Russell Charles Bennett, LCol (Ret’d)

Russ passed away on 9 January 2025, nine days before his 90th birthday, at Camp Hill Veterans Memorial Building in Halifax. Born on 18 January 1935 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Russ was the third of five children to Cedric and Evelyn (Robertson) Bennett.

Despite his many accomplishments, Russ was a humble man who commanded attributes too numerous to list. He will be remembered for his wide-ranging intelligence, insatiable curiosity, and razor-sharp wit. His thirst for excitement and adventure led not only to a long and storied career in aviation, but also the pursuit of diverse hobbies and interests as well as exploits too numerous to mention. His life-long adventures were shared with Myrna, his devoted wife of nearly 70 years, who loved his “cheeky smile” more than anyone.

Russ met Myrna in the RCAF, which he joined in 1952 at age 17. Russ first completed basic training at RCAF Station St. Jean, Quebec, before trade training as an airframe technician at Camp Borden, Ontario, after which he was posted to RCAF Station Trenton.

In 1954, Russ applied for remuster to aircrew. A short course at the RCAF Officer Training School in London, Ontario, was followed by flying training school at RCAF Station Penhold, Alberta, to begin the nine-month pilot training course on the Harvard aircraft. Upon graduation, he was commissioned at the rank of Pilot Officer and trained on T33 jets at the Advanced Flying School in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. After earning his wings, he was posted to Gimli, Manitoba, as a flying instructor. In 1956, Russ was transferred to RCAF McDonald, Manitoba, to serve as an instructor at the Advanced Flying School. Following successful training on the F86 Sabre at Chatham, New Brunswick, Russ was posted to France, where he flew with 430 Fighter Squadron from 1959-62. The Sabre, Russ always said, was his favourite plane. His subsequent transfer back to Canada included a two-year posting to Gimli, followed by Training Command Headquarters in Winnipeg.

In 1966, a formation aerobatic team was formed to celebrate Canada's centennial in 1967. Russ and eight other pilots formed the Golden Centennaires, who would later become Canada’s renowned Snowbirds aerobatic team. Flying the technically challenging “slot” position with the Centennaires, Russ performed at 125 air shows in Canada along with a dozen more in the US and the Bahamas.

After the Centennaires disbanded, Russ converted to flying the CF101 Voodoo before serving on 416 Squadron in Chatham, NB. His Voodoo flying from 1968 to 1971 was followed by his “flying a desk” with a ground tour as the CFB Chatham Base Administrative officer and a three-year tour in Lahr, West Germany, from 1973-76. Posted to Shearwater, NS, in 1976 and promoted to LCol in 1977, Russ was appointed Commanding Officer of 880 Tracker Squadron, a position he held until 1979, when he transferred to National Defence Headquarters, and retired from the military in 1982 after thirty years’ service.

Russ then applied his expertise as a Civil Aviation Inspector with Transport Canada, where his fourteen years of service included five at the Atlantic Region HQ. During his years with Transport Canada, he was employed in a variety of roles that included training and check pilot, aircraft accident investigation, and fisheries and pollution patrols off the east coast of Canada, flying DC3s “200 feet off the deck.” During his long and distinguished career as an aviator, Russ flew multiple types of aircraft and accumulated 8,535 flying hours.

Russ and his loving wife, Myrna (McNutt), are the proud parents of four children: Natalie Drover of Ottawa (Paul), Lyn Bennett of Halifax (Trevor Ross), Rob Bennett of Ottawa (Sandy Sharkey), and Sue Bennett of Halifax (Andy Dunn). They also have six grandchildren: Jennifer McMillen (John) of Exeter UK, Sarah Phillips (Landon) of Dallas TX , Eve Court (Dan Mathers) of Vancouver, Russell Court (Katie Isenor) of Halifax, Emily Court (Shane Storozuk) of Vancouver, and Nora Dunn of Halifax. In addition to their loving grandchildren, Russ and Myrna have five great-grandchildren, Lily and Connor McMillen, Hollyn and Brynn Phillips, and Caroline Court. Russ was predeceased by his parents, Cedric and Evelyn, much-loved siblings Lillian Fraser, Gordon Bennett, Kathleen Fraser, and Margaret Bennett, as well as his nephews Timothy Bennett and Daryl Fraser and niece Margaret Fraser (Colborne). Russ is survived by his special sister-in-law, Katie, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Family flowers only. Donations in Russ’s memory can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Nova Scotia.