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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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Gerald Walter b: 4 May 1923 r: 31 Jan 1976 d: xx xxx xxxx
DFM – 20 Jul 1945, MiD – 16 Jun 1959, MCMI
AC2: xx xxx xxxx, AC1: xx xxx xxxx, LAC: xx xxx xxxx, Cpl: xx xxx xxxx, Sgt: xx xxx xxxx, Act Flt Sgt: xx xxx xxxx, Plt Off (P): 24 Jul 1945, Fg Off (WS): 24 Jan 1945, Fg Off: 12 Dec 1946 [24 Jul 1945], Flt Lt: 24 Jan 1948, Sqn Ldr: 1 Jan 1953, Wg Cdr: xx xxx xxxx, Gp Capt: 1 Jan 1969, Act A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1973
xx xxx xxxx: Airman (1593461)
xx xxx xxxx: U/T Flight Engineer No 4 SoTT
xx xxx xxxx: Attended No ? HCU
30 Jul 1944: Flight Engineer, No 582 Sqn
5 Jun 1945: Awarded (Permanent) the Path Finder Badge
12 Jun 1945: Appointed to an Emergency Commission in the General Duties Branch, RAFVR (wef 24 Jul 1944)
10 Sep 1945: No 582 Sqn disbanded
12 Dec 1946: Appointed to an Extended Service Commission in the General Duties Branch (seniority 24 Jul 1945)
7 Aug 1948: Appointed to a Permanent Commission in the rank of Flt Lt
5 Apr 1949: Transferred to the Equipment Branch in the rank of Flt Lt (seniority 5 Apr 1949)
xx xxx xxxx:
xx xxx xxxx: Equipment Officer, Malaya
28 Feb 1972: Officer Commanding, RAF Carlisle/No 14 MU
15 Jan 1973: Director of Supply Policy (RAF)
He took part in his first operation with No 582 Squadron on 14 August 1944 as part of Lt Edwin Swale’s crew. On 23 February 1945 he was again flying with Capt Swales in Lancaster PF538, who was acting as Master Bomber on a raid on Pforzheim, when they were attacked by a Ju-88 and the aircraft was severely damaged with two engines put out of action but was still under control, so Swales attempted to return to base. Back over friendly territory, it became obvious that they couldn’t reach the UK so Swales ordered to crew to bale out. Bennington followed the air bomber through the front escape hatch at low level landing heavily on his head and shoulders. Shortly afterwards the aircraft crashed with Capt Swales still at the controls, he was later awarded the Victoria Cross.
He returned to operations on 15 March 1945 when he and the rest of the Swale’s crew flew with the squadron commander, Wg Cdr S P Coulson, on a raid against Rauxel Tor, and appear to have become the CO’s crew from this date. He completed a further five operations with the CO, his last being on 18 April 1945 against Heligoland.
He retired at his own request
This entry was last updated on 03/09/26©
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