Don Bennett

Donald Bennett
Air Vice Marshal Don Bennett c. 1943–44
Member of Parliament for Middlesbrough West
In office 14 May 1945 – 5 July 1945
Preceded by	Harcourt Johnstone
Succeeded by	Geoffrey Cooper
Personal details
Born	Donald Clifford Tyndall Bennett 14 September 1910 Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
Died	15 September 1986(1986-09-15) (aged 76) Slough, Berkshire, England
Political party	Conservative (1944) Liberal (1945–1950) National (1967) National Independence (1970s)
Military service
Allegiance	Australia United Kingdom
Branch/service	Royal Australian Air Force (1930–31, 1935–36) Royal Air Force (1931–35, 1941–45)
Years of service	1930–1936 1940–1945
Rank	Air vice marshal
Commands	No. 8 (Pathfinder Force) Group (1943–45) Pathfinder Force (1942–43) No. 10 Squadron (1942) No. 77 Squadron (1941–42)
Battles/wars	Second World War
Awards	Companion of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order King's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air Order of Alexander Nevsky (USSR)
Other work	Director of British South American Airways

Air Vice Marshal Donald Clifford Tyndall Bennett, CB, CBE, DSO (14 September 1910 – 15 September 1986) was an Australian aviation pioneer and bomber pilot who rose to be the youngest air vice marshal in the Royal Air Force. He led the "Pathfinder Force" (No. 8 Group RAF) from 1942 to the end of the Second World War in 1945. He has been described as "one of the most brilliant technical airmen of his generation: an outstanding pilot, a superb navigator who was also capable of stripping a wireless set or overhauling an engine".