The Wartime Memories Project - RAF Benson

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Information. RAF Benson is situated in Oxfordshire, during world war two it was home to the Mosquitos of the PRU. Today RAF Benson is still in use as a front line support helicopter base in Joint Helicopter Command at the age of 21 years I was called up to join the RAF. I had to report to Somerset House in London. I was billeted in RAF Benson in Oxford. I worked in the Laundry and in the canteen. I met Paddy Finnegan (The legless Pilot) and Vera Lynn “the forces Sweetheart”. She came to RAF Benson to entertain the troops by singing “The white cliffs of Dover”. After she had entertained the troops she came and had tea with me and my colleagues. She also took a photograph of us all. I was a corporal in the RAF and my men used to call me “Titch”. I served between 1940 and 1944. I was often moved about, when in the RAF, sometimes I was in the laundry doing the airmen’s bundles and sometimes I was in the canteen. I still have a scar on my hand, where I opened hundreds of tins of corned beef! I didn’t mind and during the War you just had to get on with it and do as you were told. I also packed the parachutes. This was obviously a very important job, because if you got it wrong, lives depended on it! Lena Harrison My father, Anthony Peter Hollick, served in the RAF, joining as I recall in 1933. He flew Hawker Harts in the Middle East prior to the war. During the first part of the war he was in Bomber Command flying Stirlings, but later flew PRU Mosquito's based at RAF Benson. Before he died he managed to throw away most of his memorabilia, including his logbooks which I really wanted to inherit. Does anyone remember him or have any information about him? Squadrons stationed at RAF Benson during the Second World War. 540 Squadron Photographs If you have any Photographs you would like to share please get in touch. List of those who served. Wing Commander A H W Ball, DSO, DFC WAAF Cpl. Lena "Titch" Crawford Read her Story Anthony Peter Hollick. Read his Story Squadron Leader George Watson. 540 Squadron. If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed, please get in touch. If you have a story which you would like to share, or a website dedicated to an airfield or aircrew, please get in touch. Send an E-mail to The Wartime Memories Project Links Airfields Index The Wartime Memories Project is a non profit organisation. This website is run out of our own pockets and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources. If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running. Or by cheque to: PO Box 325, Stockton on Tees, TS20 1XL. Website and ALL Material © Copyright MMII - All Rights Reserved