F. Malcolm Benitz	Page last modified:
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Brief Bio. >  WW-II  :  Training  104 Squadron  Wounded  Capture  POW  Escape  Redeployed  Demobilized  Mail

Frank Malcolm Benitz, DFC
104 Bomber Squadron
England, Malta, Egypt
1941-1942

During Malcolm's time with 104 Squadron (July, 1941 – November, 1942), he was based at:

• 27 July 1941: Posted to 104 Squadron, Driffield, Yorkshire (England) – night ops over Europe.
• 17 October 1941: Detached to Luqa (Malta) – for ops to Libya, Sicily, and Italy.
• 3 January 1942: squadron moved to Kabrit (Egypt)
• 30 April to about 1 November, 1942 – Wounded & on medical leave
• 7–22 November 1942: Air test, then flew to Aqir (Palestine), & on to: Kabrit, LG-224, LG-104, Helio, Kabrit, Bilbeis, LG-104, Malta.
• 23 November 1942 at Luqa (Malta): Ops to Bizerta (Tunisia)
• 27 November 1942: Op to Gerbini (Sicily), ditched in Mediterranean, & taken P.O.W.

Anecdotes

• When returning from ops to Italy, if Malcolm had bombs that had remained hung up, he would drop them on Vesuvius in the hope of causing an eruption.  (Apparently without success.)
• Not knowing if he would return from his next op, Malcolm saw no reason for saving his wages.  In his words, he spent it all, on "Wine, women, and song".
• Malcolm was furious when another pilot grounded his aircraft.  Apparently Malcolm always circled in the same direction to check whether a bomb release had hit its target – the same direction as when circling the base airfield during take-off and landing.  However, this pilot had tried to circle in the opposite direction – but could not, the aircraft would not turn.
• Take offs from desert airfields were rushed for they had to climb into higher cooler air before the engines overheated.

Driffield, Yorkshire (July-October, 1942)

(His log-books are currently misplaced, ahem... tups)

Malcolm’s Africa Note Book (April-December, 1942):

Malcolm's dated entries begin on April 25, 1942, and ends on December 20, 1942.  He made brief dated notes about his flights, probably for later inclusion in his official log-book.  His notes are undated while on medical leave (pages 3–16) – wounded night of April 29/30, he returned to duty in early November.  His dated entries resume on November 7 when he begins flying again and ends on December 20 with an account of his first days as a POW.  The notebook contains names and addresses of many people, some of whom he met as a POW – these entries were probably added at reunions (pub crawls?) in London after escaping.

The record of his flights immediately prior to ditching and the events immediately after his capture is more detailed than would be expected if written purely from memory a year later (i.e. after escaping).  Therefore, we believe the notebook most likely remained with his kit in Malta, and he transcribed these last entries from an unknown source after he escaped & returned to London.  If the notebook had been on his person when he ditched, it would have been soaked and the earlier dated entries in ink would have smudged or run.

Air Fields mentioned: Malcolm flew from or to airfields and landing grounds (LG) in north Africa, Egypt, and Palestine.   In this note-book, he refers to them by name or LG number (we show his term in bold):

• Aqir: in Palestine, today Tel Nof Israeli Air Force Base.
• Bilbeis (LG-208): city at the southern edge of the Nile delta; today the Egyptian Air Force Academy.
• Helio (LG-218): Heliopolis, today Cairo Int'l Airport & Almaza Air Base.
• Kabrit (LG-213): a major airfield on the south shores of the Great Bitter Lake, Suez Canal; today Kibrit Air Base, Egypt.
• LG-104 (Qotafiyh II): 15k west of El Daba, near Mediterranian coast 300k north-west of Cairo; today nonexistant, scrubland.
• LG-106: 20k east of El Daba, near Mediterranean coast 300k north-west of Cairo; today nonexistant, sand.
• LG-224 (Cairo West): 25k west of Cairo; today Giza Sphinx Int'l Airport & Cairo West Air Base.
• Malta (Luqa): today Malta Int'l Airport.

RAF ranks mentioned: C/O: Commanding Officer (likely either a Gp/Capt or Wg/Cdr); Gp/Capt: Group Captain; Wg/Cdr: Wing Commander, Sqn/Ldr: Squadron Leader; Flt/Lt: Flight Lieutenant; Fg/Off: Flying Officer; Plt/Off: Pilot Officer; Flt/Sgt: Flight Sergeant.  Malcolm abbreviated the ranks to just two letters, e.g. F/O - Flying Officer.

