Date: 12th April 1941 (Easter Saturday)

Unit: No. 54 flying the Bristol Bulldog - 204 Supermarine Scapas - 216 Vickers Valentia

Base: Heliopolis, Egypt (Almaza)

Location: Tobruk Between Tobruk and El Adem

Pilot: Sq/Ldr. Ronald James Bennett 29199 RAF Age 32. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Although not aircrew on the date he was killed, we have created a page for relatives of the pilot.

Sq/Ldr. Bennett was born on Saturday the 9th May 1908 at Blenheim, Marlborough. Moved to England in 1925 to for two years study at Cambridge University (Emanuel College). Returned to New Zealand to Ottago University. Member of Marlborough Aero Club.

Understood to have embarked on RMS Rangitiki * for England on the Saturday, 13th September 1930.

Joined the RAF on short service commission and awarded his pilot badge on the 11th October 1930 as a pilot under training with 2 Flying Training School.

He then joined 54 Squadron flying the Bristol Bulldog on 29th December 1930.

On the 03rd July 1933 joined 204 Squadron flying the Supermarine Scapa on flying boat training.

Trained at the Armaments School 26th October 1936. Left 17th January 1937 for Heliopolis, Egypt. Flew with 216 Squadron Vickers Valentia. Took over as 202 Group Armaments Officer on the 18th July 1939.

On the 12 April 1941 (Easter Saturday) was killed by shell fire on the road between Tobruk and El Adem during the German assault on Tobruk. An Australian patrol recovered his body on the night of 18/19th April 1941. He had volunteered to try and recover some vital equipment that had been left behind when the British abandoned a forward base.

* RMS Rangitiki built by John Brown and Company at Clydebank, Scotland and launched on 27 August 1928. At the start of the Second World War the ship was used for transporting children from Britain to Australia before being converted into a troopship. Returned to service between Britain, Australia and New Zealand in 1945 the Rangitiki carried numerous servicemen home from Britain as well a number of war brides. Following an extensive refit in 1947/48 the ship was then used by the New Zealand Shipping Company and continued in service until July 1962 when after 87 peace time return voyages between Britain and New Zealand it was withdrawn. Sold for scrap Rangitiki sailed to Spain and was broken up in Valencia in October 1962. (courtesy Wikipedia)

Burial details:

Sq/Ldr. Ronald James Bennett. Tobruk War Cemetery, Libya. Grave 3.M.7. Son of Dr. James Freeborn and Ida Bennett (née Paul) Brother of Mrs. Pauline Alice (“Susie”) Grace Bennett (née Knocker) of Wallingford, Berkshire, England. Pauline obtained her pilots licence with Hampshire Aero Club in 1939.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Paul Bennett Knocker, the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Ian Martyn of Medals Reunited of New Zealand, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, AWMM, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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