Bell, Murray Richard
Personal Information
Rank | WO2 |
Forename(s) | Murray Richard |
Surname | Bell |
Gender | M |
Age | |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 02-05-1944 |
Next of Kin |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Short Stirling III |
Serial Number | EF504 |
Markings | HA-P |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Poix-de-Picardie (Poix-de-la-Somme) Churchyard |
Grave Reference | Row A. Coll. grave 12-14. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 129 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/157097 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 218 (Gold Coast) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | St. Mary's Church, Bexwell, Norfolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of the squadrons based at R.A.F. Downham Market and those who have their lives during the 1939 - 1945 war |
Location | All Saints Church, Chedburgh, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | RoH and Sqn Crest |
Memorial Text | Roll of Honour and scroll remembering the members of the Royal and Polish Air Forces who served at RAF Chedburgh 1942 - 1946 |
Miscellaneous Information
The two surviving crew members both successfully evaded capture |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1352/8 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1352/7 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 01-05-1944 |
End Date | 02-05-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Woolfox Lodge |
Day/Night Raid | Night (66% moon) |
Operation | Chambly- to bomb railway installations. 120 aircraft, 5 losses (4.2%). This was the main railway depot and stores for the northern French railway network. The raid was extremely successful with around 500 high-explosive bombs falling in the depot with significant damage to all departments. It was completely out of action for ten days. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed near Poix de la Somme, France |