An extraordinary man with an extraordinary past.
Lawrence Seymour ‘Benny’ Goodman's memorial service will be held at St Clement Danes on Friday 4th February 2022; one of the last surviving wartime RAF Lancaster Pilots on 617 Squadron.
"At 100 years old, Squadron Leader Goodman still has the exceptional ‘can do’ spirit of his generation. Remarkably, on every occasion, he arrives on his own, in the car sent for him, and leaves alone as if he were still a young lad. He is a man of outstanding humility, kindness and good humour and always asks, ‘Why am I being honoured? I’m not a hero…I was only doing my duty just like everyone else."
Wing Commander Walters
617 Squadron Association Chairman
Benny lent his brilliant flying abilities and dedication to an incredibly career in the RAF during the Second World War and beyond, continuing his services into retirement by contributing hugely to remembering the sacrifices made during the conflict and reconciling the damaged relationships caused by it.
Benny was born in 1920 and soon joined the Officer Training Corps at school. He then completed an electrical engineering course, before joining the family film and advertising business in London.
Destined for an incredible military career, Benny trained as a RAF Pilot before leaving for Canada as a flying instructor on 31 Service Flying Training School. He returned to the UK aboard a troop ship, which was attacked enroute but saved by an escorting US destroyer taking the hit from the fired torpedo.
The next major career highlight deemed Benny above average and worthy of joining the experienced 617 (Dambusters) Squadron, in 1944. The Squadron were famous for their talented flying, dropping bombs, and monumental role in destroying the Dams that provided water and a huge amount of power to German, during Operation Chastise. With 617 Squadron, Benny flew many raids and over 30 operational missions dropping ‘Tallboy’ bombs from Lancasters; a bomb that produced an 11-second delay fuse to allow maximum penetration, before exploding to create an ‘earthquake’ effect. The Lancasters were later modified to drop heavier Barnes Wallis’s ‘Grand Slam’ bombs; the biggest non-nuclear air-dropped conventional weapon during the War.
With 617 (Dambuster) Squadron, Benny attacked E-Boat and U-Boat pens at Rotterdam, Norway, the Netherlands, and Hamburg, and destroyed transport routes used by the Germans to bring reinforcements to the front line in the West.
"The German pilot was staring at us and we back at him. I was wondering what to. Fortunately, I think he’d run out of ammunition as he had been firing at another of our aircraft. He just sat there for what felt like hours but Bill later told me it was just under a minute."
Benny Goodman
Notably, Benny helped destroy the viaducts in the German city of Arnsberg in 1945 by releasing the final bomb that devastated the infrastructure; a mission which profoundly impacted Benny’s later life. Prior efforts to destroy the viaduct create significant civilian casualties, including the horrific death of school children.
Benny later strove to repair the damage caused to the relationship with the people of Arnsberg, frequently visiting the city and forming many friendships until health prevented his travel - and then continuing contact via telephone. Benny even attended Arnsberg’s 50th anniversary commemorations of the casualties during the raids he was involved in.
"We find solace in the memory of our friendship. When Benny visited our city for the first time 26 years ago, he spoke very friendly, warm heartfelt words to the people of Arnsberg. During many visits in the following years, Benny was always a welcome guest and his cheerfulness opened everyone’s hearts."
Mayor of Arnsberg
With the end of the Second World War, Benny flew Stirlings at Transport Command, taking nurses to the Far East and returning liberated Prisoners of War home. He then joined the Auxiliary Air Force, flying Spitfires at RAF Hendon.
Benny was called upon to aid the Berlin Airlift, which saw American and British pilots deliver supplies to Berliners, while the Soviet Union blocked access to sectors of Berlin under Western control. Then, Benny briefly flew with 80 Squadron and toured in the Air Ministry, before leaving the RAF in 1964 to re-join his family film and advertisement business in London.
Upon retirement, Benny remained active supporting many charities by attending events as a distinguished guest and raising significant funds; including the 617 Squadron Association, RAF Benevolent Fund, and International Bomber Command Centre.
He also had a huge impact educating our Next Generation of the Armed Forces, school children, and the general public around the world; divulging his experience through historical presentations and RAF Museum’s ‘Hidden Heroes’ events.
Benny even strove to commemorate the achievements and sacrifices made by the Bomber Command and other individuals during World War Two, preserving their stories in the Defence Studies Oral History Programme – in which he particularly focussed on Jewish RAF wartime personnel.
In later life, Benny earned his British and American Civil Pilot’s licences, flying his own Piper Comanche. However, after an incredibly fulfilled life which saw a heroic service that formed the way we live today, and a lasting legacy to repair damaged relationships and educate the future, Benny died aged 100 on the 18th July 2021.
Benny’s medals and memorabilia have been secured by the RAF Museum, where they are due to be featured in their new Bomber Command exhibition. Benny was one of the last surviving wartime RAF Lancaster Pilots on 617 Squadron, but his good friend and fellow Dambuster Lancaster Pilot ‘Joppie’ Joplin from the Royal New Zealand Air Force still survives.
