BENCE, Leonard Pendrell
| Service Number: | 422915 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 June 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Flying Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 106 Squadron (RAF) |
| Born: | Burra, South Australia, 9 May 1923 |
| Home Town: | Burra (SA), Goyder, South Australia |
| Schooling: | St Peter's College, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Jackeroo and Ledger Keeper Bank of Australia |
| Died: | Burra, South Australia, 27 July 2022, aged 99 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 20 Jun 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 422915, No. 4 Initial Training School Victor Harbor | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Sep 1942: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 422915, No.1 Elementary Flying Training School Parafield, Empire Air Training Scheme, Adelaide, South Australia | |
| 1 Feb 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 422915, No. 6 Service Flying Training School Mallala, Empire Air Training Scheme | |
| 5 Aug 1943: | Embarked Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 422915, RAAF Personnel / Embarkation / Holding Units | |
| 1 Sep 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 422915, 6 Advanced Flying Unit (RAF), Empire Air Training Scheme | |
| 5 Jun 1944: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 422915, Operational Training Units (RAF), Empire Air Training Scheme, 16 OTU Upper Heywood | |
| 10 Sep 1944: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, Operational Training Units (RAF) | |
| 1 Oct 1944: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 422915, No. 106 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45 | |
| 15 Mar 1945: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, No. 106 Squadron (RAF) | |
| 1 Oct 1945: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 422915, No. 106 Squadron (RAF) |
Help us honour Leonard Pendrell Bence's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Steve Larkins
Leonard Pendrell BENCE (1923-2022)
Leonard Pendrell Bence was born in Burra, South Australia on 9 May 1923. He subsequently completed his secondary education at St Peter's Collegiate School in Adelaide.
Later he worked as a book keeper and jackaroo at Kellendi Station, a pastoral property at Pillaga in Central New South Wales.
After the war broke oout he enlisted in the RAAF, in Adelaide, on 20 June 1942, and proceeded to No. 4 Initia Training Scvhool as an aircrewman candidate. He was screened for pilot training and began the extensive pilot training continuum, detailed in the service history section of this site.
Selected as a bomber pilot, he completed the advanced flying training pahses of his training in the UK and he 'crewed up' at 116 Operational Training Unit. He and his crew were assigned to No. 106 Squadron (RAF) at RAF Metheringham in Lincolnshire. His first mission was nearly their last, being 'coned' by searchlights, hit by flack over the target and attacked by two night fighters on the way home inflicting damage which slowed their return, but fortunately with no casualties.
He and his crew survived a full 30 mission tour including one arduous 12 hour sortie to Norway.
Included in this record is an impressive collecion of target maps and other records relating to his service.
More to follow.
Audio
Interview with Leonard Bence This interview was recorded as part of a combined oral history project conducted by Veterans SA, the Returned & Services League of Australia, the Vietnam Veterans’ Association, the Vietnam Veterans’ Federation, and the University of South Australia (UniSA). The project’s executive director was Lieutenant Colonel Bill Denny AM BM; the interviewer was Dr Nigel Starck (UniSA honorary senior research fellow). The narrative contains personal recollections and is not presented as an official statement of service.
Duration 11hr 58min 19sec. Recorded by Nigel Starck on 22 Jul 2022
Click images to start slideshow.