38:
543:
Bennett was called to Bomber
Command HQ when he was on the point of leaving with his squadron for the Middle East. There he was informed by Harris that he was to lead a special force to make use of the new bombing and navigational aids then available and the more sophisticated ones that would follow. With effect from 5 July he was promoted to group captain.
512:'s navigation. At this stage of the war, Bomber Command had begun to make night-time raids deep into Germany, but had not yet been able to cause significant damage, largely because only about a quarter of the bomb loads were delivered "on target" — and this at a time when "on target" was defined as within three miles of the aim point.
566:
Bennett was not a popular leader: a personally difficult and naturally aloof man, he earned a great deal of respect from his crews but little affection. As Harris wrote, "he could not suffer fools gladly, and by his own high standards there were many fools". Nor did
Bennett get on well with the other
723:
in 1960 by the
Ministry of Civil Aviation, Bennett purchased three-quarters of the Aerodrome from the Calthorpe Estate and set about reopening the airport as a general aviation facility. He was successful and Blackbushe reopened on 6 October 1962. Bennett fought a planning battle with local councils
519:
to the target areas and drop markers for the remainder of the force to aim at. Later in the war, the
Pathfinder Force would be equipped with a range of newly developed and often highly effective electronic aids, but the initial object was to simply take experienced crews with standard equipment and
542:
would probably be given command of the new force, Harris bowed to the inevitable, but was given a "more or less free hand" in selection of the force commander. He chose to appoint
Bennett without considering other candidates. Harris described Bennett as "the most efficient airman I have ever met".
445:
tasked with the wartime delivery of thousands of aircraft manufactured in the United States and Canada to the United
Kingdom. At that time, a transatlantic flight was a significant event, but the Atlantic Ferry project proved remarkably successful and demonstrated that with suitable training even
554:
air vice marshal – the youngest ever to hold that rank – giving him a rank similar to those of the other commanders of groups. He remained in command of the
Pathfinder Force until the end of the war, overseeing its growth to an eventual 19 squadrons, a training flight and a meteorological
724:
to develop
Blackbushe with new hangar facilities. At the time he faced a lot of opposition from local residents, councils, and the ministry. Ultimately many of the efforts to establish modern facilities at Blackbushe were unsuccessful, and he subsequently sold the airport to Doug Arnold.
583:
Despite the unquestioned achievements of No. 8 Group, at the end of the war
Bennett was the only bomber group commander not to be knighted. He resigned his commission in the RAF, and returned to private life to pursue a variety of activities. He became a director of
357:) from 1942 to the end of the Second World War in 1945. He has been described as "one of the most brilliant technical airmen of his generation: an outstanding pilot, a superb navigator who was also capable of stripping a wireless set or overhauling an engine".
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as a squadron leader. His first task was to oversee the formation of the
Elementary Air Navigation School, Eastbourne, for the initial training of observers (later navigators). However, he was promoted to
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Having already demonstrated that he could pass on his meticulous navigational ability to others, Bennett was an obvious choice for the role, yet nevertheless a surprising one. The
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RAF group commanders: not only was he 20 years younger, he was an Australian. Indeed, Bennett saw his own appointment in those terms: it was, he believed, a victory for the
1348:
740:
413:. Over the next five years, Bennett specialised in long-distance flights, breaking a number of records and pioneering techniques which would later become commonplace, notably
1378:
1373:
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635:
61:
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527:'s Directorate of Bomber Operations had for some time been pushing to establish an elite precision bombing force, but Bomber Command AOC-in-C Air Chief Marshal
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492:. Shot down during that raid, he evaded capture and escaped to Sweden, from where he was able to return to Britain; he and his copilot were awarded the
647:
345:(14 September 1910 – 15 September 1986) was an Australian aviation pioneer and bomber pilot who rose to be the youngest air vice marshal in the
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flight, working relentlessly to improve its standards, and tirelessly campaigning for better equipment, in particular for more
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96:
20:
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706:
615:. One of his darkest hours after the war came on 12 March 1950, when one of his aircraft, operating a charter flight,
575:
of No. 5 Group. In 5 Group's 617 Squadron, Cochrane had his own specialist squadron pursuing high levels of accuracy.
493:
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341:
288:
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He was dismissed from BSAA on 10 February 1948 after a disagreement with the board, and started his own airline,
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421:(Pitman, London) which he updated several times up to the seventh edition in 1967. In July 1938 he piloted the
642:– his parliamentary career having lasted all of 73 days. He had previously attempted to be selected as a
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was implacably opposed to the idea on the grounds that it would "lower the morale" of the other squadrons.
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689:. He continued his support for far-right fringe parties during the 1970s as a patron of the
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to replace the diverse assortment of often obsolete aircraft with which the force started.
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716:, detailing his experiences throughout the war, was published by Frederick Muller Ltd.
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The complete air navigator: covering the syllabus for the flight navigator's licence
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When Harris learned that Vice-Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) Air Chief Marshal Sir
446:
inexperienced pilots could safely deliver new aircraft across the North Atlantic.
