Flight Lieutenant Ronald Bennett Royal Air Force
The Man Ronald Bennett was born on Sunday 17th February 1924 in Leeds, son of John Elvin, a Postman and Edith nee Ingham, he had one brother John Elvin junior born in 1922.
At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939 Ronald was aged 15, still at school and too young to enlist. He became 18 in February 1942 and almost immediately joined the Royal Air Force at RAF Cardington as Aircraftsman 2nd Class with service number 1675845.
Ronald served in the United Kingdom for the duration of the war and was awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45. He was selected for flying training and on 26th May 1945 aged 21, commissioned into the RAF Volunteer Reserve, General Duties Branch as a Pilot Officer with service number 163439, followed on 26th November by promotion to War Substantive Flying Officer.
Ronald’s aircrew training would have begun almost immediately he was commissioned, after selection student pilots progressed through several stages. Tests and examinations had to be successfully passed before the next level of instruction could be undertaken. Ground instruction also formed the basis for flying training, including mathematics, navigation and principles of flight.
Ronald began by 6 weeks at the Aircrew Reception Centre, followed by 3 weeks for grading at the Elementary Training School, Initial Training Wing for 8 weeks, Aircrew Despatch Centre and then Elementary Flying Training School for 10 weeks, where he learnt the basics of flying an aircraft such as the De Havilland Tiger Moth and would have flown solo.
At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939 Ronald was aged 15, still at school and too young to enlist. He became 18 in February 1942 and almost immediately joined the Royal Air Force at RAF Cardington as Aircraftsman 2nd Class with service number 1675845.
Ronald served in the United Kingdom for the duration of the war and was awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45. He was selected for flying training and on 26th May 1945 aged 21, commissioned into the RAF Volunteer Reserve, General Duties Branch as a Pilot Officer with service number 163439, followed on 26th November by promotion to War Substantive Flying Officer.
Ronald’s aircrew training would have begun almost immediately he was commissioned, after selection student pilots progressed through several stages. Tests and examinations had to be successfully passed before the next level of instruction could be undertaken. Ground instruction also formed the basis for flying training, including mathematics, navigation and principles of flight.
Ronald began by 6 weeks at the Aircrew Reception Centre, followed by 3 weeks for grading at the Elementary Training School, Initial Training Wing for 8 weeks, Aircrew Despatch Centre and then Elementary Flying Training School for 10 weeks, where he learnt the basics of flying an aircraft such as the De Havilland Tiger Moth and would have flown solo.
Ronald then moved on to advanced training at the Advanced Service Flying Training School for 20 weeks, which introduced pupils to more powerful aircraft such as the North American Harvard. At both elementary and advanced level, classroom-based lessons continued in various subjects. Simulation flying or link trainer instruction was also undertaken.
Final tests and examinations completed his advanced training and Ronald was successful and received his RAF Pilots Wings. The time taken to qualify as a pilot varied. At the start of the war it could be as little as six months (150 flying hours). On average it took between 18 months to two years (200-320 flying hours).
Obtaining Pilot’s Wings did not mark the end of training, qualified pilots were sent to Operational Training Units to make them ready for front-line duties. During a pilot’s operational career attendance on specialist training courses also kept him up to date with new technical developments and changes in operational procedure, which could take a further 30 weeks.
Ronald’s training began in May 1945 and would have been completed in approximately early 1947. On 12th July 1948 he transferred into the regular RAF with a short service commission and his seniority backdated 7th February 1947 and on 9th August 1949 promoted to Flight Lieutenant. On 1st October 1951 he was appointed as a permanent Flight Lieutenant. During the third quarter of 1948 he married Margaret Evelyn Crowe in Lewes Sussex.
In 1954 Ronald was posted to the Central Flying School at RAF Little Rissington to undertake further training. On 28th July 1954, aged 30 he was piloting a Gloster Meteor T.7 WL374, under the instruction of QFI Flt Lt Charles Harris Lazenby (aged 32), along with another two-man Meteor T.7 WL457 piloted by Brian Geoffrey Rendle (aged 26) under the instruction of QFI John Rowland Douche DFC (aged 28)
The two Meteors were flying in close formation at about 1,000 feet when they collided during a formation change, 2 miles south of RAF Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire. Neither crew were able to escape in the height and time available and all four crew members died in the crash.
Ronald, aged just 30 was buried, together with Brian Randle and Charles Lazenby in Commonwealth War Graves at St Peter’s Churchyard, Little Rissington, Gloucestershire. John Douche was buried at Newmarket Town Cemetery, Newmarket, Forest Heath District, Suffolk.
Margaret remarried in 1956 to Charles Robert Foster and died 19 Feb 2016 living at Colwyn Bay, Denbighshire, Wales.
Final tests and examinations completed his advanced training and Ronald was successful and received his RAF Pilots Wings. The time taken to qualify as a pilot varied. At the start of the war it could be as little as six months (150 flying hours). On average it took between 18 months to two years (200-320 flying hours).
Obtaining Pilot’s Wings did not mark the end of training, qualified pilots were sent to Operational Training Units to make them ready for front-line duties. During a pilot’s operational career attendance on specialist training courses also kept him up to date with new technical developments and changes in operational procedure, which could take a further 30 weeks.
Ronald’s training began in May 1945 and would have been completed in approximately early 1947. On 12th July 1948 he transferred into the regular RAF with a short service commission and his seniority backdated 7th February 1947 and on 9th August 1949 promoted to Flight Lieutenant. On 1st October 1951 he was appointed as a permanent Flight Lieutenant. During the third quarter of 1948 he married Margaret Evelyn Crowe in Lewes Sussex.
In 1954 Ronald was posted to the Central Flying School at RAF Little Rissington to undertake further training. On 28th July 1954, aged 30 he was piloting a Gloster Meteor T.7 WL374, under the instruction of QFI Flt Lt Charles Harris Lazenby (aged 32), along with another two-man Meteor T.7 WL457 piloted by Brian Geoffrey Rendle (aged 26) under the instruction of QFI John Rowland Douche DFC (aged 28)
The two Meteors were flying in close formation at about 1,000 feet when they collided during a formation change, 2 miles south of RAF Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire. Neither crew were able to escape in the height and time available and all four crew members died in the crash.
Ronald, aged just 30 was buried, together with Brian Randle and Charles Lazenby in Commonwealth War Graves at St Peter’s Churchyard, Little Rissington, Gloucestershire. John Douche was buried at Newmarket Town Cemetery, Newmarket, Forest Heath District, Suffolk.
Margaret remarried in 1956 to Charles Robert Foster and died 19 Feb 2016 living at Colwyn Bay, Denbighshire, Wales.
St Peter's Church, Little Rissington 25th May 2023
Medal Details:
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
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This page last updated 26 May 23
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