LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Kenneth Jack BENNETT
Service No: 401409
Born: Geelong VIC, 28 November 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 3 February 1941
Unit: No. 14 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 14 Squadron Marauder aircraft MK375), Aegean Sea, 3 January 1943, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Samuel Charles and Fanny Severn Bennett, of Geelong West, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Geelong VIC
Remembered: Column 272 Alamein Memorial, Egypt
Remembered: Panel 118, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 0942 hours on 3 January 1943 Marauder MK 375 took off from Shallufa in company of a second Marauder to carry out a torpedo attack against enemy shipping in the Aegean Sea. The weather was bad and visibility poor. Shortly after passing Kea Island, north of the Rymlades Group, and on a south west course, a small vessel was observed. This was found to be part of a convoy of five vessels escorted by several aircraft including an autogyro. The Marauders separated to launch an attack. Two messages were received from MK375 that fighters were attacking and the other that machine was damaged and would have to force land but torpedo attack had delivered before the fighter engagement. No further news received from the aircraft.
The crew members of MK375 were:
Flying Officer Kenneth Jack Bennett (401409) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Flying Officer James Ernest Foley-Brickley (126991) (RAFVR) (Air Observer)
Sergeant Stanley Hunt (1238830) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Edward Arthur Meadwell (1066549) (RAFVR) (Second Pilot) Remains recovered
Flight Sergeant Dudley Thomas Ray (403029) (RNZAF) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Lieutenant B W Young (103095) (SAAF) (Pilot) PoW
Lieutenant Young later stated that he was forced to make landing on sea off Seriphas Island. When he freed himself and got out of the aircraft, Bennett was sitting on top of the fuselage near his escape hatch. He stated that the Observer was still inside and climbed back to try and get him out. No sooner had he climbed back in when the aircraft sank going down nose first in a rush. Bennett never appeared again. He died in a brave attempt to rescue another member of the crew.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/5/8
Bibliography:
Napier, Michael Winged Crusaders: the exploits of 14 Squadron RFC & RAF 1915-1945, Pen & Sword Books, Barnsley UK, 2012