Bennett's Staff

**David Layne** · 03-09-2008, 10:21 AM

Kyt can you come up with any history on these members of Bennett's Staff?

PFF STAFF

AOC Air Commodore D. C. T. Bennett, D.S.O. (later Vice-Marshal, C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O.), appointed 13. 1.43 (H.Q.B.0 Staff Officer commanding the Path Finder Force, appointed 15. 7.42)

S.A.S.O.

Gp.-Capt. C. D. C. Boyce (later Air Commodore,C.B.E.), appointed 18. 2.43

Air Staff

Wg.-Cdr. R. Hilton, D.F.C. (Ops. Rm.), appointed 28.1.43
Wg.-Cdr. J. A. Slater, D.F.C., appointed 25.1.43
Wg.-Cdr. T. G. Mahaddie, D.S.O., D.F.C., A.F.C., appointed 20. 3.43
Wg.-Cdr. G. H. Womersley, D.S.O., D.F.C., appointed 27. 4.43
Sqn.-Ldr. R. 0. Altmann, D.F.C., appointed 25.1.43
Sqn.-Ldr. D. T. Witt, D.F.C. (Trg.), appointed 25.1.43
Sqn.-Ldr. Ashworth
Sqn.-Ldr. E. W. Anderson (Flyg. S.N.), appointed 25.1.43
Sqn.-Ldr. G. F. Georgeson, D.F.C. (Nav.), appointed 25.1.43
Sqn.-Ldr. J. Collier, D.F.C. (Flyg. Con.)
Sqn.-Ldr. A. F. Chisholm, D.F.C. (Air Bomb.), appointed 10.3.43
Sqn.-Ldr. J. E. Partridge, D.S.O., D.F.C. (Instr.), appointed 14.3.43
Sqn.-Ldr. D. F. Allen, G.M., B.E.M. (Instr.), appointed 20. 2.44
Wg.-Cdr. G. F. Grant, D.S.O., D.F.C., appointed 2.11.43
Sqn.-Ldr. Cresswell
Sqn.-Ldr. H. G. Travers, D.S.C., appointed 7.9.43
Sqn.-Ldr. A. P. Cranswick, D.S.O., D.F.C., appointed 20.10.43
Sqn.-Ldr. C. A. J. Smith, D.F.C., appointed 20.10.43
Wg.-Cdr. G. M. Dunnicliffe, DFC, appointed 10. 2.44
Wg.-Cdr. F. W. Deacon, D.S.O., D.F.C., appointed 8. 3.44
Sqn.-Ldr. C. P. C. de Wesselow DFC, appointed 7. 4.44
Wg.-Cdr. J. R. G. Ralston, D.S.O., D.F.C., A.F.C., appointed 10.8.44
Wg.-Cdr. K. H. Burns, DSO, DSC, appointed 26.10.44
Wg.-Cdr. B. W. McMillan, A.F.C., appointed 10.11.44
Sqn.-Ldr. J. R. Wood, D.F.C., appointed 13. 9.44
Sqn.-Ldr. W. H. Robinson, D.F.C., D.F.M., appointed 18.1.45
Wg.-Cdr. J. D. Bolton, D.F.C., appointed 1. 6.45
Wg.-Cdr. D. A. Cracknell, D.S.O., D.F.C., appointed 24. 5.45
Sqn.-Ldr. H. Almond, appointed 21. 4.45
Sqn.-Ldr. R. C. Walker, appointed 14.11.44
Sqn.-Ldr. L. S. Thorpe, D.F.C., D.F.M. , appointed 20.10.44
Sqn.-Ldr. J. P. Crump, appointed 7.1.45
Sqn.-Ldr. E. J. Greenleaf, D.S.O., D.F.C., appointed 23. 7.45

Group Navigation Officers

Sqn.-Ldr. R. C. Alabaster, D.F.C., appointed 25.1.43
Wg.-Cdr. K. J. Lawson, D.F.C., appointed 7. 6.43
Wg.-Cdr. A. G. S. Cousens, D.S.O., D.F.0, appointed 23. 8.43
Wg.-Cdr. E. H. Bagnold, D.F.C. , appointed 20.3.44
Sqn.-Ldr. L. R. Hastings, D.F.C., appointed 26.8.43

