CREW MEMBER PROFILE

Surname:

BENTON

First Name/s:

Cyril Raymond

No Image

Service No/s:

1803596

Service:

RAFVR

Branch:

Navigator

Awards:

Return

SERVICE RECORDS

Date

Event

Aircraft Flown

25 Nov 1943

Joined 576 Sqn at Elsham Wolds, Linconshire

Auto loaded with upgrade to v1.0.07

576 Squadron FLYING RECORDS

Date

Aircraft

Code

Flight Details

T/O

Land

Flt Time

Crew

11 Apr 1945

RF197

UL-F2

Training

nk

nk

1h30

P1   Fg Off E.S. Hardie
P2   
FE   Sgt H.W.G. Lockett
AB   Fg Off W.R. Cole RCAF
NAV  Sgt C.R. Benton
WOp  Sgt R.C. Wonnacott
MUG  Sgt T.O. Robertson RCAF
RG   Plt Off D. Bowors RCAF

NOTES:

High level bombing

12 Apr 1945

RA563

UL-Q

Training

nk

nk

nk

P1   Fg Off E.S. Hardie
P2   
FE   Sgt H.W.G. Lockett
AB   Fg Off W.R. Cole RCAF
NAV  Sgt C.R. Benton
WOp  Sgt R.C. Wonnacott
MUG  Sgt T.O. Robertson RCAF
RG   Plt Off R.S. Bowden

NOTES:

Air test, air to sea firing

13 Apr 1945

NG418

UL-E2

Training

nk

nk

5h50

P1   Fg Off E.S. Hardie
P2   
FE   Sgt H.W.G. Lockett
AB   Fg Off W.R. Cole RCAF
NAV  Sgt C.R. Benton
WOp  Sgt R.C. Wonnacott
MUG  Sgt T.O. Robertson RCAF
RG   Plt Off D. Bowors RCAF

NOTES:

Loaded cross country (9000lb)

13 Apr 1945

PD376

UL-C2

Training

nk

nk

0h20

P1   Fg Off E.S. Hardie
P2   Fg Off D.E. Moffitt RAAF
FE   Sgt H.W.G. Lockett
AB   Fg Off W.R. Cole RCAF
NAV  Sgt C.R. Benton
WOp  Sgt R.C. Wonnacott
MUG  Sgt T.O. Robertson RCAF
RG   Plt Off D. Bowors RCAF

NOTES:

Fighter affiliation

24 Apr 1945

ME862

UL-J2

Training

1410

nk

3h20

P1   Fg Off E.S. Hardie
P2   
FE   Sgt H.W.G. Lockett
AB   Fg Off W.R. Cole RCAF
NAV  Sgt C.R. Benton
WOp  Sgt R.C. Wonnacott
MUG  Sgt T.O. Robertson RCAF
RG   Plt Off D. Bowors RCAF

NOTES:

LL Cross country, air to air firing

25 Apr 1945

ME862

UL-J2

BERCHTESGADEN

0535

1335

8h00

P1   Fg Off E.S. Hardie
P2   
FE   Sgt H.W.G. Lockett
AB   Fg Off W.R. Cole RCAF
NAV  Sgt C.R. Benton
WOp  Sgt R.C. Wonnacott
MUG  Sgt T.O. Robertson RCAF
RG   Plt Off D. Bowors RCAF

NOTES:

Hitler’s ‘Eagle’s Nest’ complex & SS barracks Load: 1x 4000lb, 4x 1000lb, 1x 500lb bombs Hardie: 'Good trip. Slight flak.'

26 Apr 1945

PB574

UL-A2

Training

nk

nk

0h30

P1   Fg Off E.S. Hardie
P2   
FE   Sgt H.W.G. Lockett
AB   Fg Off W.R. Cole RCAF
NAV  Sgt C.R. Benton
WOp  Sgt R.C. Wonnacott
MUG  Sgt T.O. Robertson RCAF
RG   Plt Off D. Bowors RCAF
PAX    Edwards TBC

NOTES:

Sack dropping. Practice for Operation Manna, Passenger: Maj. Edwards, Royal Army Service Corps

29 Apr 1945

RF197

UL-F2

VALKENBURG-LEIDEN AIRFIELD

1155

1500

3h05

P1   Fg Off E.S. Hardie
P2   
FE   Sgt H.W.G. Lockett
AB   Fg Off W.R. Cole RCAF
NAV  Sgt C.R. Benton
WOp  Sgt R.C. Wonnacott
MUG  Sgt T.O. Robertson RCAF
RG   Plt Off D. Bowors RCAF

