P.O. L.B. Benson DFM
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| First name(s): |
Leslie Bernard |
| Rank: |
Pilot Officer |
| Number: |
177992 |
| Regiment etc. |
49 Sqdn RAFVR |
| Date Died: |
22nd June 1944 |
| Cemetery/Memorial |
Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany
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Leslie Benson was the youngest son of George and Ada Alice Benson, of 43 Strawberry Dale Avenue, Harrogate.
He was educated at Harrogate Grammar School, and before the war, he worked in the Harrogate Corporation's Borough Treasurer's office.
He joined the RAF in 1940 and was commissioned in June 1944. In the same month he was also awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal, the citation for which read:
"Flight Sgt. Benson has completed numerous operations against the enemy, in the course of which, he has invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty."
His DFM was deemed to take effect from 21st June 1944, the day before he was killed flying as the navigator in Lancaster LL900 E-AT of 49 Squadron, which was based at Fiskerton, in Lincolnshire.
On the night of 21/22nd June 1944, the Lancaster was outbound to its target at Wesseling, when it was intercepted and shot down by a German night-fighter. The bomber crashed in the vicinity of Julich-Mersch, killing everyone on board, including a Mr Kent Stevenson, who was a war correspondent for the BBC. All the crew, including Kent Stephenson, are buried in Rheinburg War Cemetery.