Bennett, Donald Clifford Tyndall (Oral history)

Australian officer served as pilot with Royal Australian Air Force in Australia, 1930-1931; served as pilot with Royal Air Force in GB, 1931-1935; civilian pilot with Imperial Airways in GB, 1935-1939; civilian pilot with Atlantic Ferry Organisation in GB, 1940-1941 and during mission to collect General Władysław Sikorski from Lake Biscarrosse, France, 6/1940; commanded 77 and 10 Sqdns, No 4 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 12/1941-4/1942; commanded Pathfinder Force and No 8 (Pathfinder Force) Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 7/1942-5/1945

REEL 1 Background in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, 1910-1930: family; education. Aspects of enlistment and training as pilot with Royal Australian Air Force in Australia, 7/1930-7/1931: reasons for enlistment; training at RAAF Point Cook. Aspects of period as officer with Royal Air Force in GB, 1931-1935: training on Armstrong Whitworth Siskin; flying boat training at RAF Calshot; obtaining first class navigator's licence and wireless licence; anticipation of coming war, early 1930s. Memories of period as civilian pilot on flying boats with Imperial Airways, 1935-1939. Aspects of mission to collect General Władysław Sikorski from Lake Biscarrosse near Bordeaux, France, 6/1940: impressions of General Władysław Sikorski; opinion of French service personnel; return to GB. Aspects of period as officer with Atlantic Ferry Organisation in GB, 1940-1941: request from Lord Beaverbrook to fly American built aircraft from Canada to GB; preparing aircraft for first flight across North Atlantic, 6/1940-11/1940; success of first flight, 11/1940. REEL 2 Continues: use of ex-Imperial Airways pilots; memories of Lord Beaverbrook; success of ferry operations over North Atlantic; takeover of Atlantic Ferry Organisation by Royal Air Force, 12/1941; rejection of plans for Pathfinder Force. Aspects of operations commanding 77 and 10 Sqdns, No 4 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 1941-1942: background to taking command of 77 Sqdn; his shooting down whilst commanding 10 Sqdn during attempt to mine German battleship Tirpitz in Faettenfjord, Norway, 4/1942; internment and circumstances of release in Sweden; escape from Norway to Sweden; mining operation on German battleship Tirpitz in Faettenfjord, Norway, 4/1942. Recollections of period commanding Pathfinder Force and No 8 (Pathfinder Force) Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 7/1942-5/1945: background to formation of Pathfinder Force, 1942; his recognition of importance of navigators for successful night time bombing operations. REEL 3 Continues: opposition to idea of elite Pathfinder unit; tactics employed to reduce Pathfinder losses; importance of surprising and deceiving Germans as to target; importance of training; support and opposition for concept of Pathfinders; support from scientists at Telecommunications Research Establishment at Malvern in development of navigational and bombing aids including H2S and Oboe; his insistence on equipping Pathfinders with De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito carrying Oboe; relations with Air Marshal Sir Arthur Harris; circumstances surrounding Air Marshal Sir Arthur Harris' dismissal of Air Vice-Marshal Alec Coryton, 2/1943; impressions of Air Marshal Sir Arthur Harris' leadership and judgement; De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito's bomb carrying capability; role of De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito in pathfinding marking and diverting German fighters; question of failure to pursue fully strategic bombing. REEL 4 Continues: question of controversy surrounding bombing of Dresden, Germany; diversions from strategic bombing onto German V1 Flying Bomb sites; attacks on Watten, France and Peenemünde, Germany; use of Bomber Command aircraft in tactical role prior to and after landings in Normandy, France; offer to aid United States Army troops landing on Omaha Beach, Normandy, France, D-Day, 6/6/1944; clash with General Bernard Montgomery over Operation Market Garden in Netherlands, 9/1944; opinion of General Bernard Montgomery's role during Ardennes Offensive and role of Pathfinder Force; frustration over raids on Berlin, Germany; effectiveness of raids on Hamburg, Germany; co-operation with Royal Navy over bombing of Le Harve, France, 9/1944; role of Metrological Flight; importance of Lord Cherwell's scientific contribution to success of Allied cause; lack of recognition of Albert Rowe; Air Marshal Charles Portal's support of Pathfinder Force. REEL 5 Continues: contributions of Pathfinder Force officers Harold Bufton, commanding officer 109 Sqdn, RAF and Geoff Womersley commanding officer 139 Sqdn, RAF.