Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation


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Air Commodore B C Bennett (41365)


Brian Coghlan             b: 9 Oct 1917              r: 25 Oct 1971            d:  3 Aug 2010

AFC – 31 Mar 1944.

Act Plt Off (P): 14 Dec 1938, Plt Off (P): 3 Sep 1939, Plt Off: 6 Oct 1939, Fg Off (WS): 3 Sep 1940, Flt Lt (WS): 3 Sep 1941,  (T) Sqn Ldr: 1 Jul 1944, Sqn Ldr (WS): 15 Mar 1946, Sqn Ldr: 1 Aug 1947, Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1953, Act Gp Capt: 7 Nov 1960, Gp Capt: 1 Jan 1961, A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1966.

14 Dec 1938:              Appointed to a Short Service Commission.

14 Dec 1938:              Initial Officer Training.

xx xxx 1939:               U/T Pilot, No ? FTS.

xx xxx xxxx:                Pilot, No 206 Sqn

21 Apr 1940:              Attached, No 48 Sqn

 1 May 1940:              Pilot, No 48 Sqn

11 Dec 1940:              Attended No 2 CFS, RAF Cranwell

xx xxx 1941:               Instructor, No 14 EFTS

 6 Oct 1942:                Transferred to the Reserve and recalled for Air Force Service.

xx xxx xxxx:                Flight Commander, No 7 Sqn.

12 Oct 1944:               Prisoner of War

xx xxx 1946:               Staff, Directorate of Operational Training.

xx xxx xxxx:                Appointed to Permanent Commission in the rank of Flight Lieutenant [effective xx xxx xxxx antedated to 1 Dec 1942 on 25 Feb 1947]

19 Jan 1950:               Administrative Staff, HQ No 38 Group

xx xxx 1950:               Officer Commanding, No 99 Sqn. (York C1)

18 Aug 1952:              Air Staff - Air Movements, HQ Transport Command.

16 Apr 1953:              Inspector of Air Traffic Services.

xx xxx 1954:  

 

 9 Mar 1960:               Staff Officer, Department of the CAS.

 7 Nov 1960:               Deputy Director of Quartering.

 8 Jan 1964                  Officer Commanding, RAF Changi

10 Apr 1967:               SASO, HQ No 38 Group.

 1 Jun 1969:                 Assistant Chief of Staff (Plans, Operations & Intelligence), HQ CENTO.

He was flying Lancaster PB474 on 12 October 1944 in a raid against Wanne-Eickel, when he was shot down, all but two of the crew being captured.

Recommendation for the award of the Air Force Cross

BENNETT, Brian Coughlan, F/L (41365) - No.14 Elementary Flying Training School  -  Air Force Cross - awarded as per London Gazette dated 31 March 1944.  Recommendation drafted 22 December 1943.

"In the comparatively short time of three years instructional flying, this officer has attained the highest Category (A.1).  His standard of flying instruction being correspondingly high.  He has been responsible for getting many instructors at this unit up to a standard sufficient for attaining a higher category and thus helping to raise the general standard of instruction to a higher level.  In spite of several course and many administrative duties, he has kept up a good flying hours average and at all times shown great devotion to his flying duties.  His zeal and conscientiousness has been an example to others."

To this the Air Officer Commanding, No.51 Group commented (January 1944):

"A most able and zealous officer who has shown outstanding qualities of leadership.  In view of the amount of administrative and organization duties which he has to do, his flying record is exceptional.  I strongly recommend him for the award of the Air Force Cross."

(Source - Air 2/9616)

This page was last updated on 19/03/24

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