Herbert Benson DFC RAFVR and crew – 576 Squadron – 1944/45
Herbert Benson and his crew ( pictured above ) were posted to 576 Squadron late October/ early November 1944.
Benson’s real name was Herbert Frederick Taylor but he served under the name of Benson for reasons unknown. He is shown as Benson in 576 Squadron records
The crew consisted of :-
F/O H Benson
Sgt Harold Woolstenhulme
F/O H G Mather ( pictured below )
F/O P C Milner
P/O F Wilson
Sgt R C Griffiths
Sgt Robert Goldsbury
F/O H G Mather
This crew completed the following operations with 576 Squadron :-
16/11/1944 – Duren - Army support – LM594 – P/O H Benson
18/11/1944 - Wanne Eikel – Oil – ME735 – F/O H Benson
Landed at diversionary airfield due to bad weather at base
27/11/1944 – Freiburg - Army support – NF975 – F/O H C Benson
29/11/1944 – Dortmund - Point of Aim – PD271 – F/O H C Benson
04/12/1944 – Karlsruhe - Point of Aim – ME317 – F/O H C Benson
06/12/1944 – Leuna – Oil – NN749 – F/O H C Benson
12/12/1944 – Essen - Point of Aim – JB410 – F/O H C Benson
17/12/1944 – Ulm - Point of Aim – NN749 – F/O H C Benson
05/01/1945 – Royen - Army support – LM227 – F/O H C Benson
At this point they left 576 Squadron and were posted to 156 Pathfinder Squadron.
In March they were badly shot up by a night fighter during a raid with several crew members wounded ( Milner, Mather, Wilson and Griffiths ) including Benson. In spite of this he was able to successfully return to base and was recommended for the immediate award of a DFC.
On the 31st March 1945 Benson, Woolstenholme and Goldsbury were killed - Lancaster PB468 - Hamburg
F/L Herbert Frederick Taylor RAFVR - Pilot - 36 - 156 Sqn - Son of George William and Ethel Taylor of Plumstead, London - Hamburg Cemetery, Germany. (served as BENSON,)
P/O Harold Wolstenhulme RAFVR – Flight Engineer – 37 – 156 Sqn - Son of William Taylor Woolstenhulme and Annie Cotton Woolstenhulme and husband of Amy Woolstenhulme, of Chelsea, London - Hamburg Cemetery, Germany.
Sgt Robert Goldsbury RAFVR – Air Gunner – 21 – 156 Sqn - Son of Robert and Lily E Goldsbury of Ashington, Northumberland - Hamburg Cemetery, Germany.
Henry Benson was awarded a DFC which was gazetted April 1945
Compiled by David Fell with thanks to the Mather family and 156 Sqn website
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