Symposium Ace Panelist

Cmdr. Ben C. Amsden              

Ben C. Amsden was born in Buffalo, New York on the 10th of October 1922 and entered the Navy on September 22nd, 1942.  He graduated from the Navy Flight Training program at Pensecola, Florida in January 1944 as a Navy Fighter pilot.  He initially joined VF-100, but later transferred to VF-22 aboard the USS Cowpens flying the F6F Hellcat in August 1944.

As a member of VF-22, Ensign Amsden downed a Japanese "Zeke" five miles north of Heito Airfield on October 12th, 1944.  Three days later, he and three other other VF-22 pilots intercepted and destroyed four Japanese twin-engine Betty bombers and three fighters headed for the U.S. Task Fleet off the coast of Formosa.  Amsden was credited with two of the bombers for victory number two and three.

On January 3rd, 1945, Amsden downed a twin-engined "Irving" over Formosa.  He became an Ace on January 21st, 1945 when he splashed an "Oscar" near Formosa.

Returning to the States, Ben served with VF-74 and VF-39 before leaving the Navy at the end of the war.  After the war he returned to civilian life and entered Cornell University, graduating with a B.A. degree in Hotel management.  He then pursued a career with Sheraton Corporation and Holiday Inn for many years.

       Insignia of VF-22 the "Cavaliers" on the USS Cowpens.