William Pershing Benedict, American soldier and pilot (born 1918)

William Pershing Benedict was an American pilot who was born in Ruth, Nevada and raised in California. He was a highly decorated World War II fighter pilot who served in both the RCAF and the U.S. Army Air Forces. 18 months after joining the U.S. Army Air Forces, at 26 years of age, Benedict achieved the rank of Major and was made Squadron Commander. He is best known for being the first American man to land an aircraft on the North Pole.