408 Goose Squadron (For Freedom).
Killed in flying accident, 1942-11-09 with a crew of five, in a fighter affiliation exercise, when his aircraft stalled on a too-steep turn, went into a spin and crashed five miles east of the aerodrome near the village of Birkby. England.
Pilot Officer RG Bell DFM (RCAF), Flying Officer PM Matthews (RCAF), FS IFS McColl (RAAF), Sergeant DD Gardner (RAF) and Sergeant AEF Giles (RAF) were killed.
This was the first Mark V Halifax lost by Bomber Command, and the first loss by 408 Sqn. since converting to Halifax aircraft.
Addendum: - Distinguished Flying Medal - No.408 Squadron - Award effective 1 September 1942 as per London Gazette dated 22 September 1942 and AFRO 1653/42 dated 16 October 1942. The citation reads - "One night in August 1942, this airman was the pilot of an aircraft detailed to attack Duisburg. Whilst over the target area his aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter from close range. Diving steeply, Sergeant Bell evaded further attacks but his aircraft sustained extensive damage. The elevator, port ailerons and fuselage were all pierced, the port petrol tanks were riddled while the hydraulics were shot away and one of the gun cupolas was smashed. The wireless operator was injured and Sergeant Bell was badly cut on the right hand by splintered perspex. Despite this he made another run over the target and bombed it Shortly after leaving the target area one of the engines failed and the aircraft spun towards the ground. Sergeant Bell, however, skillfully regained control and eventually flew his damaged bomber back to an aerodrome in this country where he executed a skillful crash landing. In face of harassing circumstances this airman displayed great courage and devotion to duty. Detail provided by H Halliday, Orleans, Ontario.
Bell, Ronald George (Pilot Officer)
Killed in Flying Accident 1942-November-09
Birth Date: 1915
Born: Kelowna, Saskatchewan
Parents:
Spouse:
Home: Vancouver, British Columbia
Enlistment: Edmonton Alberta
Enlistment Date: 1940-December-17
Service
RCAF
Unit
408 (B) Sqn- Squadron
For Freedom
Base
RAF Leeming
Rank
Pilot Officer
Position
Pilot
Service Numbers
J/17824
Prev: R/76955
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)Crew or Other Personnel
Halifax DG238
Unit Desciption
408 (B) Sqn For Freedom ("Goose")
History of the Squadron during World War II (Aircraft: Hampden I, Halifax II & V, Lancaster II, Halifax III & VII, Lancaster X)
The squadron was the second Canadian bomber squadron to be formed in WWII. It was formed at Lindholme, Yorkshire, UK 
in June of 1941 as part of Bomber Command No 5 Group, flying Handley Page Hampden Mk I bombers from Syerston, Nottinghamshire, Balderton, Newark and North Luffenham, Rutland. Its squadron code letters were EQ. In September 1942 the squadron was moved to No 4 Group, re-equipping with Halifax Mk II aircraft and flying from Leeming, Yorkshire. On January 1, 1943, by this time equipped with Lancaster Mk II bombers, the squadron joined No. 6 Group (RCAF) and flew from Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire from August 27 1943 to the end of WWII. In September 1944 it converted to Halifax Mk III and VII aircraft and flew these for the remainder of hostilities. It was slated to be part of the "Tiger Force" to attack Japan and had re-equipped with Lancaster Mk X aircraft, but the Japanese surrender ended all plans for the Tiger Force and the squadron was disbanded in September 1945 at Greenwood, Nova Scotia .
Altogether, the squadron logged 4610 operational sorties with 25,500 operational hours, in the course of which 11,430 tons of bombs were dropped. 146 aircraft were lost in the course of these operations. Awards included 161 DFC's and 6 bars to DFC, 32 DFM's, 1 MBE and 10 MiD's. Battle Honours were: English Channel and North Sea 1941-43, Baltic 1941-43, Fortress Europe 1941-44, France and Germany 1944-45, Biscay Ports 1941-44, Ruhr 1941-45, Berlin 1943-44, German Ports 1941-45, Normandy 1944, Rhine, Biscay 1942-43. Wikipedia, Moyes, Kostenuk and Griffin
Squadron History (Bomber Command Museum PDF)
Maps for Movements of 408 Squadron 1941-45
MAP 1: 408 Squadron Movements 1941-45 (right-click on image to display enlarged in new tab)
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MAP 2: 6 Group Bomber Bases in Durham and Yorkshire 1943-45
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408 Squadron History Summary
408 Squadron History Summary Page 2
History of the Squadron Post-WWII (Aircraft: Lancaster X, Canso A, Norseman VI, Otter, Dakota III & IV, Boxcar, Silver Star, Hercules, Griffon, Chinook)
On 10 January 1949, the squadron was reformed as 408 (Photographic) Squadron at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario . Equipped with eight Lancaster Mark X photographic aircraft equipped with SHORAN, a short-range navigational device. It was tasked with the mapping of Canada, specifically the far North. It also flew Canso, Norseman, Otter and Dakota aircraft on this mission, for photography and to maintain the SHORAN stations. Once the task was complete, the squadron was re-designated 408 (Reconnaissance) Squadron and flew Lancasters on Arctic surveillance patrols. In 1964, equipped with the Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar, it was again re-designated 408 (Transport Support and Aerial Reconnaissance) Squadron and moved to Rivers, Manitoba. In 1964, the squadron formed a flight of Canadair CT-133 Silver Star aircraft. In 1965, the Boxcars were replaced by CC-130 Hercules aircraft.
On January 1, 1971, 408 Squadron was once again re-activated at Namao in Edmonton, Alberta , as a tactical helicopter squadron (THS) and equipped with CH-135 Twin Huey and CH-136 Kiowa helicopters. Its primary tasking is to provide tactical aviation to the army. The mission includes air mobile assault, air ambulance, air observation, reconnaissance insertions, troop movement, airborne command and control platform and dropping paratroopers. In September 1996, the squadron was re-equipped with CH-146 Griffon helicopters. Personnel from 408 Squadron deployed to Afghanistan nearly continually from 2006 until 2011. Initially forming a Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) detachment using the CU-161 Sperwer. From 2008, 408 members were deployed to Kandahar airfield operating the CH-146 Griffon and CH-147D helicopters as part of the Joint Task Force Afghanistan Air Wing. The primary role of the JTF-A Air Wing was to provide transportation, reconnaissance, armed escort, and fire support to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). In July of 2018, 408 THS deployed to Mali as part of Task Force Mali on Operation Presence. In Mali, 408 THS operated the CH-146 Griffon in the armed escort role, providing support to MEDEVAC and utility missions. 408 THS completed its tour in Mali in January of 2019, having participated in 7 medical evacuation missions. It is now co-located with 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group at the 3rd Canadian Division Support Base, Edmonton, Alberta.
link,general,https://www.forfreedom.ca,408 “Goose†Squadron Association
Government of Canada RCAF Website