Relentless Skies

The Life of Australia's Pioneer Aviator and Wartime Commander Air Vice-Marshal Don Bennett CB CBE DSO FRAeS

Air Vice-Marshal Don Bennett CB CBE DSO FRAeS is best known as the Australian commander of the Royal Air Force's elite Path Finder Force in the Second World War. His drive, determination and passion for excellence saw him play a principal role in prosecuting the bombing campaign against Nazi Germany.

Yet, the full story of his life has never been comprehensively explored. Few can recount his exploits as a pioneering aviator, or know why he was regarded as the most technically brilliant airman of his generation. Fewer still know the man's background, interests, passions and obsessions, or what drove him to his many aviation achievements.

Relentless Skies, Volume 1: The Most Efficient Airman, explores Bennett's life up to 1942. New light is shed on his early years, pilot training, participation in the Centenary Air Race, setting world records in the seaplane Mercury, the 1940 rescue of the Polish General Staff from France and how he survived being shot down whilst attacking the Tirpitz.

Binding together this series of extraordinary events and achievements is, crucially, an exploration of Bennett's character and how it influenced his choices, relationships and approach to leadership. Unparalleled access to the Bennett archive has enabled biographer Ian Campbell to reveal the many facets of one of Australia's greatest, and often misunderstood, wartime leaders.

Volume 2: An Exacting Task will explore Bennett's time leading the Path Finder Force, and his post-war career.

Ian Campbell has had a lifelong interest in military history. Growing up behind the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, he spent many hours wandering the halls thoroughly absorbed in the displays. His wise mother fostered his love of reading and history by introducing him very early to the works of Paul Brickhill.

Ian has qualifications in History and Politics from the Australian National University. After a varied career in the government, private and not-for-profit sectors, he retired to research and write. His first book, Thinks He's a Bird, about Australian Pathfinder and Lancaster pilot, Flight Lieutenant Keith Watson, was released in 2022.

Ian is currently curator of the Bennett/Vial Archive at the Queensland Air Museum. This archive comprises three collections, of which AVM Don Bennett's private collection is one.

Ian and his wife, Kathy, have lived in many places in Australia, as well as New Zealand and Canada. They now live in Brisbane. When circumstances permit, they love to travel, but he has vowed never to move house again.