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On 14 March 1945, an RAF reconnaissance party escorted by armoured car Baker 2 of 鈥淏鈥� flight, 2742 squadron RAF Regiment, crossed the Rhine by means of pontoon bridge erected alongside the Ludendorff Railway Bridge at Remagen. The armoured car was under the command of Corporal Benson.

Corporal Benson鈥檚 report is reproduced in the 2742 squadron Operations Record Books. Here it is (with minimal changes to make it readable).

鈥淩ECCE OF RHINE BRIDGEHEAD BY 鈥淏鈥� 2.
At 10.00 hours on the 14 March 1945, Corporal Benson acting as escort to Colonel Horton and S/Ldr Goff, left Verniers on recce of the main Rhine bridgehead, the party consisted of three cars, staff car, recce car and Jeep. The trip was made in good weather, and passing through the German towns of Euskirken, Monschau, Gemund one noted the vast amount of destruction only happening a few days previously. Leaving Euskirken in a South Easterly direction the roads were rather dangerous, mines, craters etc. And running in the area of the Rhine itself found ourselves under continuous shell fire. Crossing the river by pontoon bridge at a small town of Linz the party were caught in a series of high level bombing attacks from the enemy. Linz at that time being only 1 陆 miles from the First U.S. Army advance on the hill above. Ack-Ack defences were very active, one plane crashed as the party recrossed the river on the pontoon bridge two miles along the East bank, North West of Linz. The main target being Remagen railway bridge of which the pontoons were on either side. The time being 17.00 hours, as we recrossed the river, Col. Horton suggested an rendezvous at Euskirken 18.30 to 19.30 hours. Col. Horton arrived with S/Ldr Goff at 18.45 hours, Cpl Benson at 19.15 hours owing to detours. At Euskirken, Col Horton before departing North West for Duren thanked Cpl Benson and his crew LAC McCarthy and LAC Brooks for a very interesting and exciting trip, added that they were definitely the first RAF Regiment, if not the first British troops to cross the Rhine.鈥�

Corporal Benson became a Flight Sergeant and was awarded the British Empire Medal for services in the European theatre.

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