Bell, Hilliard Brooke

Survived 0001-01-01

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Birth Date: unkown date

Born: Chatham, Ontario

Edwin Bell & Sarah R. Brooke

Home: Toronto, Ontario

Enlistment: Toronto, Ontario - 87 Btn. CEF

Enlistment Date: 1916-05-23

Decorations: MC, BMMVI

Military Cross

Service

RAF

Unit

66 (F) Sqn- Squadron (RFC)

Base

Rank

Captain

Position

Captain

Service Numbers

70114 RFC

Home
Google MapToronto, Ontario
Bell enlisted in the 67th University of Toronto Battery in Toronto on 1916-05-23. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps as a 2nd Lieutenant in July 1917. He was made a Lieutenant in September 1917 and posted to France with 66 Squadron a month later. In December 1917 his squadron moved to Italy where Bell scored 10 victories flying the Sopwith Camel. He was promoted to Captain and became a Flight Commander in March 1918. He joined the RCAF in WWII. On 1939-09-11, he was appointed as a probationary Pilot Officer in RAF Volunteer Reserve. On 1939-12-28, he was granted an appointment as a Flying Officer. On 1940-09-09 he was confirmed in rank as a Pilot Officer.

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Camel B9288

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Captain Bell, Hilliard Brooke (RAF)
pilot
Survived
1918-March
cemetery unknown

Sopwith Camel

By unknown RAF photographer - gallery link image link, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8473883
RAF_Sopwith_Camel.jpg image not found

The Sopwith Camel became the most successful British fighter of the First World War. The Sopwith F.1 and 2F.1 Camel first went into operations on the Western Front in 1917 and then served in virtually every theatre of Royal Flying Corps (RFC), Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) and Royal Air Force (RAF) service. Several Canadian aces used the Camel as their mount. The Camel was very manoeuvrable, and it could be tricky to fly in the hands of a novice pilot. For experienced pilots, however, the aircraft proved to be a superb fighter.

The Camel's machine-guns were mounted on the forward fuselage with their breeches enclosed in a faired metal cowling "hump" that gave the Camel its name. Several Camels were also shipped to Canada in the post-war period as part of an Imperial gift. Three registered Sopwith F.1 Camels entered service with the RCAF at Camp Borden in 1924. The following year, the RCAF purchased seven additional aircraft to provide further spares for the active aircraft. These latter aircraft were in fact 2F.1 models that had been "navalized" variants. Used primarily by wartime experienced fighter pilots for refresher training, the Camels lasted another five years before finally being scrapped.Wikipedia

YouTube Sopwith Camel

Wikipedia Wikipedia Sopwith Camel

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Kestrel Publications Sopwith Camel - Kestrel Publications