BENNELL, Richard 'Dick' James [D.F.C., A.M.]


C/1376, Wing Commander, Richard James BENNELL DFC, AM
Aged 31


418 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
Killed in Action on 9th March 1944


PIYAUTAILILI - "Defend even unto death"



Richard James BENNELL was born on 25th September 1912 (Chesterton Q4-1912), son of James Charles and Bessie BENNELL (née STRUTT) of Bishops Stortford, Herts.

He was a member of the 3rd Bury St.Edmunds Scout Group (Culford School). An engineer, he left Southampton on 26th August 1937 for Curacao, Venezuela aboard the "Cuba".

In the 1939 register his parents were at "Hayes Ridge", Oldbury Road, Atherstone, Warwickshire. Father [5-7-1882] was a local government officer, mother [24-3-1884] and widowed grandmother Alice J STRUTT [10-6-1863].


Living in Venezuela before the war, he then enlisted in Ottawa, Canada 6th November 1939. Trained at No.1 SFTS (graduated 15 July 1940). Involved in following successful air actions:- 27th February 1943, one unidentified enemy aircraft damaged
3rd March 1943, one Do.217 destroyed
21st May 1943, one unidentified enemy aircraft damaged
2nd July 1943 his Mosquito was damaged by return fire from an He 111 and flak and he made a successful landing at RAF Ford on one engine
6th September 1943, one Do.217 and one unidentified enemy aircraft destroyed.

He was Commanding Officer of 418 Squadron from February 1944 until his death in March 1944. 418 Squadron RCAF was Canada's highest-scoring squadron in WW2, in both air-to-air and air-to-ground kills, and of both day and night operations.

Citation for his Distinguished Flying Cross:- BENNELL, Acting S/L Richard James (C1376) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.418 Squadron - Award effective 7 October 1943 as per London Gazette dated 26 October 1943 and AFRO 2507/43 dated 3 December 1943. While serving with No.418 Squadron, this officer has completed many sorties over enemy territory at night. He has attacked numerous airfields with success, while on operations against rolling stock he has damaged several locomotives. In addition he has shot down three enemy aircraft. Squadron Leader Bennell is an inspiring leader whose great skill and determination have been reflected in the high standard of efficiency of his flight.

He was also awarded the United States Air Medal:-
BENNELL, S/L (now W/C) Richard James, DFC (C1376, deceased) - United States Air Medal - Overseas - Award effective 4 June 1943 as per Canada Gazette dated 4 May 1946 and AFRO 473/46 dated 10 May 1946. Public Records Office Air 2/9599 has recommendation dated 14 May 1943.
"When certain U.S. aircraft which were moving from Northern Ireland to the United Kingdom became lost while flying in bad weather, Squadron Leader Bennell and another officer located them and enabled them to land successfully."

Press Release 1523 from Headquarters, European Theatre of Operations, United States Army, 14 July 1943 (found with Air Ministry Bulletins) gives a portion of a more complete citation:-
Squadron Leader Bennell, Royal Canadian Air Force, while serving as a pilot of a Royal Air Force plane (in 1942) was despatched to intercept and guide to base a flight of United States planes. Under extremely adverse weather conditions he located the flight and, displaying exceptional courage and skilful airmanship, led it to a safe landing at a friendly base. Without this assistance it is highly probable that several airplanes and their crews would have been lost."

On 9th March 1944 he was pilot of De Havilland Mosquito FB VI ser.no. LR270 on a Ranger Mission to Rennes, France, from RAF Bradwell Bay. His navigator was Flying Officer Francis SHIELD DFC, RAFVR. They were recorded as missing east of Avranches, no claim has been found for shooting them down. Presumably they crashed in the sea and were washed ashore, they are buried side by side in Lessay.





2 photos courtesy his niece Caroline Macgillivray in Canada.
As he has his DFC ribbon, it has to be post October 1943. It cannot of course be the UK Minister of Defence as that was Winston Churchill,
but it may well be the Canadian Defence Minister James Layton Ralston, who did often cross "The Pond".







photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission.



Richard Bennell is buried in Lessay Communal Cemetery, France, grave A:3

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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