Erik Bennett

[Compass Call]

I have just heard that Lieutenant General Erik Bennett, CSOAF 1974 -1990 has passed away.
RIP Sir.

[MPN11]

RIP, Sir. Our excellent OC Fg Wg at Tengah in the late 60s.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/152x213/epb_1c0d244b2f6df255eaa1a44cfa2f1981470fb72d.jpeg

His Wiki entry is decidedly obscure on many aspects of his most interesting career! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Erik_Bennett

[teeteringhead]

CSOAF for much of the time I was there. Arrived as a Gp Capt, left as a 2-Star!

The roundest peg in a round hole.

I once ventured to ask him how he managed to stay in post.

"Well Teeters, every time there's a new CAS or CDS, I go to London to explain that I'm irreplaceable!" ..... and he was just about right.

Close friends with HM Sultan Qaboos bin Said, and HM King Hussein of Jordan. Believe he was best man when the latter married his English bride.

When he negotiated the sale of the Jordanian Hunters to SOAF, he recalled that he'd got them for Jordan in the first place!

His Wiki entry is decidedly obscure on many aspects of his most interesting career! I wonder if the obits in the broadsheets will be less so.........

RIP Sir.

[TCAS FAN]

Met Erik once in Oman when he came up to the Tower to witness the first solo of an Omani who he was teaching to fly the Strikemaster, Being the first Omani to do so Erik had high hopes for him. On award of his wings he was posted to Thumrait (6 Sqdn?) to fly Hunters. Initially went well until he landed one wheels up. Was able to secure a photo of it via a friendly Airworkie, covered in foam, made a superb cover for a home made Christmas card!
Shortly after the Hunter mishap, and departure from SOAF, last I heard of him was flying 737s for Gulf Air, so it did apparently have a happy ending.

[JENKINS]

"Erik the Half a Bee". Or so go the words of the song.. Excellent memories.

[MPN11]

His arrival at Tengah also involved the delivery of his Ferrari, a personal gift from an important foreign person!. Ferrari needed to deploy 2 mechanics to Singapore for the duration to service it!

I remember there was a weekend speed run on the runway between his Ferrari and Gp Capt Lageson’s Austin Healey 3000 … which I suspect Erik won!

[Tengah6871]

His arrival at Tengah also involved the delivery of his Ferrari, a personal gift from an important foreign person!. Ferrari needed to deploy 2 mechanics to Singapore for the duration to service it!

I remember there was a weekend speed run on the runway between his Ferrari and Gp Capt Lageson’s Austin Healey 3000 … which I suspect Erik won!

I was lucky enough to have a ride in the yellow Ferrari in Singapore! I also remember him telling us that when he took his Breitling watch to be serviced in London, they locked the doors and called the police. Apparently, his watch was one of only 5 that had been made specially for heads of state! it took some calls to the Jordanian Embassy to sort that one out!!

[Bill Macgillivray]

Sad news indeed!! Whatever you personally may have thought of him he was the master-mind behind SOAF/RAFO. Flew together many times and agreed/disagreed on many things - but he would always back you up professionally and (not always known!) he was a brilliant host- if slightly unorthodox!
A great character and a great loss.

Bill

[Ian Ord]

I have just heard that Lieutenant General Erik Bennett, CSOAF 1974 -1990 has passed away.
RIP Sir.
This is fake news. Sir Erik is still alive and kicking in Oman.
Best wishes,
Ian

[MPN11]

Just had an e-mail from a Tengah-ite ...
Just had an email from I** O** telling me that as of 2 days ago Erik was alive and kicking. Not sure where his demise story came from but maybe it needs checking/correcting.
Best wishes,

Are reports of his demise premature?
Compass Call ... your source was ...?

[Ian Ord]

I am happy to report that Erik is still alive, as of 18th Sep. Not sure where all this fake news is coming from.

[MPN11]

I am happy to report that Erik is still alive, as of 18th Sep. Not sure where all this fake news is coming from.
Thanks, Ian, and Hello!

[Bill Macgillivray]

Ian, that is great news indeed! How are you doing?

Regards, Bill

[Compass Call]

I saw it on the Dhofar Veterans Facebook site.
Glad it turned out to be wrong.
Sorry to have caused any distress but I thought it was true.

