BELL, Douglas Crawford
| Service Number: | 404031 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 April 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Flying Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 100 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 21 March 1908 |
| Home Town: | Manly, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Accidental (Flying Accident), Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 22 October 1942, aged 34 years |
| Cemetery: |
Townsville War Cemetery, Queensland, Australia A.C.2., Townsville War Cemetery, Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Flying Officer, 404031 | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Apr 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), Aircrew Training Units | |
| 26 Apr 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 404031, No. 100 Squadron (RAAF) | |
| 22 Oct 1942: | Involvement Flying Officer, No. 100 Squadron (RAAF) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by David Barlow
Beaufort A9-26 of Number 100 Squadron RAAF crashed into Cockle Bay at Magnetic Island (off the coast from Townsville) - it was one of six aircraft making a bombing attack on the rusted hulk of the "City of Adelaide" in Cockle Bay. According to land observers the aircraft struck the top of the rear mast on the ship. The aircraft then crashed into shallow water finishing some 700 to 800 yards past the target.
All four occupants were killed:
Flying Officer George Douglas Rutherford Avery 404083 (Pilot) - Son of Charles Nicholas Canning Avery and Mary Elizabeth Avery & Husband of Kathleen Hewetson Avery of Warwick, Queensland
Flying Officer Douglas Crawford Bell 404031 - Son of William and Minnie Morton Bell & Husband of Vera Myrtle Bell of Manly, Queensland
Flying Officer Leslie Joseph Schwartz 405455 - Son of John Frederick and Louise Marie Adelgarde Schwartz & Husband of Vinnie Schwartz of Cunnamulla, Queensland
Lieutenant (JG) George Frank Glueck (10246 or 97599) of the US Navy Mobile Torpedo Section flew as a passenger with Avery to gain first hand experience of the actual method of torpedo attack as used by the RAAF. He was initially buried in the US Military Cemetery in Townsville - after the war his body was taken by ship to the USA
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