World War II
During 1940 Bennett's long-distance expertise was set to work setting up the Atlantic Ferry Organization tasked with the wartime delivery of thousands of aircraft manufactured in the United States and Canada to the United Kingdom. At that time, a transatlantic flight was a significant event, but the Atlantic Ferry project proved remarkably successful and demonstrated that with suitable training even inexperienced pilots could safely deliver new aircraft across the North Atlantic.
Bennett was recommissioned in 1941 In the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as a Squadron Leader, his first task was to oversee the formation The Elementary Air Navigation School, Eastbourne, for the initial training of observers (later navigators). However he was promoted to Wing Commander, and appointed to the command of 77 Squadron, based at RAF Leeming flying Whitleys in 4 Group, Bomber Command, on 7 December 1941.
In April 1942, 77 Squadron was transferred to RAF Coastal Command and Bennett was given command of 10 Squadron (Handley-Page Halifax) and shortly afterwards led a raid on the German battleship Tirpitz. Shot down during that raid, he evaded capture and escaped to Sweden, from where he was able to return to Britain; he and his copilot were awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on 16 June 1942.
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