Decorations mentioned: D.S.O.: Distinguished Service Order; D.F.C.: Distinguised Flying Cross; D.F.M.: Distinguished Flying Medal; "... and Bar": a second award of the same decoration

Page Image	Transcription	Notes
	F/O.   F. M. Benitz   J.45035	Front Cover Size of nobebook: 10.6 x 6.8 cm.
	Wellington House 54145	Inside Front Cover Today, likely the "The Wellington Hotel & Public House" near the Waterloo train station, at 81-83 Waterloo Road, London.
	Addresses. John Sams. Fred Haynes. Fred Honey Dick Sitcliffe Sid Wilson. John Harper. Fred Balfour Ricky’s Parents. Ginger Hills. John Morton. Dinghy W/co Beare   Jan. 637.90 line Les Bradford Tail Gunner 33 ops P.O.W.	Page 1
	Ray E. Hamilton Dawsons Creek. B.C. Canada C.F. Dack 10 South View   East Denton    Newcastle.5. G.R. Allen 20 King Street  Swaffham. Norfolk	Page 1, back   The ink on this page differs from the front of Page 1 and 2 (pages above and below), which suggests these addresses were likely added at a later date.  Ray Hamilton and Malcolm were both in London during November, 1943. Ray E. Hamilton: His daughter recognized his handwriting at left.  Per Malcolm's escape diary, on Sep. 22, 1943, Hamilton & 2 others left the group of escapees sheltering at the Grotta del Cavallone – he reached the Allied lines at Campobasso on Oct. 25.
	April 25       R. Self. Davies Hills  McColl    Roberts   flt. Test.    Wilson    X 19 11. 23 41 4.30  Helio 08 42  0922. .40   "  1400 1405 .05. Shot up by Helio defences.–(Kabrit bombed)  601 - 244 W.  Mike	Page 2   “R” & “X” - aircraft IDs within squadron Flight times, e.g.:  19.11 takeoff  23:41 landing  4.30 duration. "Helio" = Heliopolis, a friendly RAF base !!
	[blank]	Page 2, back
	April 28.   Crew. P.   19:50  02:15   6.25 P. Oil U.S. Press.	Page 3   “P” aircraft ID within squadron. Flight times:  19.50 takeoff  02:15 landing  6:25 duration
	WILL CONTINUE. WRITING DIRECT TONS LOVE	Page 3, back Script of a telegram.  Telegrams were costly, charged by the word including ‘STOP’ for any period, i.e. this telegram has 6 words.
	F/LT. D.J. Brown, Donald James    Clovely, 90 Oxstalls Road      Gloucester    (had it) F/Lt. Henry Neil Blundell    Evening Post.     Wellington N.Z. David Kirker Bradley    44 Maryville Park     Belfast	Page 4
	[blank]	Page 4, back
	Ex Navigator. P/O J. C. H. Blackburn     306 N. Marks St.     Fort William. Ontario. F/O A. M. Beach  D.F.C.     4474 W 4th     Vancouver B.C. W/Co. Phillip Robert Beare  DFC. DSO.     National Provincial Bank Ltd     Claphams Junctions Branch	Page 5
	Lt. Bob Weigand, U.S. Army  1714 Northcutt Ave  Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A.	Page 5, back Lt. - Lieutenant
	C/O. John Peter Bailey   Mrs. L. Allington   c/o 5c. Market Hill    Cambridge. F/Lt Beale. H.H.  DFC   Papetete Station   Se Puiâ Springs   Gisborne . N.Z.	Page 6
	[blank]	Page 6, back
	Jack Norris Cockroft.   65 Bayslate Moor Rd.    Bamford . Rockdale   2nd Dicky. Philip Dawson   50 Forest Rd. Aberdeen M. S. S. Dickinson   10 Windmill Lane    Ashbourne . Derbyshire	Page 7 2nd Dicky – term for a pilot flying with an operationally-seasoned crew to gain experience prior to taking his own assigned crew out on their first operation
	A. MacDonald Hogarth  Merton Wells   Dalby    Queensland     Australia	Page 7, back
	P.G. 78 ! Dick Ellis  Mr Robert Ellis   The Hill.    Blackford . Carlisle John George Grey.  D.F.C.   Milburn Otago    N.Z. W. D. W. Knight 2084620 ACW2 Knight J.   Hut S.16.   SHQ . R.A.F. Weston.     Lancs.	Page 8 P.G. 78 might apply to just Elllis or everyone on this page. P.G. 78 - (Prigione di Guerra 78) POW camp at Fonte d'Amore, next to Sulmona, east of Rome, where FMB was a POW.
