Personnel Index - Detail

Name
BELL
First Names
George
Rank
Sgt
Service
RAF
Service Number
100327
Crew Position
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
Posting In
Posted in 6/43
Cemetery

 

Flew at least 29 operations as a rear gunner.

Promoted F/O Bell (185065) was killed serving with 617Sqn on the 21/3/45 during a raid on the Arbegen viaduct.

This crew had the very sad distinction of being the only crew killed in action flying one of the B1 Special Lancs (PD117 YZ-L). They were shot down by flak when attacking the Arbergen railway bridge near Bremen 21 Mar 1945. The crew went down in the flaming aircraft with their 'Tallboy' bomb detonating on impact.

(Details provided by John Ward, 49Sqn President)

The crew are remembered at the Runnymede Memorial.

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F/O E A Barnett was also ex-49Sqn.

Extract is from Bill Chorley's Bomber Command Losses.