Group Met. Officer

M. J. Thomas, B.Sc.

Group Intelligence Officer

Sqn.-Ldr. W. J. R. Shepherd (later Wg.-Cdr., O.B.E.), appointed 25.1.43

Group Engineer Officer

Wg.-Cdr. C. F. Sarsby, appointed 1.2.43

Group Armament Officer

Sqn.-Ldr. W. Rathbone, appointed 10.2.43

Group Signals Officers

Wg.-Cdr. G. W. Adams , appointed 7.5.43
Wg.-Cdr. E. L. T. Barton, appointed 20.12.43
Sqn.-Ldr. N. I. B. Harrison , appointed 16.6.43

Group Photography Officer

Sqn.-Ldr. H. W. Lees , appointed 1.7.43

S.A.O.

Wg.-Cdr. A. W. G. Martin, appointed 28.1.43
Wg.-Cdr. W. E. Carr, appointed 6.43
Gp.-Capt. F. R. D. Swain, O.B.E., A.F.C. , appointed 11.10.43
Gp.-Capt. H. McC. White, appointed 15.5.44

Personnel

Sqn.-Ldr. F. B. Taylor, appointed 28.1.43
Sqn.-Ldr. P. L. Burley, appointed 21.11.43
Sqn.-Ldr. R. M. Snow, appointed 18.11.44

Org.

Sqn.-Ldr. L. E. Barry, appointed 1.2.43
Sqn.-Ldr. F. Vernon , appointed 18.9.44

Group Equipment Officer

Sqn.-Ldr. J. C. Rose (later Wg.-Cdr., M.B.E.), appointed 27.7.43

Group Medical Officer

Sqn.-Ldr. J. C. MacGown, M.D., Ch.B.

**Kyt** · 03-09-2008, 10:45 AM

Blimey!

OK, here are the two easy ones.

D C T Bennett_P

C D C Boyce_P

I shall going through the list David. The ones with awards should be easy to find, as far as service numbers etc go. And then go from there.

**David Layne** · 03-09-2008, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by Kyt

Blimey!

OK, here are the two easy ones.

D C T Bennett_P

C D C Boyce_P

I shall going through the list David. The ones with awards should be easy to find, as far as service numbers etc go. And then go from there.

I realise that is somewhat of a tall order to say the least but any help is appreciated.

**Kyt** · 03-09-2008, 11:07 AM

Wing Commander Raymond Hilton DSO DFC*, was killed after returning to front line duties, becoming CO of 83 Squadron in November 1943 (3 weeks before his death). This was his third tour.

Name: HILTON, RAYMOND
Initials: R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Wing Commander (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 83 Sqdn.
Age: 27
Date of Death: 23/11/1943
Service No: 60073
Awards: D S O, D F C
Additional information: Son of John Peter and Alice Annie Hilton; husband of Betty Evelyn Hilton (nee Clements), of Moseley, Birmingham.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Coll. grave 1. C. 2-8.
Cemetery: BERLIN 1939-1945 WAR CEMETERY

He was killed in Lancaster JB284 on a mission to Berlin, crashing after being hit by flak:

W/C R Hilton DSO DFC*
F/Sgt F E Burton-Burgess
F/Sgt S J Davis
S/L A F Chisholm DFC
F/O G Ainsworth
F/Sgt B G Tucker DFM
F/L J P Crebbin DFC

DFC 21st November, 1941.
Acting Flight Lieutenant Raymond HILTON (60073), Royal Air force Volunteer Reserve,
No. 214 Squadron. (No citation)

Bar to DFC 11 August 1942
Acting Squadron Leader Raymond HILTON, D.F.C.(60073) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve No. 83 Squadron. (No citation)

DSO 12th March, 1943
Acting Squadron Leader Raymond HILTON, D.F.C. (60073), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 83 Squadron (No citation)

**Kyt** · 03-09-2008, 11:28 AM

150 sq
103 sq CO W/Cdr J A Slater 04/43 - 10/43

DFC 23 September 1941
Acting Squadron Leader John Anthony SLATER (39807), Reserve of Air Force Officers, No. 150 Squadron.

Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross. 3 December 1943
Acting Wing Commander John Anthony SLATER, D.F.C. (39807), Reserve of Air Force Officers, No. 103 Squadron.

**Kyt** · 03-09-2008, 12:30 PM

Hamish Mahaddie -DSO DFC AFC

**Kyt** · 03-09-2008, 12:50 PM

Started with 102 Squadron

Then
156 Squadron RAF

picture
156 Squadron RAF

Then Commanding Officer of No 139 Squadron from February 1944 to October 1944 flying Mosquitoes.

Was still going strong, attending book/print signings at the beginning of 2007

**Antipodean Andy** · 03-09-2008, 07:04 PM

Kyt and DL, hope you don't mind me barging in and I don't want to make this a dog's breakfast but here's something on de Wesselow:

A highly efficient crew who operated with 97 Squadron during the Battle of Berlin period 1943-44.

(Left to right) Gordon Cooper DFC & Bar (Radar Operator), John Saynor DFC (Rear Gunner), Stan Carlyle DFM (Navigator), Peter de Wesselow DSO DFC & Bar (Pilot), Fred White DFC (Wireless Operator), Bill Bamlett DFC DFM (Flight Engineer), Grant Muckhart DFC (Mid Upper Gunner)

97 Squadron Association - Gallery of Images

LG - award of Bar to DFC

For some reason I can't find the citation for the first DFC. Probably staring me in the face. De Wesselow also flew with 635 Sqn.

**Antipodean Andy** · 03-09-2008, 07:47 PM

LG DFC

Acting Flying Officer Dennis Theodore WITT,
D.F.M. (44867), No. 7 Squadron.
In July, 1941, this officer led three aircraft
to bomb a target near Bethune. When the
section crossed the enemy coast it was subjected
to intense anti-aircraft fire which shot
down one aircraft of the section. Unperturbed,
however, Flying Officer Witt led the
remaining aircraft in a determined attack
on the target in the face of another intense
anti-aircraft barrage. The success of this
attack was due to the tenacity, skill and
determination of Flying Officer Witt. Ten
days previously, while raiding Texel, he
enabled his rear gunner to destroy a Messerschmitt
.109. He is an outstanding pilot who
has gained notable successes against the
enemy.

Further details of this daylight raid can be found here - http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Sussex...004-Update.pdf - see pages 185 and 186.

LG DSO

Acting Wing Commander Dennis Theodore WITT,
D.F.C., D.F.M. (44867), R.A.F., 635 Sqn.
As pilot of aircraft this officer has participated
in 100 sorties, many of them against the most
heavily defended targets. His last 3 missions
were against Essen, Cologne and Dusseldorf respectively.
On each of these occasions he pressed
home his attacks with the greatest determination
in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire to obtain
good results. He has displayed the highest
standard of skill and bravery, setting an example
of a high order.

**David Layne** · 03-09-2008, 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by Andy in West Oz

LG DFC

Acting Flying Officer Dennis Theodore WITT,
D.F.M. (44867), No. 7 Squadron.
In July, 1941, this officer led three aircraft
to bomb a target near Bethune. When the
section crossed the enemy coast it was subjected
to intense anti-aircraft fire which shot
down one aircraft of the section. Unperturbed,
however, Flying Officer Witt led the
remaining aircraft in a determined attack
on the target in the face of another intense
anti-aircraft barrage. The success of this
attack was due to the tenacity, skill and
determination of Flying Officer Witt. Ten
days previously, while raiding Texel, he
enabled his rear gunner to destroy a Messerschmitt
.109. He is an outstanding pilot who
has gained notable successes against the
enemy.

Further details of this daylight raid can be found here - http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Sussex...004-Update.pdf - see pages 185 and 186.

LG DSO

Acting Wing Commander Dennis Theodore WITT,
D.F.C., D.F.M. (44867), R.A.F., 635 Sqn.
As pilot of aircraft this officer has participated
in 100 sorties, many of them against the most
heavily defended targets. His last 3 missions
were against Essen, Cologne and Dusseldorf respectively.
On each of these occasions he pressed
home his attacks with the greatest determination
in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire to obtain
good results. He has displayed the highest
standard of skill and bravery, setting an example
of a high order.

Andy, thanks for barging in. The more the merrier!