David Bell J/35329 Flying Officer 429 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross March 18, 1916 Winnipeg, Manitoba September 15, 1939 Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba 23 5 feet, 10 inches fair blue fair Salesman/Mechanic United Church Single (at enlistment) William Bell (Father) Winnipeg, Manitoba Barbara Ruth Bell (Wife) Yarmouth NS November 30, 1944 28 Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, United Kingdom Panel 245 Commemorated on Page 246 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on May 24 Commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, Alberta David was the son of William and Annie Bell, of Winnipeg, Manitoba. One of three children, he was the brother of William Bell Jr. and Margaret May Bell. On September 6, 1943 he married Barbara Ruth (Currier) Bell of Yarmouth, NS. During his service in Canada, David Bell served at Yarmouth (RCAF Station) between June 1942 and August 1942. He went overseas to England in 1943. On his first operational flight on September 28, 1944, his aircraft received direct flak hits when making his bombing raid over the target. Just after completing his run, his aircraft was again engaged by flak, this time wounding the flight engineer and seriously damaging the aircraft. In spite of these difficulties and against great odds he brought his crippled aircraft and crew safely back to an emergency landing field in England. For his “ exhibition of masterly flying and his determination to carry out his duty and return with his crew …” he was awarded the the Distinguished Flying Cross. On November 30, 1944 Flying Officer Bell and his crew took off on an operational sortie over Duisburg, Germany and failed to return to their base.