	252 Turney Rd.    Dulwich. London SE21 Art McKelvey,   R.A.F.    Milfield     Northd.	Page 8, back
	J.C. Morton. X  2nd Dicky   109 George St.    Higher Broughton     Salford 8. Lancs. A.H. Palmer   Eston House    Eston, Middlesborough C.S.W. Proctor   248 Heath Strt. W. (Apt 5)    Toronto	Page 9 2nd Dicky - see page 7.
	W.D. FINLASON   366 ST KILDA STREET    BRIGHTON     VICTORIA      AUSTRALIA	Page 9, back
	Ricky Ganet Graham Retallack.   Mr N.M. Retallack    336 Moffat Ave.     Verdun, Quebec.  Killed on Ops. July ’42. Stephen Storey. DFC.   19 Oliver Rd.    Loughborough. Leicest. PETER CAMPBELL √   3. OVERDALE Rd. Tripoli |  Durban Bari  |   Natal. S.A.	Page 10 The note next to Peter Campbell, Tripoli, Bari, suggests he may have been a fellow POW on the submarine that took FMB from Tripoli to Bari.
	small arrow up, toggle, large arrow up "hirlther" angled left arrow "Landing Gear" right arrow "gauges" right arrow "Breaker Switches behind Dead"	Page 10, back
	William C. Sproule.   Mrs G H. Kaye    Grand Bay   1st & Best navigator. John Hamilton Sams.  Mrs. H. Sams.  D.F.C   Nearcroft, near Christchurch    Hamps. H.W. Shillings  38 Wandle Court Gardens    Beddington. Surrey	Page 11
	[blank]	Page 11, back
	1st – 2nd W/Op. F/O Richard. L. G. Sutchiffe   Fernlea   53 London Rd. Canterbury    Kent H. J. Tait (owes me £7.!)   9 Tapioi Strt.    Hataitai. Wellington.      N.Z. Neil Doougall Watkins   21 Favell Strt.    Heathcote    Christchurch      N.Z.	Page 12 W/Op. - Wireless Operator
	R. G. Lleivellyne 316 Lincoln St. Johnstown, Penna.   U.S.A. LEO B. MARGOLIANT 427 WASHINGTON ST. BROOKLINE, MASS.   U.S.A.	Page 12, back
	DFC ? Ralph. Stanley White   75 Bluken Strt.   Orilla. Ontario Young. Henry Melvin  Mrs. H. G. M. Young.    117 Fore Strt.     Hertford. Amesbury 28 !      D.F.C. Bar.	Page 13 Young apparenty attended Amesbury grammar school the year before FMB.
	[blank]	Page 13, back
	1st W/Op. 30 ops. F/Sgt. F.W.G. Honey   23 Church Street    New Hinksey Fred.   Oxon. E. P. Haynes   170 Kingston Road.    Oxford.  2nd Dickey 20 ops.	Page 14 W/Op. - Wireless Operator Ops. - Operational flights 2nd Dicky - see page 7.
	83½ (12) W/Co. Bragg 10   -4 -2   Hodgson. 20   +10 +8   Margolian 20   +10 +8   Campbell 10   -4 -2   Hogarth 10   -2 -2   Llewellyn 10   -2 -2   Benitz 10   -2 -2  15     7  2	Page 14, back See Page 15, back.
	Old friend at Driffield J. P. Cooper (Rear Gunney)   Folham House   Brighton Road.     Sutton. Surrey X Jack Robertson’s Crew. Driff. F/O A. C. Burnett.  DFM.   School House   Fontley    Nr. Fareham Hants P.O.W. Bureau   B.R. Cross   9 Sharia Malika Farida     Cairo.	Page 15 Driffield was the airfield in England where FMB first joined 104 Squadron, July 1941.
	W/Co. Bragg. T.Brush Posit 8½   Hodgson T.Brush 8½   Margolian (20.) 8½   Campbell 8½   Benitz 8½   Hogarth 8½   Llewellyn 8½   Ink 4   Toilet Roll 3   Mirror 5   T. Paste. 2.  12.       11 each. 83½	Page 15, back See Page 14, back. Shopping list includes 8½ each for something (beer?).  Possibly based at a desert landing ground, the list could have been given to FMB when on a flight to a less desolate place (Cairo or Malta?).
	4th Navigator. Killed on Ops. Malta. G. R. C. Davis   2469 Queen Strt. East    Toronto A. McColl (Killed at Malta)   Mr R. McColl    7 Kerr St.     Paisley Lancs. Margaret.  P.O. Box. 222 S.W.D.O.    Howick Place     London. S.W.1.	Page 16 Margaret Douglas (1918 - 2016; m: Cooper) She and Malcolm were members of the same social group in Argentina before the war.  Her parents owned estancia “La Panchita” in Córdoba, west of estancia “La California”.  He was “sweet” on her and they wrote each other when he was a POW.  She joined the WRNS and, unknown to him, worked at Bletchly Park.  (See his letters to her when a POW & his escape diary, pages 11, 16, & 17).
