Ensign Darrell C. Bennett question
 

Ensign Darrell C. Bennett, USNR,was on board the USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73) in Composite Squadron Ten (VC-10) during 1944.
How many planes did he shoot down ?
found a photo of him and his FM-2 ,anyone else have any photo's of him or this plane.
Going by this photo.
http://www.navsource.org/archives/03/0307307.jpg

Thanks'
Rick

Re: Ensign Darrell C. Bennett question
 

Rick,
D C Bennett does not appear in my database of USN claims. VC-10, like most of the VC units, did not make a lot of claims, since they tended to be used for ground support. And of course, Gambier Bay was sunk, thus cutting short her cruise. VC-10s ACA reports do exist, but I would have to check them to see if they were prepared after the sinking or before.

Frank.
Historian, American Fighter Aces Association.

Re: Ensign Darrell C. Bennett question
 

Thanks Frank.
Have all of your books on claims except for the Navy one.
Thanks again
Rick

Re: Ensign Darrell C. Bennett question
 

Bennett is mentioned twice in Hoyt's book "The Men of the Gambier Bay", but in neither case is air-to-air combat involved.

Re: Ensign Darrell C. Bennett question
 

Thank you, will see if I can find this book.
Rick

Re: Ensign Darrell C. Bennett question
 

Bennett lives in the P-cola, FL area.

Re: Ensign Darrell C. Bennett question
 

Thanks Jack.
Rick

Re: Ensign Darrell C. Bennett question
 

D.C. Bennett actually lives in Gulf Breeze. As far I know he is unable to confirm any downed planes. He got some shots into one but lost him in the clouds over Leyte.

Scott

Re: Ensign Darrell C. Bennett question
 

Thank you .
Do you know if he flew this Wildcat many times?
Rick

Re: Ensign Darrell C. Bennett question
 

He guesses about 40-50 hours in that airframe. His log books went down with the Gambier Bay. There is another airframe at the Naval museum here in Pensacola he has logged hours in as well.

Smokey is my grandfather so any more questions?

Scott

Re: Ensign Darrell C. Bennett question
 

Thank you for the reply.
Any other photo's of this plane or others he flew?
Was he on board when the USS Gambier Bay was hit?
If he was in the air were did he land?
Tell him Thank you for his service.
Regards
Rick Peck

Re: Ensign Darrell C. Bennett question
 

We have many photos. Give some time and we can try to post. He was in the air when the Gambier Bay went down. He landed with the other planes from the morning mission. The airstrip was in bad shape to say the least. Planes were lost on the ground. The marines were there in force when he landed at the Tacloban strip. They had "just bombed the hell out of this strip" but the seabees were filling and flagging the bomb craters.

Re: Ensign Darrell C. Bennett question
 

That would be excellant on the photo's ,very rare photo's .
Enjoying this post.
Funny almost didn't start this thread.
Thanks again
Rick