LEST WE FORGET

Pilot Officer Maxwell Herron BELL DFC

Service No: 405995
Born: Toowoomba QLD, 19 February 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 20 July 1941
Unit: No. 19 Squadron (RAF)
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Died: Prisoner of War (Executed) (from the loss of No. 19 Squadron Mustang aircraft FX887 on 9 September 1944), Netherlands, 9 September 1944, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, Gelderland, Netherlands
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John George Kingsborrough Bell and Evelyn Mary Bell, of Bowenville, Queensland, Australia.
Roll of Honour: Bowenville QLD
Remembered: Panel 118, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

DFC Citation: Warrant Officer Bell is an efficient and most resolute pilot. He has taken part in many harassing attacks on the enemy and has invariably displayed a high degree of gallantry.
He has destroyed four enemy aircraft.

On 9 September 1944 Mustang FX887 was flown by Pilot Officer Bell on an armed reconnaissance to Arnhem-Zivalle-Lingen. Bell was flying No. 3 in White Section of four aircraft. At about 1550 hours the section attacked a train south of Apeldoorn, Holland. On descending down to strafe, the aircraft were hit by intense anti-aircraft fire. After pulling out White 3 was heard to say that he was going to bale out. Pilot Officer Bell was then told to head south towards a large wood and nothing more was seen of him. He was captured and executed.

References:

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/5/194

Bibliography:

Ilbery, P.L.T. (Peter Leslie Thomas) (422957) Hatching an Air Force: 2SFTS, 5SFTS, 1BFTS Uranquinty and Wagga Wagga, Banner Books Maryborough QLD 4650, 2002

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