Bell, Derek Reginald
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Derek Reginald |
Surname | Bell |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 25-07-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Percy Reginald and Ida Lilian Bell, of Little Melton, Norfolk. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax V |
Serial Number | DK187 |
Markings | MP-M |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 142. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 129 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1334843 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 76 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Behind old Main Guardroom, former Holme On Spalding Moor Airfield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Pillar with inscribed Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | In Remembrance of the aircrew members from the UK,Australia,New Zealand,Canada and Norway,who gave their lives in the cause of freedom in operational sorties against the enemy from 76 Sqn 1941-1945 and to the ground personal who lost their lives by enemy |
Location | All Saints Church, Holme On Spalding Moor, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window and Roll of Honour within Wooden Box with inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | S G Window In memory of 76 Sqn R.A.F / Roll of honour In memory of those members of 76 Sqn R.A.F who were killed on active service 1939-1954 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/651/14 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/651/13 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 24-07-1943 |
End Date | 25-07-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Holme-on-Spalding-Moor |
Day/Night Raid | Night (42% moon) |
Operation | Hamburg. 791 aircraft, 12 losses (1.5%). Clear conditions over the target and only a light wind. This was the first raid in which Window was used. A mixture of H2S and visual marking was used and although initial bombing was concentrated, creepback was particularly evident with a corridor of fire some 6 miles long developing. Approximately 1500 civilian deaths- the greatest number in a raid outside the reach of Oboe. |
Reason for Loss | Presumed to have crashed into the North Sea |