[Danny Hill]

Hello all. I am researching the war time career of a night-fighter radar operator called Sqn Ldr Geoff Bennett DFC, who flew from Febuary 1941 with 68sqn in Beaufighters, then from late 1943, with 96sqn in various marks of NF Mosquito's. Whilst with 96sqn, he flew mainly with the CO of 'B' flight, Sqn Ldr Parker Rees, and all the following 96sqn claims are for that crew pairing. I would be interested in any information on Luftwaffe unit/aircraft/crew or any general info on the following.

15/1/44 Mosquito MkXIII HK421 'W' scrambled from West Malling @ 19.25 hrs, claim a Fw190 shot down 5 miles from French Coast. I believe this was a Skg10 machine.

28/1/44 Mosquito as above, scrambled 22.10, claim Me410 as damaged (I would guess that any info would be limited to what units were operating that night)

24/2/44 Mosquito MkXIII 'N' scrambled 21.35, claim 1 He177 destroyed.
(this is a contentious one- the aircraft was identified as a twin engined German aircraft, initially as either a Ju88 or 188, by the wingspan as to the gunsight ring. However, when the radar op gave the range as 1000yds, the maths meant it had a wing span of almost twice that of a Ju88. Also, the operator (Bennett) got a good view of the aircraft going down, and described seeing the glazed cockpit area distinctive of the He177, and claims it as such in his log book.)

12/4/44 Mosquito MkXIII 'T' on patrol from West Malling over channel from 22.45-23.45 claim 1 Ju88 or 188 Destroyed 5 miles from French coast. This may have been a miss-identified Me410 from I/KG51(?)

13-14/4/44 Mosquito MkXIII 'T' on patrol from W Malling over channel from 22.55-02.05 1 Me410 Destroyed. Described in Bennetts log book as "The longest combat ever experienced- enemy a/c eventually caught fire & hit sea."

I have all the combat reports for the 96sqn claims, so if anyone needs more info, just ask. The pair also claimed 8 V1's between June & August '44


Now for his 68sqn claims. The place of combat is quite vague as the info is taken from his log-book. However, due to their patrol radius, I am assuming most occurred over the channel.

25/10/41 In Beaufighter 'X' R2185 from High Ercall, pilot W/O Welch, 1 Ju88 Damaged.

26/3/42 In Beaufighter 'Z' 7555 from Coltishall, pilot W/O Welch, 1 He111 Damaged.

4/6/42 In Beaufighter 'F' V8255 from Coltishall, pilot P/O Welch, 1 Ju88 Destroyed.

27/7/42 In Beaufighter 'F' V8255 from Coltishall, pilot P/O Welch, 1 Do217 Destroyed, 1 Do217 probable.

18/3/43 In Beaufighter 'D' V8619 from Coltishall, pilot F/O Allen, 2 Do217's Destroyed.
Note: One of these 217's claims are mentioned in "The Men Who Flew the Mosquito"- a Do217E of 6/KG2 flown by Hptm Hans Hansen. No mention of the other.

Any information at all about the above would be helpful, no matter how small, to help 'fill out' the picture. Also, I would be interested generally in which Luftwaffe units were operating over the UK on these dates.

Thanks for your time.
Danny Hill