In the summer of 1943, he was on temporary duty in the South Pacific inspecting medical facilities to improve treatment and care of battle casualties.
In 1943, he was appointed deputy commander for the air forces of the South Pacific Area and in January 1944 he assumed command of the 13th Air Force.
Previously, he had been given a Letter of Commendation for his services in the South Pacific Area, during which time he helped plan the Guadalcanal and Solomon Islands Campaigns.
South Pacific Area (SOPAC), a multinational U.S.-led military command active during World War II
In July 1942 the South Pacific Area, under Admiral Ghormley, superseded by Admiral William Halsey Jr. from 16 October, comprised four commands: Amphibious Forces, South Pacific (AmphibForSoPac), under Admiral Richmond K. Turner, South Pacific Naval Forces under Admiral Ghormley, U.S. Army Forces South Pacific under Major General Millard Harmon, and South Pacific Air Forces under Admiral John S. McCain, Sr..
Ordered to the field on May 8, 1942, Sgt. Benner joined Company "A", 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, and, after traveling by rail to San Diego, Calif., sailed for the South Pacific in late May.
South Africa | New South Wales | South Korea | South Australia | Pacific Ocean | South America | South Carolina | Pacific | South Dakota | Canadian Pacific Railway | University of New South Wales | South Island | South India | local government area | South Park | Pacific War | South Vietnam | San Francisco Bay Area | South Yorkshire | Important Bird Area | Newcastle, New South Wales | South Wales | South Asia | Unincorporated area | South Shetland Islands | South Pacific | South | South Tyrol | Union Pacific Railroad | South by Southwest |
The Admiral William F. Halsey Leadership Academy was established in 2009 named after Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr., Commander of the South Pacific Area and the Third Fleet during World War II, who was born in Elizabeth.