Hilliard Brooke Bell
Encyclopedia
Captain Hilliard Brooke Bell was a Canadian-born World War I flying ace
credited with 10 aerial victories. He returned to his country's service during World War II.
, Ontario. His mother, Sarah Bell, was designated as his next of kin. He was a student claiming residence in Toronto, with one year's militia service. His physical examination noted that he had brown eyes in a dark complexion, topped by dark brown hair. He was 5 feet 7 3/4 inches tall, and had a mole on his right shoulder.
on probation.
On 4 September 1917, he was confirmed in rank as a temporary second lieutenant on probation.
Bell scored his aerial victories while stationed as a Sopwith Camel
pilot with 66 Squadron on the Italian Front. His first win came on 16 December 1917, when he drove down an enemy Albatros D.V
out of control. In early February 1918, he would strike twice more, burning an Albatros D.III
on the 4th and destroying an Aviatik
on the 6th. On 23 February 1918, even though he was still a second lieutenant, he was appointed a Flight Commander with an accompanying temporary promotion to captain.
On 16 March, Bell drove an Austro-Hungarian Berg D.I down out of control. Three days later, he destroyed an Albatros D.III to become an ace. On 23 April, he flamed another Albatros D.III. On 25 April 1918, he was promoted from second lieutenant to lieutenant.
On 3 May 1918, Bell continued his string by destroying an Albatros D.III over Ormelle
. A week later, he set an Albatros D.III afire in midair for a third time.
Bell ended his victory string in early July 1918. On morning patrols on both the 1st and 4th, he destroyed a Pfalz D.III
fighter. He was awarded a Military Cross for his valor, with notice of it being posted in the London Gazette on
16 September 1918. On 2 November 1918, he was awarded an Italian Bronze Medal of Military Valor
.
in RAF Volunteer Reserve. On 28 December 1939, he was granted substantive appointment as Flying Officer
. 9 September 1940 confirmed in rank as Pilot Officer.
On 1 April 1943, he was carried as killed in action
on Casualty Communique No. 215.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with 10 aerial victories. He returned to his country's service during World War II.
Early life
Bell enlisted on 23 May 1916. His enlistment papers state he was born 9 March 1897 in ChathamChatham
-Places:In England:*Chatham, Kent**Chatham Dockyard, frequently referred to simply as "Chatham"**Chatham Historic Dockyard, a maritime museum that occupies part of the site of Chatham Dockyard...
, Ontario. His mother, Sarah Bell, was designated as his next of kin. He was a student claiming residence in Toronto, with one year's militia service. His physical examination noted that he had brown eyes in a dark complexion, topped by dark brown hair. He was 5 feet 7 3/4 inches tall, and had a mole on his right shoulder.
World War I
On 24 August 1917. Bell was appointed a second lieutenantSecond Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
on probation.
On 4 September 1917, he was confirmed in rank as a temporary second lieutenant on probation.
Bell scored his aerial victories while stationed as a Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
pilot with 66 Squadron on the Italian Front. His first win came on 16 December 1917, when he drove down an enemy Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
out of control. In early February 1918, he would strike twice more, burning an Albatros D.III
Albatros D.III
The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer...
on the 4th and destroying an Aviatik
Aviatik
Automobil und Aviatik AG was a German aircraft manufacturer during World War I. The company was established at Mülhausen in 1910 and soon became one of the country's leading producers of aircraft, relocating to Freiburg in 1914 and establishing a subsidiary in Vienna as Österreichisch-Ungarische...
on the 6th. On 23 February 1918, even though he was still a second lieutenant, he was appointed a Flight Commander with an accompanying temporary promotion to captain.
On 16 March, Bell drove an Austro-Hungarian Berg D.I down out of control. Three days later, he destroyed an Albatros D.III to become an ace. On 23 April, he flamed another Albatros D.III. On 25 April 1918, he was promoted from second lieutenant to lieutenant.
On 3 May 1918, Bell continued his string by destroying an Albatros D.III over Ormelle
Ormelle
Ormelle is a comune in the Province of Treviso in the Italian region Veneto, located about 40 km north of Venice and about 20 km northeast of Treviso...
. A week later, he set an Albatros D.III afire in midair for a third time.
Bell ended his victory string in early July 1918. On morning patrols on both the 1st and 4th, he destroyed a Pfalz D.III
Pfalz D.III
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1.* Grosz, Peter M. Pfalz D.IIIa . Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-94841-425-1.* Guttman, Jon. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 ...
fighter. He was awarded a Military Cross for his valor, with notice of it being posted in the London Gazette on
16 September 1918. On 2 November 1918, he was awarded an Italian Bronze Medal of Military Valor
Bronze Medal of Military Valor
The Bronze Medal of Military Valor is an Italian medal for gallantry.It was established by Charles Albert of Sardinia on March 26, 1833, along with the higher ranking Gold and Silver Medals for Military valor...
.
World War II service
On 11 September 1939, he was appointed as a probationary Pilot OfficerPilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
in RAF Volunteer Reserve. On 28 December 1939, he was granted substantive appointment as Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
. 9 September 1940 confirmed in rank as Pilot Officer.
On 1 April 1943, he was carried as killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
on Casualty Communique No. 215.