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CJ Miller Antiques
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British Fighter Pilots 1ww Cowl, Rare.
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WW2 Spitfire Cockpit Clock Relic - G. H. Bennions
Poignant original WWII Second World War Spitfire cockpit antique clock relic, recovered from downed Spitfire X4559 piloted by Flying Officer GH Bennie - Sqn Ldr G H Bennions DFC of 41 Squadron, Essex. The cockpit clock comprises of face and Eight day movement mechanism only, with the dial stamped for Smith & Sons - Mk II - 6A/579 - L9/ 38. AF (as expected). Housed within a period cardboard box. Unique piece of WW2 RAF history.
Bennie - Sqn Ldr G H Bennions DFC was shot down by German BF-109 fighters on October 1st 1940 during the Battle of Britain over Horsham in Sussex. He bailed out of the stricken Spitfire but was badly injured . The Spitfire crashed below, and this clock was presumed to have been salvaged shortly after by souvenir hunters.
George Herman Bennions, DFC (15 March 1913 – 30 January 2004), nicknamed "Ben", was one of the leading Battle of Britain Spitfire pilots.
While stationed at RAF Hornchurch, he recorded his first success on 28 July 1940 when he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 of JG 51. On the following day, after shooting down his second Bf 109, his Spitfire was damaged and he had to crash land in Kent. On 15 August 1940 while on a temporary rest break at RAF Catterick, his squadron was in action against a Luftwaffe force of 120 bombers and 21 Messerschmitt Bf 110 fighters along the Yorkshire coast near Hartlepool. Bennions destroyed one Messerschmitt Bf 110 of I./ZG 76 and damaged another. The squadron returned to Hornchurch and on 5 September Bennions shot down a Junkers Ju 88 and probably destroyed a Bf 109, and the following day two more Bf 109's. He claimed another Bf 109 on 9 September and further successes quickly followed bringing his tally to twelve destroyed (one German bomber, 11 fighters), five probably destroyed, and five damaged, including a Dornier Do 17. On 23 September 1940 he is credited by one source for shooting down Hans-Joachim Marseille over the English Channel. Marseille survived, and would go on to achieve 158 victories to rank as the most successful German ace against the Western Allies.
Bennions was severely wounded on 1 October 1940. That morning Bennions had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and was about to go on leave when he was scrambled (in Spitfire I X4559) to intercept Messerschmitts. He shot down one of the raiders before a shell exploded in his cockpit, blinding him in the left eye and severely damaging his right arm and leg. Badly burned and bleeding heavily he struggled to bail out, and somehow managed to open his parachute before losing consciousness.
He was found in a field near Hatfield, and taken to hospital where swift action saved his right eye, but nothing could be done for the left. Bennions was transferred to Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, where he was one of the first pilots in the care of Sir Archibald McIndoe, the pioneer of plastic surgery for the treatment for severe burns. As one of "Archie's Guinea Pigs", Bennions became a founder member of the Guinea Pig Club. Also, as one who had parachuted to save his life, he was eligible to join the Caterpillar Club.
Following remarkable recovery from these injuries, Bennions became a fighter controller and was promoted to squadron leader. In January 1943 he was mentioned in dispatches. He later served in North Africa as a senior controller and liaison officer with an American Fighter Group equipped with Spitfires. With only a limited flying category he was permitted to fly on convoy patrols but was not allowed to take part in combat operations.
In October 1943, Bennions commanded a Ground control interception unit that was sent ashore at Ajaccio on Corsica. As he left the landing craft, an enemy glide bomb exploded, and he received shrapnel wounds. For the second time he became a patient of McIndoe at East Grinstead. For the rest of the war, Bennions was a senior fighter controller at various units in the North of England.
This piece was purchased from a specialist militaria sale.
Please message my email at the top of the page if I do not reply back to your enquiry through the Antiques Atlas contact form.
SellerCJ Miller Antiques
View all stock from
CJ Miller Antiques
Private dealer
By appointment only
Near Bath
Somerset
Tel : 07879810551
Non UK callers : +44 7879810551
Bennie - Sqn Ldr G H Bennions DFC was shot down by German BF-109 fighters on October 1st 1940 during the Battle of Britain over Horsham in Sussex. He bailed out of the stricken Spitfire but was badly injured . The Spitfire crashed below, and this clock was presumed to have been salvaged shortly after by souvenir hunters.
George Herman Bennions, DFC (15 March 1913 – 30 January 2004), nicknamed "Ben", was one of the leading Battle of Britain Spitfire pilots.
While stationed at RAF Hornchurch, he recorded his first success on 28 July 1940 when he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 of JG 51. On the following day, after shooting down his second Bf 109, his Spitfire was damaged and he had to crash land in Kent. On 15 August 1940 while on a temporary rest break at RAF Catterick, his squadron was in action against a Luftwaffe force of 120 bombers and 21 Messerschmitt Bf 110 fighters along the Yorkshire coast near Hartlepool. Bennions destroyed one Messerschmitt Bf 110 of I./ZG 76 and damaged another. The squadron returned to Hornchurch and on 5 September Bennions shot down a Junkers Ju 88 and probably destroyed a Bf 109, and the following day two more Bf 109's. He claimed another Bf 109 on 9 September and further successes quickly followed bringing his tally to twelve destroyed (one German bomber, 11 fighters), five probably destroyed, and five damaged, including a Dornier Do 17. On 23 September 1940 he is credited by one source for shooting down Hans-Joachim Marseille over the English Channel. Marseille survived, and would go on to achieve 158 victories to rank as the most successful German ace against the Western Allies.
Bennions was severely wounded on 1 October 1940. That morning Bennions had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and was about to go on leave when he was scrambled (in Spitfire I X4559) to intercept Messerschmitts. He shot down one of the raiders before a shell exploded in his cockpit, blinding him in the left eye and severely damaging his right arm and leg. Badly burned and bleeding heavily he struggled to bail out, and somehow managed to open his parachute before losing consciousness.
He was found in a field near Hatfield, and taken to hospital where swift action saved his right eye, but nothing could be done for the left. Bennions was transferred to Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, where he was one of the first pilots in the care of Sir Archibald McIndoe, the pioneer of plastic surgery for the treatment for severe burns. As one of "Archie's Guinea Pigs", Bennions became a founder member of the Guinea Pig Club. Also, as one who had parachuted to save his life, he was eligible to join the Caterpillar Club.
Following remarkable recovery from these injuries, Bennions became a fighter controller and was promoted to squadron leader. In January 1943 he was mentioned in dispatches. He later served in North Africa as a senior controller and liaison officer with an American Fighter Group equipped with Spitfires. With only a limited flying category he was permitted to fly on convoy patrols but was not allowed to take part in combat operations.
In October 1943, Bennions commanded a Ground control interception unit that was sent ashore at Ajaccio on Corsica. As he left the landing craft, an enemy glide bomb exploded, and he received shrapnel wounds. For the second time he became a patient of McIndoe at East Grinstead. For the rest of the war, Bennions was a senior fighter controller at various units in the North of England.
This piece was purchased from a specialist militaria sale.
Please message my email at the top of the page if I do not reply back to your enquiry through the Antiques Atlas contact form.
Price The price has been listed in British Pounds.
Conversion rates as of 4/NOV/2024. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer.
Category Antique Arms and Militaria
Period George VI Antiques
Origin English
Item code as1123a007
Status Sold
£395.00 
$512.75 
€470.41 
$
€
Conversion rates as of 4/NOV/2024. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer.
View all stock from
CJ Miller Antiques
Private dealerBy appointment only
Near Bath
Somerset
Tel : 07879810551
Non UK callers : +44 7879810551
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