Colin Bell (RAF officer)
Colin Bell | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 March 1921 |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Branch | Royal Air Force |
Service years | 1940–1946 |
Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Unit | No. 608 Squadron RAuxAF |
| Known for | Last surviving Mosquito pilot |
Flight Lieutenant Colin Bell, DFC, is a British pilot notable being the last surviving Second World War de Havilland Mosquito pilot.[1] Bell joined the Royal Air Force in 1940, and had a three-year spell as a flying instructor before joining No. 608 (Pathfinder) Squadron, with whom he flew fifty sorties over Germany. In 2026 Bell released his memoir, Bloody Dangerous.
Early life
Bell was born on 5 March 1921.[2] He was inspired to join the RAF after seeing a nearby house struck by a bomb during the London Blitz.[3]
RAF service
Bell joined the RAF in 1940, and was sent to the United States for civilian flying training under the Arnold Scheme. Following America's entry into the war, Bell was retained as an instructor, responsible for training British and American cadets in the piloting of single-engined aircraft.[2]
Bell returned to Britain in 1943, and joined No. 608 (Pathfinder) Squadron at RAF Downham Market in Norfolk, piloting the de Havilland Mosquito. He flew fifty sorties, all of which were over Germany.[2]
Postwar
Following the end of the Second World War, Bell retired from RAF service in 1946. He worked as a Chartered Surveyor until retirement in 2019, at the age of 98.[4]
In 2019, Bell was formally presented with his wings by Air Marshal Stuart Atha; due to his time as an instructor during the Second World War, he had not received them upon completing his flying training.[5]
In 2023, Bell took part in a fundraising drive for the London Air Ambulance, the Royal College of Nursing Foundation, and the RAF Benevolent Fund. As part of this drive, he abseiled 17 storeys down the side of the Royal London Hospital.[6] At 102 years old, he set the world record for 'oldest-ever participant in an abseil'.[7]
On 5 March 2026, Bell's memoir, Bloody Dangerous, was published by Hachette UK.[8] During the press tour, Bell was welcomed to Buckingham Palace by King Charles III, and presented with the citation to his Distinguished Flying Cross.[9]
References
- ↑ "BBC News - 90th Anniversary of First Spitfire Flight". BBC. 2026-03-05. Retrieved 2026-04-29.
- 1 2 3 Plummer, Chris (2023-09-12). "New Churchill award honours Colin Bell DFC". Churchill College. Retrieved 2026-04-28.
- ↑ Cumming, Ed (2023-11-29). "'A German bomber hit the house opposite me – I joined the RAF to see if I could catch that bloke'". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2026-04-29.
- ↑ "Colin Bell". Hachette UK. 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2026-04-28.
- ↑ "VETERAN MOSQUITO PILOT RECEIVES HIS WINGS AT LINTON". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 2026-04-29.
- ↑ Addley, Esther (2023-09-11). "'I may be 102, but I want to do my bit': ex-RAF pilot to abseil down hospital for charity". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-04-28.
- ↑ "102 year old WW2 veteran secures Guinness World Record while abseiling for London's Air Ambulance Charity". London’s Air Ambulance. Retrieved 2026-04-28.
- ↑ Bell, Colin (2025-10-01). Bloody Dangerous. ISBN 978-0-349-14899-1.
- ↑ Elston, Laura (11 March 2026). "King welcomes 105-year old last surviving Mosquito bomber pilot to Palace". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
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