What aircraft did WW2 pilot Colin Bell fly?

Colin Bell flew a de Havilland DH98 Mosquito, known as the 'Wooden Wonder'.

When did Colin Bell's terrifying bombing raid over Hanover occur?

The bombing raid over Hanover, where Colin Bell experienced a near-death dive, occurred in September 1944.

What made the de Havilland DH98 Mosquito significant in WW2?

The de Havilland DH98 Mosquito was the world's fastest operational aircraft at the time, noted for its speed and 'Wooden Wonder' construction.

Home / War and Conflict / WW2 Pilot's Near-Death Dive at 105

WW2 Pilot's Near-Death Dive at 105

28 Feb

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Summary

A 105-year-old WW2 pilot recounts a terrifying dive over Hanover in 1944.
He piloted a de Havilland DH98 Mosquito, the world's fastest aircraft then.
The pilot survived flak, engine failure, and a jet fighter attack.

Colin Bell, celebrating his 105th birthday, recounts his terrifying first taste of war in September 1944. Flying a de Havilland DH98 Mosquito, known as the 'Wooden Wonder' for its wood and glue construction, he and his navigator, Doug Redmond, bombed Hanover. The aircraft, the world's fastest operational plane, offered a thrilling but perilous experience, likened to flying a Ferrari.

During the raid, intense enemy searchlights and anti-aircraft fire filled the sky. Bell's Mosquito was targeted near a German naval base, forcing him into a gut-wrenching vertical dive to escape. The aircraft's controls were unresponsive due to the speed and descent rate, but Bell managed to regain control just before impact.