Benjamin Erwin Plumer

Ben Plumer

RCAF   S/L   -   DFC

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PLUMER, F/L Benjamin Erwin (J10802) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.410 Sq.
Award effective 15 December 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 293/45 dated 16 February 1945

As observer and pilot respectively, Flight Lieutenants Hargrove and Plumer have participated in many sorties. They have displayed a high degree of skill and courage, qualities which were well illustrated one night in October 1944 when they engaged an enemy fighter near Venlo. In the fight, the starboard engine was hit and caught fire. Flight Lieutenant Hargrove quickly put out the fire by means of the extinguishers, as Flight Lieutenant Plumer continued to press home his attack. The engagement ended with the destruction of the enemy aircraft. Flight Lieutenant Plumer afterwards flew his damaged aircraft to an airfield and landed it safely.

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Born 3 November 1917, Bassano, Alberta.
Educated there, 1924-1935.
Took two years engineering, Queen's University (1936-38)
Before returning to farming.
Enlisted in Calgary, 8 March 1941.
Trained at
No.2 ITS Regina (graduated 20 September 1941),
No.19 EFTS Vorden (21 November 1941) and
No.11 SFTS Yorkton (wings 27 March 1942).
Posted to "Y" Depot, 29 March 1942;
Reposted to Central Flying School, Trenton, 26 April 1942
Served at No.5 BGS, 6 June 1942 to 10 September 1943
Arrived in UK 19 September 1943.
Further trained at
No.12 (P) AFC, 10 October 1943 to 29 February 1944
No.51 OTU (1 March to 11 April 1944) and
No.54 OTU (11 April to 21 June 1944)
No.410 Squadron, 21 June 1944 to 2 April 1945

Repatriated September 1945,
Released 18 October 1945.

Cited with F/L William W. Hargrove
(RCAF observer, awarded DFC)

Photo PL-40403 shows him reclining in chair.

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Victories Include :

With 410 Squadron (21 June 1944 to 2 April 1945)

2/3 August 1944
6/7 October 1944
3/4 February 1945
26/26 March 1945   

one Ju188
one Bf110
one He219
one Bf110    		destroyed
destroyed
destroyed
destroyed    		(Nav F/O V.W. Evans)
(Nav F/O W.W. Hargrove) *
(Nav F/O E.H. Collis)
(Nav F/L N.W. Bradford)

With 409 Squadron (2 April to 1 July 1945)

24/25 April 1945 - one FW190 destroyed OTG
(Wittstock w/ P/O H.G. Beynon [Benyon?] as Nav)

* Plumer fired no shots at this plane - seems the pilot either lost control or situational awareness

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--- Canadian Aces ---

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On these pages I use info from the Air force Association of Canada's web site
in Hugh Halliday's excellent Honors & Awards section,
Newspaper articles via the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (CMCC)
as well as other sources both published and private

 

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