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Bell-Irving, Roderick Keith Faulkner MiD (Wing Commander)

Killed in Action 1944-May-08

Birth Date: 1919-December-07 (age 24)

Son of Comdr. Henry Beattie Bell-Irving, R.C.N.V.R., and Anne Hilda Bell-Irving, of Whonock, British Columbia.

Home: Whonnock, British Columbia

Decorations: MiD


Mentioned in Dispatches
Service
RAF
Unit
98 Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Never Failing
Base
RAF Dunsfold
Rank
Wing Commander
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
Pilot
Service Numbers
40201
98 Squadron (Never Failing). The crew of Mitchell II aircraft FW 109 were engaged in a daylight low-level attack on a V1 launching site, at Bois Coquerel, France and took a direct hit from anti-aircraft fire. W/C RKF Bell-Irving MiD (RAF)(Can), Flying Officer CLM Forsyth DFC, DFM (RNZAF), Flying Officer VC Phipps (RAF), and FS KJ White (RAF) were killed. W/C Bell-Irving was the Commanding Officer of 98 Squadron and had been Mentioned in Dispatches. W/C Bell-Irving's family served Canada with distinction, he had four uncles who were all decorated pilots and survived WWI. His brother was a General in WWII and was the Lt Governor of British Columbia for four years.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Find-A-Grave.com Finadagrave.com

Home
Google MapWhonnock, British Columbia
Target
Google MapBois Coquerel France
Burial
Google MapAbbeville Communal Cemetery Extension
Plot 6 Row G Coll grave 3-5

Mitchell FW109

North American Mitchell B-25 B-25D B-25J

North American B-25J Mitchell Mk. III
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

The North American B-25 Mitchell is an American medium bomber that was introduced in 1941 and named in honor of Major General William "Billy" Mitchell, a pioneer of U.S. military aviation. Used by many Allied air forces, the B-25 served in every theater of World War II, and after the war ended, many remained in service, operating across four decades. Produced in numerous variants, nearly 10,000 B-25s were built.

The North American B-25 Mitchell was flown by the RCAF during and after the Second World War. The RCAF flew the B-25 Mitchell for training during the war and continued flying operations after the war, in Canada with most of 162 Mitchells received. The first B-25s had originally been diverted to Canada from RAF orders. These included one Mitchell Mk. I, 42 Mitchell Mk. IIs, and 19 Mitchell Mk. IIIs. No 13 (P) Squadron was formed unofficially at RCAF Station Rockcliffe in May 1944 and flew Mitchell Mk. IIs on high-altitude aerial photography sorties. No. 5 OTU (Operational Training Unit) at Boundary Bay, British Columbia and Abbotsford, British Columbia, operated the B-25D Mitchell in a training role together with B-24 Liberators for Heavy Conversion as part of the BCATP. The RCAF retained the Mitchell until October 1963.

No. 418 (Auxiliary) Squadron received its first Mitchell Mk. IIs in January 1947. It was followed by No. 406 (Auxiliary), which flew Mitchell Mk. IIs and Mk. IIIs from April 1947 to June 1958. No. 418 Operated a mix of Mk. IIs and Mk. IIIs until March 1958. No. 12 Squadron of Air Transport Command also flew Mitchell Mk. IIIs along with other types from September 1956 to November 1960. In 1951, the RCAF received an additional 75 B-25Js from USAF stocks to make up for attrition and to equip various second-line units.. Wikipedia and Harold Skaarup web page

YouTube Mitchell Bomber

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Mitchell Bomber

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

last update: 2021-09-23 15:53:49

Mitchell Mitchell II FW109

VORAF RoundelD


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