Edwin Benbow
| Edwin Louis Benbow | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Lobo |
| Born |
10 December 1895 Abbotsbury, Dorset, England |
| Died | 30 May 1918 (aged 22) |
| Buried at | Duhallow ADS Cemetery, Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1915–1918 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit |
Royal Field Artillery No. 40 Squadron RFC No. 85 Squadron RAF |
| Awards | Military Cross |
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.
Benbow joined the Royal Field Artillery in February 1915, and served for a year being commissioned a second lieutenant on 27 May 1915. 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. He served his first eight months in aviation as an observer/gunner. He then trained as a pilot, was appointed a flying officer on 7 July 1916, 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.
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.
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. 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.
...
Wikipedia