Captain Edwin Louis BenbowMC (10 December 1895 – 30 May 1918) was an English flying ace during the First World War, credited with eight victories, comprising six destroyed and one shared destroyed, and one 'out of control'. He was the only pilot to gain 'ace' status flying the Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.8 exclusively.[1]
Edwin Louis Benbow
Nickname(s)
Lobo
Born
(1895-12-10)10 December 1895 Abbotsbury, Dorset, England
His father Joseph was the head gardener for the Ilchester Estate in Abbotsbury, having been born on 6 March 1864 in Ombersley, Worcestershire. Joseph married German-born British subject Jane Caroline Brommer in 1886, in Nice, France, and their first child William was born in Cannes, in 1889. William died in Abbotsbury in 1918, and is buried in the churchyard there. Edwin was born in 1895 in Abbotsbury where his father is listed as 'Head Gardener (Not Domestic)' in the 1901 Census.
Wartime career
Benbow joined the Royal Field Artillery in February 1915, and served for a year[2] being commissioned a second lieutenant on 27 May 1915.[3] He was appointed to be a flying officer (observer), effective 10 March 1916, before being seconded to the Royal Flying Corps on 15 April 1916.[4] He served his first eight months in aviation as an observer/gunner. He then trained as a pilot,[2] was appointed a flying officer on 7 July 1916,[5] and was assigned to 40 Squadron as an F.E.8 pilot. He achieved all his successes while with this squadron; on 20 October 1916, using F.E.8, Serial No. 7627, he destroyed an Albatros D.II for his first victory. Two days later he set a German two-seater afire over Vimy.[2]
A modern F.E.8 reproduction in flight.
On 16 November 1916 Benbow shot down an Albatros two-seater. On 4 December he downed another Albatros D.II. On the 20th, he felled another Albatros two-seater; Benbow thus became the only F.E.8 ace, and No. 7627 the only Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.8 to be involved in the shooting down of five or more enemy aircraft.[6]
On the early afternoon of 23 January 1917, Benbow was in the midst of a dogfight when his gun jammed. While clearing his weapon, he evaded a head-on assault by the Red Baron, who went on to down Benbow's squadron comrade Lt. J. Hay for Jasta 11's first victory.[2] Benbow did not succeed in returning to the attack on that occasion, but on 14 February using F.E.8 Serial No. A4871, he destroyed another Albatros D.II. His seventh victory came the following day, with Benbow's only "out of control" claim.[7]
On 6 March, Benbow and the Red Baron clashed again[8] when nine F.E.8s of 40 Squadron fought five Jasta 11 aircraft led by Richthofen. While the Baron was attacking a Sopwith 1½ Strutter, Benbow shot him down, forcing him to land near Hénin-Liétard with a damaged engine, spraying fuel from holed tanks, and seemingly on fire, for Benbow's eighth victory (although Richthofen survived).[8][6] On 12 March, 40 Squadron began its re-equipment with Nieuport 17"tractors". A week later, Benbow was wounded in action by anti-aircraft shrapnel, ending his first combat assignment in France.[9]
2nd Lt. (temp. Lt.) Edwin Louis Benbow, Royal Field Artillery and Royal Flying Corps.
For conspicuous gallantry in action. He has on several occasions displayed great courage and skill, and has destroyed four enemy machines under difficult conditions.[12]
^"No. 29940". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 February 1917. p. 1539.
Bibliography
Guttman, Jon; Dempsey, Harry (2009). Pusher Aces of World War I. Osprey Pub. Co. ISBN978-1-84603-417-6.
Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman & Guest, Russell F. (1990). Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN978-0-948817-19-9.