	[blank]	Page 16, back
	7th X _ Air Test F/Sgt Morrison   11.55 _ 12.15.   .20       X To AQIR   12.25 – 1.45. 1.20       8/11/42 AQIR – Kabrit.   Solo _ 8.30. 9.55. 1.25 9/11 Kabrit to 224LG   4 Pass. 1.00	Page 17 “X” aircraft ID within squadron Pass. - probably "Passengers" Solo - single aircraft, alone?
	13/11/ G   104 to 2224   Scotty 1.10       224 to 104 G  Cpl –  Scotty – 1.10 F/O K. P. W. Cope  5th New.  Killed on ops. Malta  Nov 26  42.  Mother in London	Page 17, back “G” aircraft ID within squadron.
	[sums]	Page 18
	16-11-42 G Self.  104 to Helio 1.15   Z8573 Sgt. Harborow    & crew   16-11-42 H.     Z8659 Self. Helio     to 104   +30 crates beer. 1.15 17-11-42 G.  P/O Blogg 115     Sgt. Hawes to Helio    Clarke   20.  S.     F/Sgt Wiggins   4 Pass. Kabrit – Bilbeis 30	Page 18, back "G", "H", & "S” aircraft IDs within squadron Z8573 & Z8659 - aircraft serial numbers Harborow, Blogg, & Wiggins likely his navigators Pass. - probably "Passengers"
	Cope – 6 Can –  48     20 Players  .10          58    .35    .45    1.30	Page 19
	21/11/42 P/O Blogg.        Bilbeis    104 1.40 22/11/42 Self     Sgt Thrower  Crew    104 to Malta   4 Pass 6.05	Page 19, back Blogg & Thrower were likely his navigators
	F/O HOLLISTER √  officers mess  Eastleigh Aerodrome    Nairobi    Kenya Sent log-book	Page 20
	24/11/ Self Ops    "S." Crew  Bizerta    Bombs back 5.00 24/11/42  "   " 4.15  Q  9000' Deck  2 sticks.   26/11/42 Air Test. .40 26/11/42 —— 2.50 26/11/42 —— 2.45 Force Landed.	Page 20, back "S" & "Q" aircraft IDs within squadron Bizerta - port in Tunisia Deck - cloud ceiling, at 9000 ft. Stick - release of a string of bombs The notes in blue ink were most likely added much later – see our discussion above. Force Landed - Night of 26-27 Nov.  Took off at 00:10, bombed German Luftwaffe airfield at Gerbini, Sicily (23 km. inland from Catania).  Ditched near Malta. Aircraft: "Q" - s/n: W5550.
	Anne Belcham   Flat 17.    173 Av. Fuad 1es     Lamalik. Tel. 46924. R.A.F. Melfield.  Northd.	Page 21 At least 18 pages were torn out between pages 20 & 21. Page 21, back (shown below) The writing in blue ink suggests it may have been added later, during or after his escape from Italy (see noes top re notebook).  We discuss the events on this page in more detail when describing his rescue & capture.
	5/12/42 Picked up. Italian Hosp Ship Bill Thrower. Parkinson. Haxton. Jones. 6/12/42 Tripoli. Taken to Surg Hosp. Hair   Showed & Shave _ in Bed. Stooges in evening 7/12/42 In bed all day. Shower. Watch taken   In evening to Med Hosp. 8/12/42 In bed all day. Given Ital.Uniform 9/12/42 Taken to Trig el Terhim in afternoon   crew & 20 prisoners to Swanee 9-18/12/42 All 7 officers & 9 men to Terhuna.   50 m.S.Tripoli. Lorry broke down on way   Met Mather & Maloney. No food for supper 19/.  Shower – better food. 20/  To Comm Tappa to await sub. Met
		Back Cover, Inside ( Game of battleships & submarines? )
	[blank]	Back Cover
	15/10/43 Col. Simmonds. Termoli Capt McKenna   “ Major Fellingham  N Section C/O TAU. HQ “A” Force   HQ 15 Army Group     near Bari	Insert, side 1 It is very likely he made these notes soon after reaching the Allied forces following his escape from POW camp, October 1943.
	Amesbury ‘29 – ‘32 Carroll Mather  Myddelton.  Rockhampton.   London S.W.15	Insert, side 2 See Insert, side 1