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Douglas Bell [South Africa]

Name:Douglas John Bell
Country:South Africa
Rank:Captain
Service:Royal Flying Corps
Royal Air Force
Squadrons:3, 27, 78
Victories:20
Born:16 September 1893
Place of Birth:
Died:27 May 1918Killed In Action
Place of Death:Near Thiepval
Military Cross (MC) and BarDouglas Bell

Notes
On 1 June 1916, Bell enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps and was assigned to 27 Squadron in October 1916. Credited with three Albatros D.III's, Bell and John Gilmour of Scotland were the two highest scoring aces to fly the Martinsyde G.100. Following a promotion to flight commander in March 1917, Bell was reassigned to 78 Squadron in England. Though never confirmed, he and his observer scored the first victory for the Home Defence on the evening of 25 September 1917. Flying a Sopwith 1½ Strutter, Bell and Lt. G.G. Williams attacked a Gotha bomber south of Brentwood, firing into it for nearly fifteen minutes before it crashed into the North Sea. On 13 February 1918, Bell returned to France, joining 3 Squadron as a flight commander. Flying the Sopwith Camel, he scored 17 victories in less than two months before he was killed in action attacking a two-seater during the German offensive on the Aisne.

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