Main Force to Mosquito Master Bomber: The Story of Wing Commander Eric Benjamin DFC & Bar

Eric Benjamin was a Wing Commander in the RAF Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross twice for his bravery under fire. He flew Fairey Battles, Main Force Avro Lancasters, and De Havilland Mosquitoes during the Battle of France, the Battle of Berlin, and the latter stages of the war. He survived being shot down on his first operation and was among the last RAF aircrew to be evacuated from France in the summer of 1940. He achieved his ambition of flying Mosquitoes and was selected and trained as a Master Bomber, but his aircraft failed to return on one of these sorties.

Format: Hardback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 01 May 2024
Publisher: Fighting High Ltd

Wing Commander Eric Benjamin was a highly decorated RAF Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) pilot who served during the Second World War. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross twice for his bravery under fire, flying Fairey Battles with No. 150 Squadron during the Battle of France, Main Force Avro Lancasters with No. 61 Squadron during the Battle of Berlin, and De Havilland Mosquitoes as an elite Pathfinder Master Bomber in the latter stages of the war. Despite surviving being shot down on his first operation, he was among the last RAF aircrew to be evacuated from France in the summer of 1940. He narrowly escaped with his life for a second time when his air gunner was severely wounded and was pulled clear of the mangled wreckage of a Vickers Wellington that crashed in flames during a spell as an instructor. In 1943, he achieved his ambition of flying Mosquitoes and was selected and trained as a Master Bomber, operating as part of No. 54 Base in No. 5 Group and helping to mop up what was left of German industry and military might. However, his aircraft failed to return from one of these sorties, and he died as he had lived, doing what he loved best. The book includes numerous previously unpublished photographs of Eric, his colleagues, and the aircraft he flew, and was authored by Sean Feast and Eric's daughter Jeannie. Eric was an inveterate letter writer and once said of flying that there was 'no greater sport.'

Weight: 498g
Dimension: 164 x 241 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781838068745