BELL, David
| Service Numbers: | 406430, W29880 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 July 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 10 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Applecress, South Perth, Western Australia, 20 August 1921 |
| Home Town: | South Perth, South Perth, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Civil Servant |
| Died: | Flying Battle, died at sea, Spain, 31 July 1942, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Runnymede Air Forces Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Sergeant, 406430, No. 10 Squadron (RAAF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Jul 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, W29880 | |
| 9 Dec 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, 406430 | |
| 9 Dec 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 406430 |
Help us honour David Bell's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Julianne Ryan
Born 20 August 1921, South Perth, Western Australia
Father Harry Bell (d. Oct 1948) and Mother Mrs Irene May Bell, 37 York Street, South Perth, WA
9/12/1940 enlisted in Perth, WA
9/12/1940 Aircrew V (G)
4/1/1941 promoted to L.A.C.
26/6/1941 Aircrew 2 (G) on remuster
25/7/1941 promoted to Temporary Sergeant with Wireless Operator Air Gunner
18/9/1941 embarked for service overseas
4/11/1941 disembarked into the UK
30/3/1942 RAF Station Mount Batten
30/3/1942 attached to No.20 Squadron (RAAF)
Sergeant in RAF Station Mount Batten
31/7/1942 killed in flying battle
On 31 July 1942 disappeared in the Galician coast Sunderland W3994, had departed from Mount Batten at 02:15 in antisubmarine patrol and did not turn to hear the device. The aircraft took the maximum load of anti-submarine bombs and was to carry out a patrol along the Spanish coast just outside territorial waters. No signals were received from the aircraft which failed to return from the mission.
The entire crew disappeared:-
Short Sunderland Mk II; W3994, RB-X; 10 Sqn RAAF
F/Lt Eric Bruce Martin - 280651 - RAAF
F/O Arthur Francis O'Dwyer - 405185 - RAAF
P/O Ernest F. Hamilton Frith - 403653 - RAAF
F/O Arthur Reginald Meaker - 416275 - RAAF
F/O Christopher E. Thomas Bartram - 401759 - RAAF
Sgt David Bell -. 406430 - RAAF
Sgt John Russell Mullins -. 4701 - RAAF
AC1 Nevil Thomas Cuddihy - 14521 - RAAF
Sgt Clive Thomas Bingham -. 4559 - RAAF
AC1 Garnet William White - 13891 - RAAF
Sgt Herbert Henry Fealy. - 11069 - RAAF
LAC. Charles L. Kenneth Johnson - 34754 - RAAF
"Sunderland III, W3999 of No 10 (RAAF) Squadron exploded after making a successful forced landing on the sea after being attacked by an Arado Ar 196 during an ASR patrol." courtesy of Malcolm
No known grave.
Commemorated on Panel at Air Forces Memorial, Runnymede, Surrey, England.
His name is commemorated on Panel at the Australian War Memorial,
Canberra, ACT.
Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 13/6/2016. Lest we forget.