David BELL

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
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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.

Biography 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.

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