Thomas Bruce Benton

Bruce Benton passed away on February 22, 2015.  He was 94 years old.  He was predeceased by his wife, Tina Benton.  He is survived by his five children, James Benton of Seattle, WA, Peggy Benton of Charleston, SC, Barbara Ellis of Santa Fe, NM, Sylvia Livingston of Washington, DC, and Teresa Benton of Los Angeles, CA. He is also survived by six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.  A life-long resident of Albuquerque, he graduated from the New Mexico Military Institute and attended the University of New Mexico, where he majored in engineering.  He served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II as a pilot, flight instructor, and test pilot.  Assigned to the Air Transport Command, he was a “Hump Pilot” flying from Burma to China through the Himalayas to supply the “Flying Tigers.” Later, based in Greenland, he flew supplies to Europe and returned with wounded soldiers.  He flew sled dog teams into Bruges for the Battle of the Bulge.  Following the liberation of the Philippines near the end of the war in the Pacific, he was the first to fly into Clark Field, landing on a bombed runway, to evacuate the most seriously ill Bataan prisoners.  Many of these survivors were friends from New Mexico.  He also served during the Korean War.  Following World War II, he was a commercial airline pilot and also designed homes and commercial buildings in a contracting and real estate development business with his father until his father retired.  He was active in the New Mexico aviation community, and held airline transport pilot, ground instructor and mechanic certificates.  He continued his love of flying in his later years, building a Falcon Ultra Light and an experimental light sport aircraft replica of a Jenny biplane and flying them until he was 90 years old.  He was a charter member of the Albuquerque chapter of Quiet Birdmen and belonged to the Albuquerque Ultra Light Association, and the Experimental Aircraft Association.  He was also a Freemason, a Shriner and member of the American Legion Post 13.  An avid musician, he played with Shrine band for many years.  He was presented the UNM Dept. of Mechanical Engineering Outstanding Alumnus Award in 1995 and FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award in 2009.  Arrangements are pending.  In lieu of flowers donations may be given in Thomas's honor to Children's Hospital donations.childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org. To view information or leave a condolence, please visit www.danielsfuneral.com  
Daniels Family Funeral Services
7601 Wyoming Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
505-821-0010