Erik Bennett obituary: Irish aviator and trusted adviser to Sultan of Oman

Born: 3rd September, 1928

Died: 28th January, 2022

Erik Bennett, who has died aged 93, made an extraordinary circular life journey from his home in Co. Laois, where his father, Robert, and his mother (nee Roe) were farmers. It included an eventful and highly colourful life in the Middle East, culminating, after 76 years, in a final trip home for his funeral in his native village of Donoghmore last week.

Leaving Ireland after schooling at King’s Hospital in Dublin to join the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1946, his remarkable life saw him retire from the force in 1991 with the rank of air vice marshall. He had by then become one of the most influential people in the Sultanate of Oman; first as commander of its fledgling air force, for 17 years from 1974 (while remaining still an officer in the RAF), and, thereafter, staying in Oman as one of the most trusted advisers of its then ruler, the Sultan Qaboos.

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The territory of Oman directly abuts the Straits of Hormuz in the Arabian Gulf, thus making it of enormous strategic importance globally. Bennett was crucial to the country developing a credible air defence, which, starting from scratch in 1974, became what former British minister of state for international development Sir Alan Duncan, speaking at his funeral, described as “one of the most operational” in the Arabian Gulf region.

Operating between the Omani capital, Muscat, and an office in London, Bennett became also an essential conduit between the British and Omani governments, an active connection which lasted, his close Omani friend and colleague Mohammed bin Suleiman Alyazeedi told The Irish Times this week, “until the last minute” of the Irishman’s life.

Bennett had first served in the Middle East in 1951, after receiving his commission as a pilot officer in 1948, in the Canal Zone of the Suez region. This experience of the Arab world was strengthened when he was posted to Jordan in 1958 to help with the development of its air force, where he quickly formed a close friendship with the late King Hussein, a fellow fighter pilot. Bennett was best man at the king’s wedding to Antoinette Gardiner, herself British, who became thus Princess Muna. Subsequently, he was Godfather to Prince Abdullah, the present king of Jordan.

When, in 1974, Sultan Qaboos asked King Hussein for his advice on setting up his own air force, the king immediately replied: 'If you want a proper air force, I would advise Erik'

After further RAF service elsewhere from 1962-71, during which he rose to the very senior rank of Air Vice Marshal, Bennett returned to Jordan to serve as King Hussein’s personal pilot. Mohammed bin Suleiman Alyazeedi recalls that when, in 1974, the then young and new Sultan Qaboos (who had overthrown his father in a palace coup in 1970) asked Hussein for his advice on setting up his own air force, the king immediately replied: “If you want a proper air force, I would advise Erik.”

Duly appointed, Bennett brought with him to Oman that year two huge advantages: fluency in written and spoken Arabic (which Alyazeedi describes as with “a Jordanian accent”) and several ex-Jordanian Air Force Hawker Hunter jets, to which were added from 1977 Anglo-French Jaguar fighters, then among the most advanced military aircraft anywhere.

Secessionist rebellion

Inevitably, there was a political dimension to Bennett’s work in Oman. In its early days, the Omani air force played a crucial part of the final suppression of secessionist rebellion in the south-west of the country at a time when such wars were effectively part of the West’s proxy conflicts with Russia during the Cold War.

A very important aspect of Bennett's life and work in Oman concerned his active promotion of the protection of the delicate eco-structure of the country

Bennett was also undoubtedly crucial in the later very close working relationship built up between the UK and Oman, and the award to him of the British honours of Companion of the Bath (CB) and a knighthood (KBE) are proof of this. Notable especially in this regard was the award by Queen Elizabeth, during her visit to Oman in 2010, of the Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) honour on Bennett. This honour is bestowed by the queen personally, not as a recommendation from the UK government, and gives credence to the remark of Sir Alan at his funeral, that Bennett was the “glue” between the queen herself and the Sultan.

A very important aspect of Bennett’s life and work in Oman, often completely overlooked, concerned his active promotion of the protection of the delicate eco-structure of the country, which, until 1970, had been an impoverished but pristine desert wilderness.

Starting with Bennett succeeding in getting funding for four geographers from the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) to conduct field research in the renowned and unique Wahibi Sands in 1986-87, he later obtained Omani support for further fieldwork by the Earthwatch organisation. This has resulted in the Wilfred Thesiger Awards, annual scholarships in memory of the renowned British explorer of Arabia, given to suitably scientifically qualified personnel to conduct research on the country’s environment.

Nigel Winser, former deputy director of overseas research for the RGS, and from 2005 to 2015 director for Europe and the Middle East of Earthwatch, told The Irish Times that Bennett was “a very keen naturalist… who saw an opportunity to foster a culture of field science in Oman. This has contributed to a large body of field scientists in Oman today.”

Bennett, elected a fellow of the RGS in 1993, also personally paid for the bust of Sir Wilfred Thesiger which today stands in the entrance hall of the society in London.

Erik Bennett remained unmarried, and he is survived by his sister, June Powell. His brother Robert and his sisters Betty (Lalor) and Rita (Hearnden) predeceased him.