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1095:
Master Airman; a biography of Air Vice-Marshal Donald Bennett, CB., CBE., DSO.
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During 1940 Bennett's long-distance expertise was set to work setting up the
1156:
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705:, under the banner "Anti-EEC" (in opposition to Britain's membership of the
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Donald Bennett was born the youngest son of a grazier and business agent in
194:
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In 1943 Bennett was promoted with the upgrading of PFF to group status to
1034:
409:, he left the service in 1935 (retaining a reserve commission) to join
153:
145:
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373:. After some time working in his father's business, he joined the
1080:
Fly With the Stars, A History of British South American Airways
405:
that would never leave him. After a period as an instructor at
1344:
Recipients of the Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air
1059:
Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – AVM Bennett
401:, Bennett developed a passion for accurate flying and precise
697:, he stood against the incumbent Conservative prime minister
571:. There was antagonism between Bennett and Air Vice-Marshal
429:
flying-boat across the Atlantic; this flight earned him the
1319:
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II
1067:, London, Muller, 1958 (re-imp. Goodall paperback, 1988,
1153:
Late 1940s Movietone News public address by AVM Bennett.
538:
planned to order the change, and that the strong-willed
607:, which was also BSAA's base. The company operated two
504:
In July 1942, Bennett was appointed to command the new
964:
Dunnell, Ben (September 2022). "The Tudor's Reign".
741:
List of United Kingdom MPs with the shortest service
611:
airliners, mainly used for carrying fuel during the
650:in February 1944. One of his fellow candidates was
626:(MPs) of the 20th century when he was elected at a
303:
293:
King's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air
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765:"Air Vice Marshal Donald Clifford Tyndall Bennett"
473:In April 1942, No. 77 Squadron was transferred to
1359:Liberal Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies
709:). He came last, winning just 1.5% of the vote.
470:in 4 Group, Bomber Command, on 7 December 1941.
1339:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
1329:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
1033:. Cognitive Computing Limited. Archived from
8:
1299:Royal Air Force air marshals of World War II
1151:AIR VICE MARSHAL BENNETT SPEAKS TO MOVIETONE
824:"Bennett, Donald Clifford (Don) (1910–1986)"
417:. In 1936 he wrote the first edition of his
285:Commander of the Order of the British Empire
16:Royal Air Force Air-Vice Marshal (1910-1986)
1349:Recipients of the Order of Alexander Nevsky
622:Bennett became one of the shortest-serving
508:(PFF), an elite unit tasked with improving
485:) and shortly afterwards led a raid on the
1379:People educated at Brisbane Grammar School
1174:
923:(Supplement). 7 January 1944. p. 211.
832:. Canberra: National Centre of Biography,
677:were unsuccessful. A later attempt at the
588:(BSAA), and designed and built both cars (
449:Bennett was recommissioned in 1941 in the
307:Director of British South American Airways
36:
25:
953:(Supplement). 22 June 1945. p. 3318.
887:(Supplement). 12 June 1942. p. 2649.
638:. He was defeated soon afterwards in the
1016:, Glasgow: Fontana Collins, 1977, p. 135
515:Pathfinder Force was set up to lead the
19:For other people named Don Bennett, see
1146:Imperial War Museum Interview from 1986
936:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
756:
1374:Royal Air Force pilots of World War II
1000:
1314:Australian World War II bomber pilots
1162:Newspaper clippings about Don Bennett
7:
1364:Conservative Party (UK) politicians
1334:Companions of the Order of the Bath
1304:Royal Australian Air Force officers
712:In 1958, an autobiography entitled
829:Australian Dictionary of Biography
619:, killing 80 of its 83 occupants.
458:, and appointed to the command of
281:Companion of the Order of the Bath
74:14 May 1945 – 5 July 1945
14:
811:. 8 September 1931. p. 5831.
727:Bennett died at the age of 76 on
477:and Bennett was given command of
451:Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
1241:Parliament of the United Kingdom
1126:. London: Viking, Penguin Group.
393:a year later. Starting with the
1369:Australian emigrants to England
1065:Pathfinder; a war autobiography
1027:"'Sidcup', Feb 1974 - May 1983"
654:; Gibson was selected instead.
323:Donald Clifford Tyndall Bennett
116:Donald Clifford Tyndall Bennett
1309:Australian World War II pilots
1223:No. 8 (Pathfinder Force) Group
834:Australian National University
695:February 1974 general election
586:British South American Airways
569:"players" over the "gentlemen"
520:hone their navigation skills.
245:No. 8 (Pathfinder Force) Group
1:
685:, resulted in his losing his
43:
42:Air Vice Marshal Don Bennett
1141:, BBC Radio 4, 27 April 2012
1111:Arms and Armour London 1996
990:. 18 May 1945. p. 2575.
496:(DSO) on 16 June 1942.
