Richard Bentley, born 1897
Pioneering Aviator
Richard Bentley (universally known as Dick Bentley) was an adventurous pioneer of aviation. He emigrated to Canada in his teens, then flew as a young man in the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. He survived the extremely dangerous conditions, and was awarded a Military Cross for bravery. After the war he moved to South Africa, where he joined the South African Air Force. With the financial support of a local newspaper he took unpaid leave to undertake the first solo flight from London to Cape Town, flying in a Tiger Moth with an open cockpit. After three more flights across Africa, he joined Shell-Mex. He flew again for the Royal Air Force, ferrying aircraft, throughout the Second World War.
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