Colin Bell Keynote Speaker

Colin S Bell (Distinguished Flying Cross – AE) served in WW2 on operations as a Mosquito Bomber Pilot. He is a highly accomplished speaker and enthralls audiences with his WW2 experiences.

He was born in 1921, joined the Royal Air Force towards the end of 1940 and his flying training was carried out in the United States of America prior to their entry into the War (before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour) in December 1941.

Following Pearl Harbour and having been commissioned into the RAF, Colin Bell was retained by the American Army Air Corps as an advanced single engine flying instructor responsible for training American and British Cadets. On his return to the UK in 1943, he converted to twin engine Mosquito Bombers and joined 608 Squadron (Pathfinder Group) based at Downham Market in Norfolk.

During his tour of operations he carried out 50 bombing raids – all over Germany- 13 of them over Berlin. Subsequently, he was transferred to ferry duties bringing back newly built Mosquitos from Canada to the UK with stop-offs at Goose Bay, Labrador,  Bluey West 1 (on the West coast of Greenland), Reykjavik in Iceland, and finally into Prestwick in Ayrshire, Scotland.  He ended his full time RAF service in 1946 flying out of Blackbushe near Camberley carrying Diplomatic mail to Embassies situated in various parts of Europe and Africa. Post World War 2, he qualified as a Chartered Surveyor, running his own firm.

Colin is an active supporter of the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund through speaking engagements. Until recently he served on the Committee of the Air Crew Association, Biggin Hill Wing.   He was made a Freeman of the City of London on 13^th January 1987 and of the the District of Huntingdonshire on 17^th August 2013.

In October 2021, Colin was received the “True Englishman” Award from the St Georges Day Club.

Colin is an expert speaker on the war in the air during World War Two, and is one of the last remaining “first hand” voices on that critical time in history.