed in Crash of Transport Plane: Report Made On Wreck Near Laurinburg-Maxton Base- Two Planes Encountered Thunderstorm, One Turned Safely Back to Fort Bragg- Names Withheld,” the news from Fort Bragg was “The army tonight announced the names of 20 men killed in the crash of a C-47 transport plane near Laurinburg-Maxton air base, 39 miles from here, yesterday…”

The list of the dead included Flight Officer Everett L. Bennett, whose mother Mrs. John Bennett, lived in Benton, Wisconsin.

Everett Leroy Bennett was born on April 20, 1915 in New Diggings, Lafayette County, Wisconsin to John and Sarah Jane (Richardson) Bennett.

From the 1920 and 1930 U.S. Census, the Bennett family lived in New Diggings Township in Lafayette County. The household included father John, mother Sarah, and children Francis, Everett, and Junia. They owned their home and father John worked as a driller in the mining industry.

[Note: This researcher couldn’t locate Everett Bennett on the 1940 U.S. Census.]

On August 25, 1941, Everett L. Bennett enlisted for service in WWII. He was single without dependents, had two years of college, and his civilian occupation was “collectors, bills and accounts.”

On June 7, 1943, Everett L. Bennett (27) died in Smith Township, rural Robeson County, North Carolina in a plane crash. He was assigned to the 64th TC Squadron, 403rd TC Group, Pope Field, Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. 

From the June 18, 1943 Benton News, (Benton, Wisconsin), the obituary stated “Flight Officer Everett L. Bennett was born on April 20th, 1915 at New Diggings, Wisconsin.

His education began at the New Diggings Public School, where he graduated from High School in 1935. He then attended Platteville and Whitewater S. T. C.

Upon leaving school he worked for two years at the Personal Holdings Co., Dubuque, Iowa. Becoming interested in flying he decided to become a pilot and entered the Primary C. A. A. course at the Dubuque Mun. Airport where he received his private pilot’s license, going on from there to the advance course at Des Moines, Ia., from there he left for Madison, Wis. to prepare himself for an Instructor’s rating when he was called for army service, being inducted into the army air corps in August 1941.

His first months of service were at Maxwell Field, Alabama; Greenville, Miss.; Aberdeen, S. Dakota; and Amarillo, Texas. During these months he advanced from Private to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

He then went to Lubbock Tex. where on February 4th, 1943 he graduated from South Plains Army Glider school, receiving his wings and appointment as Flight Officer in the U. S. Army Air Corps after receiving his appointment he was stationed for about 3 months at the army air base, Alliance, Nebraska, and a month previous to his death he was transferred to Pope Field, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Flight Officer Bennett’s squadron was participating in army maneuvers near the area in which he was stationed. He was called for duty in the early morning of June 7th, 1943 en route the transport plane in which he was riding on a flight from Pope Field to Maxton, North Carolina, ran into an electrical storm and crashed and Flight Officer Bennett lost his life, being one of twenty victims.

On January 10th, 1943 he was married at Greenville, Miss., to Miss Doris Magee of New Diggings, his High School sweetheart, who made her home wherever possible near the camps at which he was stationed.

He is survived by his widow; his parents Mr. and Mrs. John Bennett of New Diggings; one brother Francis of New Diggings; and one sister Mrs. Adrian (Junia) Verbeef of Los Angeles, California....”

Everett Leroy Bennett was buried at Shawnee Cemetery in New Diggings in Lafayette County.

Thank you, Flight Officer Everett Leroy Bennett, for your service to and ultimate sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.