The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. G W Benn

I joined the Royal Air Force on October 16th 1930, my initial training lasting for three months at Uxbridge. In January 1931 I was posted to Hawkinge and was operating on Vickers Vimy bombers.
6 months later I left Hawkinge and was posted to 243 Flight, Fleet Air Arm, operating on Fairey Flycatchers and based on HMS Furious as part of the Atlantic Fleet. In 1932 the Flight was transferred to HMS Courageous, then operating from Malta as part of the Mediterranean Fleet.

In 1935 I was posted to 28 (AC) Squadron in Ambala in India where I trained as an air gunner on Wapiti’s. In 1937 I moved with the Squadron to Manzi on the North West Frontier, where “The Fakir of Ipi" was causing some trouble along the frontier.

In January 1938 I was posted back to the UK where I joined 217 Squadron at Tangmere and operated on Avro Ansons. I was also promoted to Corporal. Just before the outbreak of war the Squadron was heavily involved in evacuating VIP's from the Channel Islands prior to the German occupation of the Islands. I was then posted to 219 Squadron on their formation at Catterick as a Night fighter Squadron equipped with Bristol Blenheims.

Whilst with 219 Squadron on August 16th 1940, we were gathered together in our best blues for a Squadron photograph when we were scrambled to intercept an incoming X-raid consisting of 42 Ju88’s that were approaching Flamborough Head. At about 1300 hrs six Blenheim’s took off. I was flying with Sergeant Nightingale, we engaged one enemy aircraft and set it on fire but had to break away after being attacked by Spitfires, during the ensuing violent action I managed to knock myself out on the gun turret.

After the war in Europe had ended I was posted with 5353 Wing to Singapore. Our objective was to build a metal runway at Changi so that York aircraft could use it to fly PoW's home. Using Japanese labour we completed the job in 40 days, I can clearly remember that the surrounding dispersals were full of Japanese fighter aircraft that had had their undercarriages collapsed so that they could not be used. Then I was posted to 314 MU at Seletar, they were a bomb disposal unit and were involved in destroying Japanese bombs. I was later posted to Kuala Lumpur and then in 1949 back to the UK to Chicksands, which was a Radar Unit. In 1950 I returned to Malta and then back to the UK again in 1953. In 1956 I joined the Merchant Navy operating on the Orient Line.