Douglas John Bell
| Douglas John Bell | |
|---|---|
| Born |
16 September 1893 South Africa |
| Died | 27 May 1918 (aged 24) Near Thiepval, France (KIA) |
| Commemorated at | Arras Flying Services Memorial, Pas de Calais, France |
| Allegiance | Union of South Africa United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
Union Defence Force British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1914–1918 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit |
Light Horse Regiment No. 27 Squadron RFC No. 78 Squadron RFC No. 3 Squadron RFC/RAF |
| Battles/wars | World War I • South-West Africa Campaign • Western Front |
| Awards | Military Cross & Bar |
Captain Douglas John Bell MC* (16 September 1893 – 27 May 1918) was a South African World War I fighter ace credited with 20 aerial victories. He was one of the first fighter pilots to successfully engage an enemy multi-engine bomber. He became the leading ace of the nine in No. 3 Squadron RAF.
Bell was born in South Africa, the son of Herbert Bell and of Christine (née Williams) of Johannesburg, Transvaal. He first served in the Transvaal Light Horse Regiment during the South-West Africa Campaign of 1914–1915.
Bell enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps on 1 June 1916. He received his Aviator's Certificate on 22 September 1916. That same day, as a second lieutenant, he was appointed a flying officer. The following month, he was assigned to No. 27 Squadron, to fly the Martinsyde G.100. Despite the poor performance of a bomber so ungainly that it was nicknamed "The Elephant", Bell managed to score three victories flying the Martinsyde. He drove down an Albatros D.III on 1 May 1917; on 4 June, he shared the destruction of another D.III with another pilot, and drove a third down out of control. The performance made him one of the top two scorers with the Martinsyde. On 15 June, he was awarded the Military Cross for his performance of a long-distance bombing mission.
Bell was appointed a flight commander with the temporary rank of captain on 9 April 1917. He was then reassigned to No. 78 Squadron, which was flying Sopwith 1½ Strutters on Home Defence duty back in England. While with No. 78 he engaged a Gotha bomber on 25 September 1917. After nearly fifteen minutes of machine-gunning the Gotha, it crashed into the North Sea. His claim for this victory went unconfirmed; it would have been Home Defence's first victory.
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