Colin Bell, a World War II bomber pilot, marks his 105th birthday with the release of his memoir Bloody Dangerous. The veteran recounts daring missions in the de Havilland DH98 Mosquito, including a stark admission about his survival gear: “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.”
First Raid Over Hanover: A Brush with Disaster
Enemy searchlights pierced the night sky in September 1944 as Bell and navigator Doug Redmond returned from bombing Hanover, a key industrial hub 180 miles west of Berlin. Their first combat mission turned perilous when Redmond’s route took them over a German naval base, drawing intense anti-aircraft fire.
Shells exploded nearby, blinding the cockpit. In panic, Bell dove vertically, but the control column jammed. Desperately trimming the nose up, he regained level flight just in time. “Turn 50 degrees starboard,” Redmond instructed calmly. As they climbed, Bell reflected, “I’m beginning to think that this business might be a bit bloody dangerous after all.”
The Wooden Wonder: Flying the Fastest Aircraft
Bell flew the de Havilland DH98 Mosquito, dubbed the “Wooden Wonder” for its lightweight wooden frame powered by twin Rolls-Royce Merlin engines. This aircraft hit 420 mph, outpacing enemies like the Messerschmitt Me 109 by 40 mph. Pilots who downed one earned double kills.
Bell likens flying it to driving a Ferrari, recalling the powerful acceleration down the runway. Mosquitoes in the Light Night Striking Force carried four 500lb bombs for high-speed, low-impact raids.
Squadron Life and High Stakes
At RAF Downham Market with 608 Squadron, Bell endured freezing Nissen huts and daily routines: morning tea, aircraft checks, afternoon games like rugby or dice. Night sorties launched around 9 p.m. after squadron leader well-wishes.
Crews grabbed parachutes, helmets, and snacks before squeezing into cramped cockpits wearing bulky Mae West life jackets. Of 30 messmates, 13 perished during Bell’s six months. Station commanders rejected grounding planes for engine fixes, warning, “You die like an officer and a gentleman.”
Path to the Skies
Aged 18 in London, Bell volunteered for the RAF after watching Charles Lindbergh land at Croydon Airport in 1927. Trained in the U.S. as an instructor, he joined combat in 1944. He flew exclusively with Canadian navigator Doug Redmond, a skilled but stoic lumberjack.
War’s Brutal Realities
Bell carried a revolver as his “mascot” amid reports of lynch mobs targeting downed airmen. He defends area bombing under Bomber Harris, arguing it crippled German industry: “There was no moral difference between the chap who drove the tank and the one who built it.”
Cities like Dresden suffered, but so did London, Coventry, and others in the Blitz. Refusing missions risked LMF charges—lack of moral fibre—leading to severe penalties.
Heart-Stopping Moments
On a Berlin raid, flak hurled their plane skyward, engines failed briefly, and shrapnel pierced Bell’s parachute seat. Over Berlin again, a radar warning signaled an Me 262 jet. Bell dove low, weaving to force it away.
His final mission on March 3, 1945, saw the same Mosquito lost two days later, killing its crew. Bell credits luck for his survival.
Enduring Legacy
Married to Kath since July 1943, with daughter Vivienne born amid his ops, Bell lived off-base so she could watch planes return. They shared over 70 years together. Now among the last Bomber Command survivors, Bell shares his story to honor sacrifices and warn against tyranny.
