Bennett, Gordon
Personal Information
Rank | S/L |
Forename(s) | Gordon |
Surname | Bennett |
Gender | M |
Age | 24 |
Decorations | DSO, DFC |
Date of Death | 25-05-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of George and Clara Bennett, of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Husband of Nancy Ferguson Bennett, of Winnipeg. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | ND526 |
Markings | LQ-M |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Bergen-op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 11. E. 3. |
Epitaph | THERE IS A LINK DEATH CANNOT SEVER, LOVE AND REMEMBRANCE LAST FOR EVER |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 130 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/15248 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 405 (Vancouver) |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Gordon Bennett Lake, Manitoba; 15km west of Semmens Lake |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Lake |
Memorial Text |
Location | Adjacent to Village Windmill, Mill Rd, Great Gransden, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | Remembering 405 (Vancouver) Sqn. PFF at Gransden Lodge 1942 - 1945 |
Location | St. Bartholomew's Church, Great Gransden, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window, RoH and inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | Commemorating the 801 airmen of 405 Sqn. RCAF who gave their lives 1941 - 1945 |
Location | Pocklington Gliding Club, Pocklington Airfield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Marble Pillar and inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of 102 (Ceylon) and 405 (Vancouver) Sqns. Pocklington Airfield |
Miscellaneous Information
Of the seven surviving crew, one successfully evaded capture and six were PoW |
Citation, London Gazette, 11 July 1944: "Distinguished Service Order. Acting Squadron Leader Gordon BENNET (sic), D.F.C. (Can/J.15248), 405 (R.C.A.F.) Sqn. As captain of aircraft, Squadron Leader Bennet has taken part in a very large number of sorties during which he has successfully, attacked such targets as Berlin, Mannheim and Munich. He has displayed skill of a high order whilst his unconquerable spirit of determination and contempt for danger have been a notable feature of his efforts throughout. Squadron Leader Bennet has rendered valuable service". |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 24-05-1944 |
End Date | 25-05-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Gransden Lodge |
Day/Night Raid | Night (9% moon) |
Operation | Aachen- to attack two railway yards. 442 aircraft, 25 Lost (5.7%). Because this raid was on German railway infrastructure rather than French of Belgian, the bomber force was considerably larger. The inevitable result was that the bombing was not as concentrated, with many bombs falling in Aachen itself. 207 people were killed, 121 seriously injured and 14800 bombed out of their homes. Nevertheless, much damage was caused to the railway yards, particularly those to the east of the town. The local report states that 288 bombs were duds, this being approximately 10% of the total dropped for the night. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down from 16000' by a night-fighter (Ju 88) and crashed at Hilvarenbeek, SSE of Tilburg, Holland |