Colin Bell, a World War II bomber pilot, marks his 105th birthday with the release of his new memoir detailing daring missions in the de Havilland DH98 Mosquito.
Terrifying First Raid Over Hanover
Enemy searchlights pierced the night sky in September 1944 as Bell and navigator Doug Redmond bombed Hanover after their initial mission. Anti-aircraft fire intensified over a German naval base, blinding the cockpit with explosions.
Bell dove the aircraft vertically to escape, but the control column jammed. Desperately adjusting the trim wheel, he regained control just in time. “Turn 50 degrees starboard,” Redmond instructed calmly. Bell later reflected, “I’m beginning to think that this business might be a bit bloody dangerous after all.”
The ‘Wooden Wonder’ Mosquito
The Mosquito, known as the Wooden Wonder, stood out as the world’s fastest operational aircraft, powered by twin Rolls-Royce Merlin engines. Bell describes flying it as “like flying a Ferrari,” capable of 420 mph with four 500lb bombs.
German pilots earned double kills for downing one, underscoring its prowess. Yet raids demanded steady bombing runs at 200 mph, enduring three minutes of flak.
Early Life and Path to the RAF
Born in London, Bell volunteered for the RAF at 18 after watching Charles Lindbergh’s 1927 arrival at Croydon Airport. Trained in the US as a flying instructor, he joined 608 Squadron in Norfolk in September 1944 for low-impact, high-value raids.
Crews lived in chilly Nissen huts, starting days with tea and learning ops schedules post-breakfast. Afternoons involved aircraft checks, sports, or games.
Nightly Missions and Grim Realities
Sorties launched around 9 p.m. after squadron leader well-wishes. Pilots grabbed parachutes, helmets, cocoa, and sandwiches—often spam—before squeezing into cockpits with Mae West life jackets.
Bell’s mascot? A Smith & Wesson revolver with 20 rounds. “Did I carry a mascot in my Mosquito? Yes, a Smith & Wesson with 20 rounds so I could shoot the German lynch mob if I was downed,” he reveals, citing Nazi calls to lynch captured airmen.
Close Calls and Squadron Losses
Station commanders rejected grounding planes for engine fixes, warning, “You die like an officer and a gentleman.” Of 30 aircrew in Bell’s mess, 13 died during his six months.
A Berlin raid saw engines fail after flak hits, shrapnel piercing Bell’s parachute seat. Another faced a Me 262 jet intercept; evasive dives forced it away.
Reflections on Bombing and Legacy
Bell defends area bombing under Bomber Harris, targeting industry and morale. “There was no moral difference between the chap who drove the tank and the chap who built it,” he states, comparing it to Blitz devastation on British cities.
Refusing missions risked LMF charges. Bell married Kath in 1943; daughter Vivienne arrived in 1944. They shared over 70 years together, with Kath watching runways anxiously.
One of few surviving Bomber Command veterans, Bell’s memoir Bloody Dangerous reminds readers to confront bullies, as despots threaten democracies anew.