[teeteringhead]

I saw it on the Dhofar Veterans Facebook site. and I think they got it from the Airwork Oman Veterans FB.......

Hope Erik got to read all the good things written about him!

[MPN11]

and I think they got it from the Airwork Oman Veterans FB.......

Hope Erik got to read all the good things written about him!
My thought too, Teeters!

[Barksdale Boy]

He was very welcoming (as PMC, I think) when 101 visited Tengah in early '71.

[Bill Macgillivray]

BB
Yes he was, but I think that 101 was in Tengah in 1970 (at least that is what my log-book says!)

Bill

[Barksdale Boy]

Bill, you are absolutely right - early 1970! My mistake, perhaps down to an excessive celebration of the Mid-Autumn festival. Zhong Qiu Kuai Le to all.

[partsvn]

Sad to say not fake news this time... Erik passed away last night. He was not in good shape in AFH and suffered a heart attack. End of an era.

[MPN11]

Sad to say not fake news this time... Erik passed away last night. He was not in good shape in AFH and suffered a heart attack. End of an era.
Oh, damn. Still, it comes to us all eventually.

Farewell again, Sir.

[Barksdale Boy]

One of the great guys. I remember him fondly.

[Thud_and_Blunder]

I'm one of the lucky ones who will always be in his debt for his looking after the other Loan Service types and me in Oman; he spent time with us (overnight too) out on Ex in the desert, not just an HQ wallah. Near the start of my tour he did my check-ride for the Sultan's flypast in the no.3 position in line astern (half-rotor-span spacing) - wasn't afraid to put himself in the hot seat. Would love to know the full story of the "RTC" on Convoy with HM that one time..

[Bill Macgillivray]

Very sad news indeed, at least he made 94! Unorthodox maybe, but one of the best! Fi Amman Illah Siddi.

[teeteringhead]

A gentleman and a great friend to Oman and the UK. I was once moved to ask him how/why he stayed in Oman as "Loan Service" for so long - he arrived when I was there as a gp capt, and gently eased his way up to 2-star before leaving the RAF.

"Easy thing young Teeters. Every time there's a new CAS or CDS I visit and tell them HM Sultan wouldn't accept any replacement!"

He had his quirks - don't we all - but a top bloke. RIP Siddi. Al baqaa lilliah.

[Dave Roome]

So, despite one false start, Sir EPB has finally 'slipped the surly bonds'. He took over as OC Flying RAF Tengah from Wg Cdr Mike Knight in 1969. The two were chalk and cheese but both excellent officers and very popular indeed. Erik's promises that his Ferrari 275GTB was 'on its way' lasted for a long time, but when it finally arrived it put a whole new meaning to "I'll race you back to the Mess!" after a run ashore downtown Singapore. He also saved my bacon after my 'low level flypast' departure from Tengah on 4 Sep 71 as we ferried our 74 Sqn Lightnings to Cyprus via Gan. The Stn Cdr and the newly promoted Gp Capt Bennett were watching in 'Local' and lost sight of me as I went past the Tower below window level. Peter Latham wanted me recalled and two senior fit its 'fallen in' but EPB promised to punish me himself: he removed my authorisation status on 74 Sqn (which had just disbanded) and with me on my last Lightning F6 trip! When I next met him (in Oman) all he said about it was "Dave, you owe me a beer!" I most certainly did! Blue Skies, Sir Erik.

[Aeroirl]

Recording of Sir Erik's funeral service is available on youtube:Solas Croíúil

youtube.com/watch?v=1A2mSFQ6WOE

Death notice,condolences may be added if desired:

rip.ie/death-notice/sir-erik-bennett-donaghmore-laois/485720

[treadigraph]

Obit in the Telegraph - probably behind a paywall but you can probably register for a free article...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2022/02/13/air-vice-marshal-sir-erik-bennett-chief-omani-air-force-forged/

[reynoldsno1]

He lasted remarkably well. I sat next to him virtually every morning for two years or so in the 80's- he could be difficult, a little mercurial at times, but always fair.
I also appreciated our occasional one on one chats, and his sage advice on many matters.
Thank you, sir.