Commemoration of the 1938 Flight of Captain Bennett from the Tay Estuary to South West Africa
The world record long distance flight by a seaplane was achieved by the aircraft 'Mercury' the upper component of the Short Mayo Composite that took off from the Tay Estuary at Dundee on 6th October 1938.
The seaplane was positioned on top of the Maia flying boat for assisted take-off enabling her to carry a greater fuel load. The planes separated in the skies north of Dundee and Mercury flew 6,041 miles to Alexander Bay, South West Africa.
The two experiment-planes 'Mercury' and 'Maia' were built by Short Brothers Ltd. For Imperial Airways and designed to carry mail long distances without refuelling.
This tribute to the epic flight by Captain D.C.T. Bennett and First Officer Harvey was unveiled by Capyain Bennett's wife Mrs Ly Bennett and Lord Provost Mervyn Rolfe on 4th October 1997.
Captain Bennett, later Air Vice Marshal D.C.T. Bennett, C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O., was the famed founder and Commander of the Royal Air Force Pathfinder Force during the Second World War.

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