Bennett, Arthur Charles
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Arthur Charles |
Surname | Bennett |
Gender | M |
Age | 28 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 15-11-1941 |
Next of Kin | Son of William Hastings Bennett and Hilda Bennett. Husband of Gwendoline Robina Bennett, of Binda, New South Wales, Australia. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Short Stirling I |
Serial Number | W7445 |
Markings | MG-V |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Cambridge City Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Grave 6522. |
Epitaph | HIS THE SACRIFICE, OURS THE PRIDE AND SORROW |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 129 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 402217 |
Service | Royal Australian Air Force |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 7 |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | Australia |
Other Memorials
Location | Hilton House Hotel, Hilton, Derbyshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Blue Plaque on external wall |
Memorial Text | Air Commodore Herbert Martin Massey CBE DSO MC 1898-1976 Senior British Officer at Stalag Luft III Sagan who authorised 'The Great Escape' was born here. Hilton and Marston History Group |
Location | All Saints Church, Longstanton, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window and Roll of Honour Book |
Memorial Text | Remember here before God those of 7 Squadron who died in action in The Royal Flying Corps 1914-18 and The Royal Air Force 1939-45 |
Casualty Pack Number Find Out More
AIR 81/10320 (P363824/41) |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/98/20 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/98/19 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 15-11-1941 |
End Date | 16-11-1941 |
Takeoff Station | Oakington |
Day/Night Raid | Night (13% moon) |
Operation | Kiel |
Reason for Loss | Fully laden with bombs, the aircraft narrowly missed a farmhouse almost immediately after take-off, crashed through its garden and landed in an adjoining field, where it burst into flames. Frederick Bertram Pearson, a farmer and the owner of the house, rushed to the scene to find one airmen pulling another, more seriously injured man out of the burning aircraft. Despite the danger of bullets exploding in the heat and the risk of the bombs exploding, Mr. Pearson cut off the harness of the badly injured man and carried him clear of the flames on his back, helping the other airman at the same time. In an interview afterwards he said "I was first on the spot. There was a job to be done." He received a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his bravery and two horticultural workers from Oakington, Wilfred Josiah Brickwood and Edward Jabez Smith, also received commendations for their part in the rescue (précised from Cambridge Daily News, Saturday 28 March 1942. Ice on the windscreen was a contributory factor in the cause of the incident. |