caption serviceyears laterwork branch commands death_date death_place birth_name birth_place allegiance awards battles birth_date nickname rank image article_title name
bennett as an air vice marshall 1930 -- 1936 1940 -- 1945 director of british south american airways australia 1931-1935 , 1941-45 -rrb- -lrb- 1930-31 , 1935-36 -rrb- united kingdom -lrb- 77 squadron 10 squadron pathfinder force 15 september 1986 slough , berkshire donald clifford tyndall bennett toowoomba , queensland british empire companion the order of the british empire distinguished service order order of of alexander nevsky the order of the bath commander of world war ii 14 september 1910 don air vice-marshal air marshal d c t bennett ch13645.jpg don bennett
 donald clifford tyndall bennett
don bennett

air vice-marshal donald clifford tyndall bennett cb cbe dso -lrb- 14 september 1910 -- 15 september 1986 -rrb- 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 '' -lrb- no. 8 group raf -rrb- 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 '' .
