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Cenotaph record

Thomas Samuel Eric Bennett

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Portrait, Weekly News, 7 July 1943 - This image may be subject to copyright

Portrait, Weekly News, 7 July 1943 - This image may be subject to copyright

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Thomas Samuel Eric AWMM
  • Surname
    Bennett AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    • WWII NZ415055 AWMM
    • WWII 415055 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    15 May 1911 RNZAF Biographies (R17845607) RNZAF Biographies (R17845607)
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    • WW2 Wife: Mrs Alice Bennett, 51 Waterloo Road, Lower Hutt AWMM
    • WW2 Parents: Mr & Mrs T. Bennett of Upper Hutt AWMM
  • Relationship status

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
    Pilot/Military RNZAF Biographies (R17845607)
  • Enlistment
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes
    Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM
    Killed on air operations AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • Son of Thomas Bennett and of Elisabeth Bennett (nee Goodman) of Brooklyn, Wellington

      Husband of Alice Vera Bennett (nee Hansen)

      Attended Brooklyn School and Wellington Boys' College (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845607)) AWMM
    • Outbound Halifax DT747 was seen coming over the Fliegerhorst Esbjerg at 150 meters from northeast at 00:47 hours. Fire was opened with 2 cm and 3,7 cm flak from II.,III.u.IV./2.lei.Flakabt.742 and IV./2.lei.Flakabt.844 u. Alarmflakbatt.II/XI (L) . Searchlight from 4./204 "Richter" and "Halen" coned the aircraft and passed it then on to the SW. "Trupp", "Lund", "Emil", "Fanø" and "Hans". The Halifax was fired at with Maschine guns from SW. "Trupp" and "Lund" after which it turned towards west. Next the 10.5 cm battery at "Femhøje" opened fire as did Seehafen Süd (2./742) and Seehafen Nord (1./204) and Flakzug Saedding (6./204) and the heavy battery "Fanö" with 2 cm, 3,7 cm and 10,5 cam flak. Also the Sperrbrecher 177 and the Flakjäger 24 which lay in the harbour joined in. THe Halifax was hit several times but tried to gain height but was hit by several more shots and crashed at 00:51 hours. Public - Jenifer - Researcher - 5 September 2019 - Reference : www.airwarsoverdenmark.com
    • DT747 crashed on Hjertingvej road in Sædding near the place where the ”Fishing Museum” is located today.
      The whole crew perished and were laid to rest in Fovrfelt cemetery in Esbjerg on 30/4-1943.

      They were : Pilot Flt.Sgt. Thomas S.E. Bennett RNZAF; Sgt. James K. Campbell; Pilot Sgt. Wilfred A. Griffiths; Wireless Operator Sgt. Arnold Jenkinson; Observer Sgt. Wilfrid C. Marsh; Flt. Engr. Sgt. James T. Smith; Air Gnr. Flt.Sgt. Alexander C. Weir RCAF; and Air Gnr. Bertram C.J. White. Public - Jenifer - Researcher - 5 September 2019 - Reference Credit : www.airwarsoveredenmark.com
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    21 April 1943 AWMM
    Age 31 AWMM
    Denmark, Europe AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
    Saedden, near Esbjerg, Denmark Public - Paul - 18 November 2018 - Airwar Over Denmark - http://www.flensted.eu.com/19430028.shtml
    Soren C Flensted
  • Cause of death
    Killed in Action AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Esbjerg (Fourfelt) Cemetery, Denmark AWMM Coll. grave A. 10. 10-15. AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

Remember Thomas Samuel Eric Bennett by laying a poppy.

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Leave a tribute or memory of Thomas Samuel Eric Bennett

Leave a note

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  • Sgt Thomas S E Bennett flew with my uncle, Sgt James Kenneth Campbell, in Halifax DT747 call sign DY-P, on the mission to Stettin on the night of 20/21 April 1943 when they were brought down by flak over the Danish coast. Sgt Bennett had only been with 102 Squadron for a week. I laid a wreath on the 102 Squadron memorial at Pocklington airfield on November 11th 2018 for Ken, Thomas and the rest of the crew. I know that either his mother or wife was in contact with Ken's mother (my grandmother) after the war as I have an envelope addressed to her postmarked Lower Hutt.

    Never forgotten - all the boys in the crew who lost their lives and are buried together
    Public - Paul - 18 November 2018
    Report 
  • To my Great Grandfather My dad, your grandson told me and my sister about you, we remember you every Anzac Day and we lay a poppy for you. Your great granddaughter Georgia
    Public - Georgia Casey - Direct descendant - 7 March 2017
    Report 
  • To my Great Grandfather, I am grateful to you for your contribution in World War Two. Without yours and others sacrifice we wouldn't have the opportunity's that we have today. I am very proud to be your Great Granddaughter. RIP
    Public - Brooke Analise - Other Relative - 29 April 2015
    Report 

Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press. AWMM
    • RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ab - B. Archives New Zealand (R17845607) - Former archives reference: AIR118 AWMM
    • List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. [Missing - But Presumed Dead on Lapse of Time - Officers, Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845743) AWMM
    • Please note that the 12 volumes of the "RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939-1945" held at Archives NZ (formerly known as AIR118) should be used in conjunction with Errol Martyn's "For Your Tomorrow". FYT reflects detailed examination of all of the AIR118 bios which contain many inaccuracies and omissions. AWMM
    • List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. [List of Missing]. Archives New Zealand (R17845747) AWMM
    • List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - Embarkation Lists, November 1940 - July 1942. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845762). AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
Add new record Refresh
DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
05 September 2019JeniferWairarapaResearcher
18 November 2018PaulWallasey, United KingdomOther
07 March 2017Georgia Casey NelsonDirect descendant
29 April 2015Brooke AnaliseNew ZealandOther Relative

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