Richard Edward Bennett – Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 51 Squadron

Sergeant Richard Edward Bennett – Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 51 Squadron

Early Life and Family Background

Richard Edward Bennett was born in 1920, the son of Joseph Bennett and Ellen M. A. Griffiths, who had married in 1918.

1921 Census

At the time of the 1921 Census, the Bennett family were living at 67 Rodney Street, Swansea. Richard’s father, Joseph, aged 30 and born in Pembrokeshire, was employed as an Electrical Fitter by the Engineering Equipment Company, while his mother, Ellen, aged 32 and born in Worcestershire, managed the household. Their infant son, Richard, was recorded as being six months old. Also present in the home was Esther Ann Bennett, a 66‑year‑old widow, listed as a visitor.

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Service

RAF Dishforth, Yorkshire

During the Second World War, Richard enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, attaining the rank of Sergeant. He served with No. 51 Squadron, a Bomber Command unit operating from RAF Dishforth, Yorkshire. In 1941, the squadron flew the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V, undertaking night bombing operations over Germany and occupied Europe. The squadron also supported anti‑shipping and anti‑submarine patrols before returning to strategic bombing duties. These long, demanding operations required exceptional endurance and skill, with crews facing enemy defences, mechanical hazards, and the constant dangers of night flying.

The Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V

Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V 

The Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V was a twin‑engined medium bomber that formed a crucial part of the RAF’s early wartime force. Introduced in 1939 with upgraded Rolls‑Royce Merlin X engines and improved defensive armament, the Whitley was known for its rugged reliability, even as it became increasingly outdated compared with later four‑engined bombers. It flew some of the RAF’s earliest wartime missions, including leaflet drops, night bombing raids, and anti‑shipping patrols. By 1941, the Whitley was beginning to show its age, but it remained a vital aircraft, trusted by crews who understood its strengths and limitations. It was in this type of aircraft that Sergeant Richard Edward Bennett undertook his final mission.

Final Operation: 18–19 August 1941

On the night of 18 August 1941, No. 51 Squadron took part in a major raid on Cologne, with 62 aircraft departing RAF Dishforth at 9.29 p.m. The operation proved largely unsuccessful due to German decoy fires that misled many of the bombers away from their intended targets.

In the early hours of 19 August 1941, Richard’s Whitley V was observed approaching the English coast from the south‑east at approximately 2,000 feet, already on fire. No radio messages or distress signals were received. At around 3.15 a.m., the aircraft crashed at Lime Tree Farm, north‑west of Laxfield, Suffolk, killing all on board. A subsequent investigation revealed that the port engine had detached in flight, landing some 70 yards from the main wreckage. The catastrophic structural failure left the crew with no chance of escape.

The Crew of Whitley V

All those aboard were killed in the crash. Their names and burial places are recorded as follows:

Sergeant Richard Edward Bennett, RAFVR – Oystermouth Cemetery, Swansea Sergeant William Birdsall James, RAFVR – Lawnswood Crematorium & Memorial Gardens, Leeds Pilot Officer H. B. Robertshaw, RAF – Kinloss Abbey Burial Ground, Morayshire, Scotland Sergeant John Alexander Barrie Jamieson, RAFVR – Uden War Cemetery, Netherlands Pilot Officer Wellington James Loney, RAF – All Saints Churchyard, Honington, Suffolk Sergeant John Leonard Gilman, RAFVR – Birkdale Cemetery, Southport Sergeant John Tylor, RAFVR – Widnes Cemetery, Cheshire Sergeant Ernest John Lowater, RAFVR – All Saints Churchyard, Honington, Suffolk

These men served together on a demanding and hazardous mission, and their loss was deeply felt by their squadron, their families, and their communities. Their names stand as a lasting testament to the courage of Bomber Command aircrews.

Death Reports and Funeral

Western Mail

Herald of Wales

The Western Mail reported Richard’s death in August 1941, noting his home address at St. Helen’s Road, Swansea, and recording that he had flown nineteen operational missions over enemy territory. A further article in the Herald of Wales described his funeral at Oystermouth Cemetery, where he was laid to rest with full military honours. The reports reflected the profound impact of his loss on the Swansea community, which had already endured heavy wartime casualties.

Richard Edward Bennett
Oystermouth Cemetery
credit - findagrave

Commemoration

Sergeant Richard Edward Bennett is commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and remembered with pride among the men of No. 51 Squadron, whose dedication and sacrifice contributed greatly to the Royal Air Force’s wartime effort. His service, courage, and the circumstances of his final mission remain part of the enduring history of Bomber Command.