Flight Lieutenant Colin Bell DFC is an extraordinary man. At 105 years old, he still walks confidently without a stick, uses smartphones and computers with ease, and has a mind that is as sharp as ever. Remarkably, he even looks decades younger than his age. In this video, he shares powerful memories from his time flying with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.
Colin began learning to fly in the United States before America officially joined the Allies. After earning his wings, he remained in Florida training American pilots following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, when Franklin D. Roosevelt authorised American involvement in the war.
He vividly recalls the first time he flew the legendary de Havilland Mosquito—an aircraft that would later take him and his navigator, Doug Redmond, on 50 dangerous missions over occupied Europe. With almost no practice, his next flight after that first experience was a real combat mission.
In this interview, Colin describes what it felt like to fly bombing raids, the intense routines before missions, and the realities of wartime aviation. His story is both fascinating and inspiring, showing how experiences from decades ago can still resonate in today’s world.
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