James Bennett Rank: Sergeant Status: Drowned 1945-06-23

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"A" Able flying through the Eiffel Tower? (although this event likely happened, this photograph is likely fake.) It is signed by the late Bill Bryant RAF who was the navigator of that aircraft piloted by Bob Boorman RCAF. The caption reads "This Stars Stripes photograph was taken on 14 September 1944 and shows a Mosquito Mk XIII of 409 Squadron RCAF. Pilot - W/O Bob Boorman RCAF Navigator F/S Bill Bryant RAF Flying through the Eiffel Tower."
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Bennett, James (Sergeant)

Drowned 1945-June-23

Male Head

Birth Date: 1925-August-12 (age 19)

Son of James and Mary Ellen Bennett, of Edmonton, Middlesex, England.

Service
RAFVR

Unit
5 OTU- Operational Training Unit

Base
RCAF Stn. Abbotsford, British Columbia

Rank

Sergeant

Marshal
Air Chief Marshal	A/C/M
Air Marshal	A/M
Air Vice Marshal	A/V/M
Air Commodore	A/C
Group Captain	G/C
Wing Commander	W/C
Squadron Leader	S/L
Flight Lieutenant	F/L
Flying Officer	F/O
Pilot Officer	P/O
Warrant Officer 1st Class	WO1
Warrant Officer 2nd Class	WO2
Flight Sergeant	FS
Sergeant	SGT
Corporal	CPL
Senior Aircraftman	SAC
Leading Aircraftman	LAC
Aircraftman 1st Class	AC1
Aircraftman 2nd Class	AC2

Position

Service Numbers
1891553

According to the Unit Daily Diary, at 1750 hours on 1945-06-23 Sergeant J. Bennett drown in Mill Pond, Abbotsford, British Columbia while swimming. However according to his sister, he was a very bad swimmer and actually afraid of the water. Mill Lake was a centre of logging at the turn of that century and there was a small gauge logging train that skirted across the West end of the lake. The trestle that crossed the water was then more than 60 years old and very depilated. Several RAF Airmen were walking along it when the portion they were on collapsed. This is how he drowned. (this information was provided by Michael DesMazes.)

Canada Primary Source School Daily Diary Entry "� 1945-06-23

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Find-A-Grave.com Finadagrave.com

Burial
Google Map

Hazelwood Cemetery
Ploy 5 Grave 13

5 OTU (5 Operational Training Unit)

The Operational Training Unit (OTU) was the last stop for aircrew trainees. They spent 8 to 14 weeks learning to fly operational aircraft (Hawker Hurricane or Fairey Swordfish, e.g.). The instructors had experience in actual operations, and often were posted to OTUs after their operational tour. 5 Operational Training Unit was established at RCAF Station Boundary Bay, British Columbia. The former station is now the Boundary Bay Airport. More information on the RCAF Station at Boundary Bay can be found at

RCAF Roundel RCAF.Info

A Detachment of 5 Operational Training Unit was established at RCAF Station Abbotsford, British Columbia. The former Station is now the Abbotsford International Airport. More information on the RCAF Station at Abbotsford can be found at

RCAF Roundel RCAF.Info

Griffin Library, 17 Wing Winnipeg

Lancaster FM213

Andrew Mynarski, VC

Bennett, James (Sergeant)

Drowned 1945-June-23

5 OTU (5 Operational Training Unit)

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