NOTES:

Operation MANNA Load: All aircraft: 4 blocks of scks

30 Apr 1945

RF213

UL-B2

THE HAGUE - DELFT AIRFIELD

1525

1810

2h45

P1   Fg Off E.S. Hardie
P2   
FE   Sgt H.W.G. Lockett
AB   Fg Off W.R. Cole RCAF
NAV  Sgt C.R. Benton
WOp  Sgt R.C. Wonnacott
MUG  Sgt T.O. Robertson RCAF
RG   Plt Off D. Bowors RCAF

NOTES:

Operation MANNA Load: 4 blocks of sacks

01 May 1945

RF213

UL-B2

ROTTERDAM

1510

1815

3h05

P1   Fg Off E.S. Hardie
P2   
FE   Sgt H.W.G. Lockett
AB   Fg Off E.A.F. Cole
NAV  Sgt C.R. Benton
WOp  Sgt R.C. Wonnacott
MUG  Sgt T.O. Robertson RCAF
RG   Fg Off D. Bowors RCAF

NOTES:

Operation MANNA Load: All aircraft: 4 blocks of sacks

07 May 1945

PD376

UL-C2

ROTTERDAM

1220

1610

3h50

P1   Fg Off E.S. Hardie
P2   
FE   Sgt H.W.G. Lockett
AB   Fg Off W.R. Cole RCAF
NAV  Sgt C.R. Benton
WOp  Sgt R.C. Wonnacott
MUG  Sgt T.O. Robertson RCAF
RG   Fg Off D. Bowors RCAF

NOTES:

Operation MANNA Load: All aircraft: 4 blocks of sacks

11 May 1945

NX562

UL-F

FISKERTON – BRUSSELS B58

1225

nk

nk

P1   Fg Off E.S. Hardie
P2   
FE   Sgt H.W.G. Lockett
AB   Fg Off W.R. Cole RCAF
NAV  Sgt C.R. Benton
WOp  Sgt R.C. Wonnacott
MUG  Fg Off D. Bowors RCAF
RG   

NOTES:

FISKERTON – BRUSSELS B58 Operation EXODUS *On EXODUS flights, the crews carried only one gunner, normally the Rear Gunner who flew in the mid-upper turret

11 May 1945

NX562

UL-F

BRUSSELS B58 – FORD

nk

nk

nk

P1   Fg Off E.S. Hardie
P2   
FE   Sgt H.W.G. Lockett
AB   Fg Off W.R. Cole RCAF
NAV  Sgt C.R. Benton
WOp  Sgt R.C. Wonnacott
MUG  Fg Off D. Bowors RCAF
RG   

NOTES:

Operation EXODUS *On EXODUS flights, the crews carried only one gunner, normally the Rear Gunner who flew in the mid-upper turret Load: 24 passengers

11 May 1945

NX562

UL-F

FORD – FISKERTON

nk

1840

nk

P1   Fg Off E.S. Hardie
P2   
FE   Sgt H.W.G. Lockett
AB   Fg Off W.R. Cole RCAF
NAV  Sgt C.R. Benton
WOp  Sgt R.C. Wonnacott
MUG  Fg Off D. Bowors RCAF
RG   

NOTES:

Operation EXODUS *On EXODUS flights, the crews carried only one gunner, normally the Rear Gunner who flew in the mid-upper turret

16 May 1945

ME502

UL-G2

Training

nk

nk

3h00

P1   Fg Off E.S. Hardie
P2   
FE   Sgt H.W.G. Lockett
AB   Fg Off W.R. Cole RCAF
NAV  Sgt C.R. Benton
WOp  Sgt R.C. Wonnacott
MUG  Sgt T.O. Robertson RCAF
RG   Plt Off D. Bowors RCAF

NOTES:

'Y' Cross country: Base, Scunthorpe, Didcot, London, Gravesend, Scunthorpe; Air to sea firing.

17 May 1945

RA563

UL-Q

Training

1105

nk

2h35

P1   Fg Off A.W. Roberts
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt L.A. Piddington
AB   Flt Sgt B.A. Rosario
NAV  Sgt J.L. Smale
WOp  Flt Sgt R. Briggs
MUG  Sgt S. Davies
RG   Sgt C.R. Benton

NOTES:

'Y' Cross country.