External links
"Edwin Louis Benbow". theaerodrome.com. 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
Sapsed, Brian (2010). "Abbotsbury War Memorial, Dorset". Roll of Honour. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
March 08, 2023
edwin, benbow, captain, edwin, louis, benbow, december, 1895, 1918, english, flying, during, first, world, credited, with, eight, victories, comprising, destroyed, shared, destroyed, control, only, pilot, gain, status, flying, royal, aircraft, factory, exclusi. Captain Edwin Louis Benbow MC 10 December 1895 30 May 1918 was an English flying ace during the First World War credited with eight victories comprising six destroyed and one shared destroyed and one out of control He was the only pilot to gain ace status flying the Royal Aircraft Factory F E 8 exclusively 1 Edwin Louis BenbowNickname s LoboBorn 1895 12 10 10 December 1895Abbotsbury Dorset EnglandDied30 May 1918 1918 05 30 aged 22 BuriedDuhallow ADS Cemetery Ypres West Flanders BelgiumAllegianceUnited KingdomService wbr branchBritish ArmyRoyal Air ForceYears of service1915 1918RankCaptainUnitRoyal Field ArtilleryNo 40 Squadron RFCNo 85 Squadron RAFAwardsMilitary Cross Contents 1 Family 2 Wartime career 3 Honours and awards 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksFamily EditHis father Joseph was the head gardener for the Ilchester Estate in Abbotsbury having been born on 6 March 1864 in Ombersley Worcestershire Joseph married German born British subject Jane Caroline Brommer in 1886 in Nice France and their first child William was born in Cannes in 1889 William died in Abbotsbury in 1918 and is buried in the churchyard there Edwin was born in 1895 in Abbotsbury where his father is listed as Head Gardener Not Domestic in the 1901 Census Wartime career EditBenbow joined the Royal Field Artillery in February 1915 and served for a year 2 being commissioned a second lieutenant on 27 May 1915 3 He was appointed to be a flying officer observer effective 10 March 1916 before being seconded to the Royal Flying Corps on 15 April 1916 4 He served his first eight months in aviation as an observer gunner He then trained as a pilot 2 was appointed a flying officer on 7 July 1916 5 and was assigned to 40 Squadron as an F E 8 pilot He achieved all his successes while with this squadron on 20 October 1916 using F E 8 Serial No 7627 he destroyed an Albatros D II for his first victory Two days later he set a German two seater afire over Vimy 2 A modern F E 8 reproduction in flight On 16 November 1916 Benbow shot down an Albatros two seater On 4 December he downed another Albatros D II On the 20th he felled another Albatros two seater Benbow thus became the only F E 8 ace and No 7627 the only Royal Aircraft Factory F E 8 to be involved in the shooting down of five or more enemy aircraft 6 On the early afternoon of 23 January 1917 Benbow was in the midst of a dogfight when his gun jammed While clearing his weapon he evaded a head on assault by the Red Baron who went on to down Benbow s squadron comrade Lt J Hay for Jasta 11 s first victory 2 Benbow did not succeed in returning to the attack on that occasion but on 14 February using F E 8 Serial No A4871 he destroyed another Albatros D II His seventh victory came the following day with Benbow s only out of control claim 7 On 6 March Benbow and the Red Baron clashed again 8 when nine F E 8s of 40 Squadron fought five Jasta 11 aircraft led by Richthofen While the Baron was attacking a Sopwith 1 Strutter Benbow shot him down forcing him to land near Henin Lietard with a damaged engine spraying fuel from holed tanks and seemingly on fire for Benbow s eighth victory although Richthofen survived 8 6 On 12 March 40 Squadron began its re equipment with Nieuport 17 tractors A week later Benbow was wounded in action by anti aircraft shrapnel ending his first combat assignment in France 9 Benbow would serve as an instructor in his time away from the front He was appointed a Flight Commander with the concomitant rank of Temporary Captain on 31 March 1917 10 and posted to Billy Bishop s No 85 Squadron in May 1918 On the 30th while piloting Royal Aircraft Factory S E 5a Serial No C1861 he was shot down and killed by Hans Eberhardt Gandert of Jasta 51 11 Honours and awards EditMilitary Cross 2nd Lt temp Lt Edwin Louis Benbow Royal Field Artillery and Royal Flying Corps For conspicuous gallantry in action He has on several occasions displayed great courage and skill and has destroyed four enemy machines under difficult conditions 12 References Edit Guttman amp Dempsey 2009 pp 63 65 a b c d Guttman amp Dempsey 2009 p 63 No 29184 The London Gazette Supplement 4 June 1915 p 5480 No 29549 The London Gazette Supplement 14 April 1916 p 3998 No 29693 The London Gazette Supplement 1 August 1916 pp 7655 7656 a b Shores et al p 73 Guttman amp Dempsey 2009 p 64 a b Guttman amp Dempsey 2009 p 64 65 Guttman amp Dempsey 2009 p 66 No 30085 The London Gazette Supplement 22 May 1917 p 5009 Guttman amp Dempsey 2009 p 66 67 No 29940 The London Gazette Supplement 13 February 1917 p 1539 Bibliography EditGuttman Jon Dempsey Harry 2009 Pusher Aces of World War I Osprey Pub Co ISBN 978 1 84603 417 6 Shores Christopher F Franks Norman amp Guest Russell F 1990 Above the Trenches a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915 1920 London UK Grub Street ISBN 978 0 948817 19 9 External links Edit Edwin Louis Benbow theaerodrome com 2014 Retrieved 26 August 2014 Sapsed Brian 2010 Abbotsbury War Memorial Dorset Roll of Honour Retrieved 26 August 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edwin Benbow amp oldid 1116490554, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
