 In July 1943 , Benn enlisted in the Royal Air Force as an aircraftman 2nd Class . His father and elder brother Michael ( who was later killed in an accident ) were already serving in the RAF . He was granted an emergency commission as a pilot officer ( on probation ) on 10 March 1945 . As a pilot officer , Benn served as a pilot in South Africa and Rhodesia . He relinquished his commission with effect from 10 August 1945 , three months after the European Second World War ended on 8 May , and just days before the war with Japan ended on 2 September . 