26 May 1945

ME502

UL-G2

FISKERTON – BRUSSELS B58 D

0845

nk

nk

P1   Fg Off E.S. Hardie
P2   
FE   Sgt H.W.G. Lockett
AB   Fg Off W.R. Cole RCAF
NAV  Sgt C.R. Benton
WOp  Sgt R.C. Wonnacott
MUG  Sgt S.G. Pearce
RG   

NOTES:

Operation EXODUS *On EXODUS flights, the crews carried only one gunner, normally the Rear Gunner who flew in the mid-upper turret

26 May 1945

ME502

UL-G2

BRUSSELS B58 D – OAKLEY

nk

nk

nk

P1   Fg Off E.S. Hardie
P2   
FE   Sgt H.W.G. Lockett
AB   Fg Off W.R. Cole RCAF
NAV  Sgt C.R. Benton
WOp  Sgt R.C. Wonnacott
MUG  Sgt S.G. Pearce
RG   

NOTES:

Operation EXODUS *On EXODUS flights, the crews carried only one gunner, normally the Rear Gunner who flew in the mid-upper turret Load: 24 passengers

26 May 1945

ME502

UL-G2

OAKLEY – FISKERTON

nk

1645

nk

P1   Fg Off E.S. Hardie
P2   
FE   Sgt H.W.G. Lockett
AB   Fg Off W.R. Cole RCAF
NAV  Sgt C.R. Benton
WOp  Sgt R.C. Wonnacott
MUG  Sgt S.G. Pearce
RG   

NOTES:

Operation EXODUS *On EXODUS flights, the crews carried only one gunner, normally the Rear Gunner who flew in the mid-upper turret

25 Jun 1945

ME502

UL-G2

Flensburg

0705

1155

4h50

P1   Fg Off E.S. Hardie
P2   
FE   Sgt H.W.G. Lockett
AB   Sgt W.E. Graham
NAV  Sgt C.R. Benton
WOp  Sgt R.C. Wonnacott
MUG  Sgt M.J. McCarthy
RG   Sgt S.G. Pearce

NOTES:

Exercise POST MORTEM I (Dated 26 Jun in Hardie's logbook)

29 Jun 1945

ME502

UL-G2

Flensburg

1025

1540

5h15

P1   Fg Off E.S. Hardie
P2   
FE   Sgt H.W.G. Lockett
AB   Sgt W.E. Graham
NAV  Sgt C.R. Benton
WOp  Sgt R.C. Wonnacott
MUG  Sgt M.J. McCarthy
RG   Sgt S.G. Pearce

NOTES:

Exercise POST MORTEM II

16 Aug 1945

RF197

UL-F2

FISKERTON – POMIGLIANO

0710

1410

7h00

P1   Fg Off E.S. Hardie
P2   
FE   Sgt H.W.G. Lockett
AB   Sgt W.E. Graham
NAV  Sgt C.R. Benton
WOp  Sgt R.C. Wonnacott
MUG  Sgt M.J. McCarthy
RG   

NOTES:

Operation DODGE These DODGE sorties comprised Pilot, Engineer, Air Bomber, Nav, WOp and a gunner in the mid-upper turret. The crews below are listed in that order. Base-Aylesbury-Selsey Bill-Poitiers-Toulouse-Corsica-Elba-Pomigliano

20 Aug 1945

RF197

UL-F2

POMIGLIANO – GLATTON

nk

nk

6h50

P1   Fg Off E.S. Hardie
P2   
FE   Sgt H.W.G. Lockett
AB   Sgt W.E. Graham
NAV  Sgt C.R. Benton
WOp  Sgt R.C. Wonnacott
MUG  Sgt M.J. McCarthy
RG   

NOTES:

Operation DODGE These DODGE sorties comprised Pilot, Engineer, Air Bomber, Nav, WOp and a gunner in the mid-upper turret. The crews below are listed in that order.

20 Aug 1945

RF197

UL-F2

GLATTON – FISKERTON

1450

1515

0h25

P1   Fg Off E.S. Hardie
P2   
FE   Sgt H.W.G. Lockett
AB   Sgt W.E. Graham
NAV  Sgt C.R. Benton
WOp  Sgt R.C. Wonnacott
MUG  Sgt M.J. McCarthy
RG   

NOTES:

Operation DODGE These DODGE sorties comprised Pilot, Engineer, Air Bomber, Nav, WOp and a gunner in the mid-upper turret. The crews below are listed in that order.

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