Regarding Michael Bentine, extract from his biography:
“Born in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, Jan 26th, 1922, M.B. is the second son of an English Mother and a Peruvian Father (Adam Bentin). Educated at a Folkestone private school and Eton College (where he was a contemporary of his close friend Patrick Macnee). He always intended to become an engineer and scientist, like his father who was a Pioneer of Aerodynamics and Aero-Engineering.
The War intervened and M.B. joined the Royal Air Force as a volunteer Aircrew Cadet. In 1942, after being discharged from Hospital, M.B. was considered to be physically unfit for operational flying and was offerred an honourable discharge. He refused and was subsequently offerred a commission in British Intelligence, R.A.F. operations section. In this capacity he served to the end of the hostilities, with various Allied Squadrons and Groups, including liaison with the U.S. 8th Air Force, and operations with Belgian and Polish Squadrons. M.B. entered Europe with a fighter-bomber wing, continuing operations through France, Belgium and Holland, crossing the Rhine and finishing at Celle, where his wing helped in the liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration Camp. He considers this to be his most horrific wartime experience.”
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