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Sergeant William Bennett
- RAFVR |
On
the 21st of June 1941,Wellington IC X9643 crashed
two miles short of Waterbeach Airfield in Cambridgeshire during an
Air Test, bursting into flames with a loss of all the crew. The
accident was caused by the dinghy breaking loose and fouling the
elevators leading to a loss of control of the aircraft.
The crew consisted of:
|
Name |
Service |
Hometown |
Age |
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F/O Alistair Allen |
RAFVR |
Aberdeenshire, Scotland |
24 |
|
P/O Francis Rendell |
RAFVR |
Wandsworth |
29 |
|
Sgt William Bennett |
RAF |
Burnley,Lancs. |
22 |
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Sgt John Stewart |
RAFVR |
West Hampstead |
22 |
|
Sgt William Lewis |
RAFVR |
Stourbridge |
26 |
|
Corporal Charles Eva |
RAF |
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Sergeant William Bennett RAFVR (975748)
known as "Billy" was the son of William and Phoebe
Bennett of 31,Constable Road,Burnley, Lancashire. Born in 1919
"Billy" attended St.Mary’s Roman Catholic School
before proceeding to St.Mary’s Central School. He represented
the school at both cricket and football and also played for the
town’s schoolboy teams. A clever snooker and billiards player,
he won several medals in local competitions with St.Mary’s
Reading Rooms teams and figured prominently in many other
sporting activities. After leaving school he studied as an
electrical engineering student at the Burnley Corporation
Electricity department. He enlisted in the RAF in December 1939
and took part in many operations over enemy territory as a
Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner.
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William
Bennett (left) and friends |
On his death certificate dated the 4th of
July 1941,it states that the inquest was held on the 24th
of June 1941 and that he received multiple injuries in the crash
which claimed his life and the lives of the rest of the crew. He
is buried in Burnley Cemetery.
It is believed that Corporal Eva was a member of the
ground crew and was invited on this particular trip.
Photos
courtesy of Christine Spencer &
Imelda Broatch(sister), research by Linda Ibrom.
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