21:Don Bennett (disambiguation)
1166:20th Century Press Archives
1109:Bennett and the Pathfinders
707:European Economic Community
691:National Independence Party
681:, standing for the obscure
617:crashed at Llandow in Wales
494:Distinguished Service Order
443:Atlantic Ferry Organization
289:Distinguished Service Order
1395:
1204:Himself as AOC No. 8 Group
657:Attempts to return to the
550:, and then in December to
375:Royal Australian Air Force
369:, Queensland. He attended
209:Royal Australian Air Force
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679:1967 Nuneaton by-election
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297:Order of Alexander Nevsky
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35:
1122:Morris, Richard (1994).
389:. He transferred to the
1157:RAF Interview from 1980
377:in 1930, qualifying at
371:Brisbane Grammar School
1220:Air Officer Commanding
592:) and light aircraft.
431:Oswald Watt Gold Medal
731:, 15 September 1986.
729:Battle of Britain Day
719:After the closure of
675:1950 general election
640:1945 general election
624:Members of Parliament
415:air-to-air refuelling
221:Years of service
179:National Independence
1257:Member of Parliament
1214:Group re-established
483:Handley Page Halifax
427:Short Mayo Composite
57:Member of Parliament
1193:Officer Commanding
1031:ElectionWeb Project
667:by-election in 1948
628:by-election in 1945
1261:Middlesbrough West
1250:Harcourt Johnstone
1014:The National Front
988:The London Gazette
951:The London Gazette
921:The London Gazette
885:The London Gazette
808:The London Gazette
781:Bennett, D. C. M.
721:Blackbushe Airport
636:Middlesbrough West
510:RAF Bomber Command
487:German battleship
381:as a pilot on the
351:"Pathfinder Force"
216:(1931–35, 1941–45)
211:(1930–31, 1935–36)
85:Harcourt Johnstone
62:Middlesbrough West
1324:Flight navigators
1277:
1276:
1268:Succeeded by
1230:Succeeded by
1202:Succeeded by
1188:Force established
1178:Military offices
1097:, Airlife, 1985,
1089:978-0-7509-4448-9
966:Aeroplane Monthly
843:978-0-522-84459-7
315:
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139:15 September 1986
119:14 September 1910
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1354:UK MPs 1935–1945
1247:Preceded by
1195:Pathfinder Force
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1063:D.C.T. Bennett,
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1037:on 23 March 2016
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579:Post-war career
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475:Coastal Command
460:No. 77 Squadron
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785:1988 pp19-27
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769:www.awm.gov.au
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1039:. Retrieved
1035:the original
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863:. Retrieved
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648:Macclesfield
644:Conservative
621:
594:
582:
565:
545:
533:
525:Air Ministry
522:
514:
503:
488:
472:
448:
440:
425:part of the
422:
418:
399:210 Squadron
395:flying boats
364:
322:
318:
316:
267:Battles/wars
164:Conservative
141:(1986-09-15)
92:Succeeded by
69:
1294:1986 deaths
1289:1910 births
1041:14 November
1001:Morris 1994
984:"No. 37085"
947:"No. 37146"
917:"No. 36323"
906:Maynard p84
897:Maynard p83
881:"No. 35597"
803:"No. 33751"
599:, based at
590:Fairthorpes
540:Basil Embry
466:and flying
464:RAF Leeming
462:, based at
407:RAF Calshot
171:(1945–1950)
80:Preceded by
1283:Categories
1227:1943–1945
1199:1942–1943
1124:Guy Gibson
791:0907579051
783:Pathfinder
747:References
714:Pathfinder
652:Guy Gibson
609:Avro Tudor
561:Lancasters
403:navigation
304:Other work
191:Allegiance
126:Queensland
1184:New title
865:31 August
852:1833-7538
699:Ted Heath
693:. At the
605:Berkshire
597:Airflight
557:Mosquitos
367:Toowoomba
262:(1941–42)
252:(1942–43)
247:(1943–45)
226:1940–1945
224:1930–1936
195:Australia
150:Berkshire
130:Australia
122:Toowoomba
70:In office
1083:, 2007,
860:70677943
735:See also
468:Whitleys
241:Commands
174:National
1168:of the
1164:in the
687:deposit
673:at the
669:and in
634:MP for
632:Liberal
489:Tirpitz
423:Mercury
383:DH Moth
181:(1970s)
169:Liberal
154:England
46:1943–44
1211:Vacant
1115:
1101:
1087:
1071:
858:
850:
840:
789:
703:Sidcup
552:acting
299:(USSR)
277:Awards
257:(1942)
176:(1967)
166:(1944)
146:Slough
1265:1945
752:Notes
665:at a
340:
338:,
333:
331:,
1259:for
1113:ISBN
1099:ISBN
1085:ISBN
1069:ISBN
1043:2020
867:2018
856:OCLC
848:ISSN
838:ISBN
787:ISBN
661:for
559:and
385:and
231:Rank
136:Died
112:Born
60:for
1170:ZBW
701:in
630:as
397:of
342:DSO
335:CBE
1285::
1029:.
986:.
970:50
968:.
949:.
919:.
883:.
854:.
846:.
836:.
826:.
805:.
767:.
603:,
328:CB
325:,
152:,
148:,
128:,
124:,
44:c.
1075:)
1045:.
869:.
771:.
481:(
353:(
23:.
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