Erik Bennett
 

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

RIP, Sir. Our excellent OC Fg Wg at Tengah in the late 60s.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....1470fb72d.jpeg

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

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!

I wonder if the obits in the broadsheets will be less so.........

RIP Sir.

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.

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

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!

The Breitling Watch!
 

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!!

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

Sir Erik Bennett
 

This is fake news. Sir Erik is still alive and kicking in Oman.
Best wishes,
Ian

Just had an e-mail from a Tengah-ite ...
Are reports of his demise premature?
Compass Call ... your source was ...?

Sir Erik Bennett
 

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!

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

Regards, Bill

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.

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!

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

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

Bill

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.

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.