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The Life of Australia's Pioneer Aviator and Wartime Commander Air Vice-Marshal Don Bennett CB CBE DSO FRAeS
Air Vice-Marshal Don Bennett CB CBE DSO FRAeS is best known as the Australian commander of the Royal Air Force's elite Path Finder Force in the Second World War. His drive, determination and passion for excellence saw him play a principal role in prosecuting the bombing campaign against Nazi Germany.
Yet, the full story of his life has never been comprehensively explored. Few can recount his exploits as a pioneering aviator, or know why he was regarded as the most technically brilliant airman of his generation. Fewer still know the man's background, interests, passions and obsessions, or what drove him to his many aviation achievements.
Relentless Skies, Volume 1: The Most Efficient Airman, explores Bennett's life up to 1942. New light is shed on his early years, pilot training, participation in the Centenary Air Race, setting world records in the seaplane Mercury, the 1940 rescue of the Polish General Staff from France and how he survived being shot down whilst attacking the Tirpitz.
Binding together this series of extraordinary events and achievements is, crucially, an exploration of Bennett's character and how it influenced his choices, relationships and approach to leadership. Unparalleled access to the Bennett archive has enabled biographer Ian Campbell to reveal the many facets of one of Australia's greatest, and often misunderstood, wartime leaders.
Volume 2: An Exacting Task will explore Bennett's time leading the Path Finder Force, and his post-war career.
Contents
Foreword i
Introduction iii
Acknowledgements ix
Maps xii
Author's
Note xv
1.
Decision Time at 'Kanimbla' 1
2.
A Glimpse of the Future 4
3.
The Last Hope of the Bennetts 7
4.
Nil Sine Labore - the Brisbane Years 19
5.
The Hinkler Effect 25
6.
Entering the New World 33
7.
Fighter Boy 50
8.
Boats That Fly 59
9.
Under Harris's Wing 68
10.
Back to the Future 78
11.
The Invisible Barrier Over the Horizon 83
12.
The Unshackling Begins 90
13.
The Vega's Leg 94
14.
Ly and her Complete Air Navigator 107
15.
Imperial, Empire and 'Empires' 119
16.
Mercury and the Atlantic 136
17.
Mercury and an Obsession with Records 171
18.
War 187
19.
Rescuing the Polish General Staff 196
20.
Fast Tracking the Ferry 206
21.
Beaten by Bottlenecks and Bowhill 223
22.
A Very Short Hiatus 234
23.
77 Squadron - Enter the 'Hot' War 240
24.
Bureaucracy Sows the Seeds of Bitterness 261
25.
Shot Down 267
26.
Escape 277
Appendix
1 Chronology 289
Appendix
2 Aircraft Don Bennett flew to July 1942 292
About
the Author 293
Bibliography 294
Endnotes 310
Index
People 342
Places 351
Air
Force 359
Aircraft 362
General 366
