BELL, Edward Stannington
| Service Number: | O1397 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Commander |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Port Pirie, South Australia, 26 September 1932 |
| Home Town: | Port Pirie, Port Pirie City and Dists, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Pilot |
| Died: | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia , 7 June 2021, aged 88 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Port Pirie General Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: |
Vietnam War Service
| 1 Jul 1962: | Involvement Lieutenant Commander, O1397 | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Mar 1971: | Involvement Royal Australian Navy, Lieutenant Commander, O1397 |
Non Warlike Service
| 9 Jul 1978: | Promoted Royal Australian Navy, Commander |
|---|
Help us honour Edward Stannington Bell's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Helen Bell
In April 1955, Ed Bell, a 22-year-old boilermaker-welder from Broken Hill, enlisted in the RAN as a Probationary Naval Airman - Aircrew. He commenced pilot training with the RAAF in July 1955 and was promoted Acting Sub-lieutenant on graduation in October 1956.
A month later, in November 1956, he posted to HMAS Albatross and commenced Operational Flying School in RAN squadrons. A cycle of postings to 723, 724, 725, 816, 817 and 851 Squadrons was the typical pattern over the next eight years, including front-line squadron service in the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne. He was promoted Lieutenant in 1958.
Ed went on two-year’s exchange with the Royal Navy in 1965 to undergo Qualified Helicopter Instructors’ course and subsequent instructional duties with 706 Squadron Royal Navy.
Upon promotion in 1966, Ed was appointed Lieutenant Commander-'Flying' in HMAS Melbourne, and on two occasions he commanded 725 Squadron, (Jun’70 - Feb’71 and Oct’71 - Oct’72) with Wessex helicopters.
The Sea King Flight UK was established in 1974 and the newly promoted Commander Ed Bell served as the Officer in Charge for the acceptance and testing of the RAN’s latest anti-submarine helicopters. He then took command of 817 Squadron for a very brief period when it re-equipped at HMAS Albatross with the Sea King in 1976.
As often occurs, promotion brought with it postings away from the aviation world and Ed then worked in the Directorate of Naval Recruiting before retiring in 1982.Ed Bell maintained his involvement in helicopter aviation, becoming an Examiner of Airmen with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and then Chief Pilot with a major Australian commercial helicopter operator. Apart from aviation, Ed enjoyed touring on his BMW motorcycle well into senior years.
Biography contributed by Helen Bell
Honours and Rewards
Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75 with Clasp ‘VIETNAM’ Vietnam Medal
Australian Service Medal 1945-75 with Clasp ‘FESR’
Defence Force Service Medal with First Clasp
National Medal with First Clasp Australian Defence Medal
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal Pingat Jasa Malaysia
Click images to start slideshow.