Bell, David (Flying Officer)

Killed in Action 1944-November-30

Flying Officer David Bell RCAF

Birth Date: 1916-March-18

Born:

Parents: Son of William and Annie Bell, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; husband of Barbara Bell.

Spouse: Husband of Barbara Bell.

Home: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Distinguished Flying Cross

Service

RCAF

Unit

429 (B) Sqn- Squadron
Fortunae Nihil Nothing to chance

Base

RAF Leeming

Rank

Flying Officer

Position

Pilot

Service Numbers

J/35329

Home
Google MapWinnipeg, Manitoba
Target
Google MapDuisburg Germany
Memorial Location
Google MapRunnymede Memorial Surrey
Panel 245

Born in Winnipeg, 1916; home in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, yet enlisted in Winnipeg, 15 September 1939. Trained at No 6 ITS (graduated 19 March 1943), No 12 EFTS (graduated 15 May 1943) and No 5 SFTS (graduated 3 September 1943) Commissioned 1943. Killed in Action 30 November 1944 (Halifax MZ288); name on Runnymede Memorial

429 Bison Squadron (Forlunae Nihil) RAF Leeming, Halifax BIII aircraft MZ 288 AL-O failed to return from a trip over Duisburg, Germany. The cause of loss was not determined but was most likely brought down by flak as the poor weather conditions limited the use of night fighters

Flying Officer D Bell DFC (RCAF), Flying Officer LG Watson, Pilot Officer WA Streich, Pilot Officer AS Thomson (RCAF), FS G McGregor (RCAF), FS JH Kitchin (RCAF) and Sergeant PF Bolderstone DFM (RAFVR) were all missing, presumed killed in action

The crew have no known graves and are commemorated on the Runnymede War Memorial

Addendum: - Distinguished Flying Cross - 429 Squadron - Award effective 12 January 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 471/45 dated 16 March 1945. Medal presented to next of kin (widow), 5 October 1946. The citation reads - "In October 1944, Flying Officer Bell was the captain and pilot of an aircraft detailed to attack Cologne. It was his first mission as captain. In the bombing run considerable anti-aircraft fire was encountered and the aircraft was hit. The flight engineer was wounded. Flying Officer Bell promptly directed another member of the crew to render first aid to his injured comrade. Almost as the bombs were released, the aircraft was again hit. The port aileron was broken in half and it became exceedingly difficult to keep the aircraft on an even keel but, displaying the greatest determination, Flying Officer Bell flew the badly damaged aircraft to the nearest available airfield in this country where he effected a masterly landing. This officer displayed great tenacity and devotion to duty in trying circumstances." Detail provided by Hugh A. Halliday, Orleans, Ontario

There was a second 429 Squadron Halifax III aircraft lost on this operation. Please see Short, CWF for information on Halifax MZ 314 AW-L

Unvetted Source Daily Operations 6bombergroup.ca

Unvetted Source No. 429 Squadron Halifax III MZ220 AL-O F/O. Bell, RAF Leeming,...

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Commonwealth War Grave Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Commonwealth War Grave Commission International Bomber Command Centre

Find-A-Grave Finadagrave.com

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Crew or Other Personnel

Halifax MZ288

Flying Officer David Bell RCAF

Flying Officer Bell, David (RCAF)
Pilot
Killed in Action
1944-November-30
Runnymede Memorial Surrey, UK

Sergeant Peter Frederick Bolderstone RAFVR

Sergeant Bolderstone, Peter Frederick (RAFVR)
Flight Engineer
Killed in Action
1944-November-30
Runnymede Memorial Surrey, UK

Flight Sergeant Jack Hurst Kitchin RCAF

Flight Sergeant Kitchin, Jack Hurst (RCAF)
Air Gunner
Killed in Action
1944-November-30
Runnymede Memorial Surrey, UK

Flight Sergeant George McGregor RCAF

Flight Sergeant McGregor, George (RCAF)
Air Gunner
Killed in Action
1944-November-30
Runnymede Memorial Surrey, UK

Pilot Officer Willard Ainsley Streich RCAF

Pilot Officer Streich, Willard Ainsley (RCAF)
Bomb Aimer
Killed in Action
1944-November-30
Runnymede Memorial Surrey, UK

Pilot Officer Alexander Sinclair Thomson RCAF

Pilot Officer Thomson, Alexander Sinclair (RCAF)
Wireless Air Gunner
Killed in Action
1944-November-30
Runnymede Memorial Surrey, UK

Flying Officer Lloyd George Watson RCAF

Flying Officer Watson, Lloyd George (RCAF)
Navigator
Killed in Action
1944-November-30
Runnymede Memorial Surrey, UK

Unit Desciption

429 (B) Sqn Fortunae Nihil ("Bison")

History of the Squadron during World War II (Aircraft: Wellington III, X, Halifax II, V, III, Lancaster I, III)

No 429 Squadron was the 10th bomber unit and 27th squadron formed by the RCAF overseas in WWII. It was formed in November 1942 at East Moor, Yorkshire, UK as part of No 4 Group of RAF Bomber Command. On April 1, 1943 it became part of No 6 (RCAF) Group at No 62 (RCAF) Base, still remaining at East Moor until August 1943, when it moved to Leeming, Yorkshire as part of no 63 (RCAF) Base: it remained at Leeming until its disbandment in May 1946. It undertook strategic and tactical bombing operations. After the cessation of hostilities in Europe, it remained in England and transferred to No 1 Group, where it was engaged in transporting troops from Italy (Operation DODGE).

The squadron, with squadron code AL, flew Vickers Wellington Mks III and X until August 1943, when it re-equipped with Handley-Page Halifax Mk II, which it flew between August 1943 and January 1944, and Mk V between November 1943 and March 1944. These were superseded by Halifax Mk III aircraft in March 1944. In March 1945, the squadron re-equipped with Lancaster Mk I and III. In summary of its activities, it flew 3221 sorties, including airlifting 1055 PoWs back to England, for the loss of 71 aircraft. 9356 tons of bombs were dropped. The squadron was awarded45 DFCs and 2 Bars to DFC, 1 AFC, 1 CGM and 7 DFMs. Battle Honours were: English Channel and North Sea 1943-45, Baltic 1943-45, Fortress Europe 1943-44, France and Germany 1944-45, Biscay Ports 1943-44, Ruhr 1943-45, Berlin 1943-44, German Ports 1943-45, Normandy 1944, Rhine, Biscay 1943-44. Wikipedia,Moyes, Kostenuk and Griffin

Squadron History (Bomber Command Museum PDF)

Maps for Movements of 429 Squadron 1942-46

MAP 1: 429 Squadron Bases 1942-46 (marked in green). Right-click on image to display enlarged in new tab

429 Squadron History Summary 1942-46

History of the Squadron Post-WWII (Aircraft: Buffalo, Hercules, Globemaster)

The squadron was reactivated at St. Hubert, Quebec on 21 August 1967 as a Tactical Transport Unit. It flew de Havilland CC-15 Buffalo aircraft for the Canadian Forces Mobile Command and was integrated into the Canadian Armed Forces on 1 February 1968. In August 1981 it was renamed 429 Transport Squadron and moved to CFB Winnipeg . The final move was in 1990 to 8 Wing in Trenton, Ontario . The squadron was disbanded in 2005.

Two years later in August 2007, 429 Squadron was again re-activated, this time operating the CC-177 Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft. It used these new aircraft in support of Canada's operations in Afghanistan.