Gerald Gordon Bell

Gerald Gordon Bell
Nickname(s)	Gerry
Born	1890 Hamilton, Ontario
Died	17 January 1989
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Flying Corps, Royal Canadian Air Force
Years of service	1936-1961
Rank	Captain
Unit	No. 17, 22, & No. 47 Squadron RFC, No. 150 Squadron RAF
Awards	The Legion of Honor, Croix de Guerre, Distinguished Flying Cross

Gerald Gordon Bell DFC (11 June 1890 - Unknown date) was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 16 victories.

During 1917 Bell flew as an observer/gunner with No. 22 Squadron, claiming 3 victories. After training as a pilot, Bell was sent to Greece to fly scouts with 47 Squadron and 150 Sqn.

List of aerial victories

No.	Date/time	Aircraft	Foe	Result	Location	Notes
1	8 April 1917 @ 0700 hours	Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2b serial number A5454	Albatros D.III	Destroyed	Regny	Pilot: A W Beale. Victory shared with Llewelyn Davies, Carleton Main Clement, and 8 other pilots.
2	3 May 1917 @ 1730 hours	Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2b s/n A855	Albatros D.III	Destroyed		Pilot: E A H Ward
3	29 July 1917 @ 0650 hours	Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2b	Two-seater reconnaissance plane	Destroyed	Tortequesne	Pilot: E A H Ward
4	13 April 1918 @ 0730 hours	Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n B692	Albatros D.III	Destroyed	1500 yards south of Brajkovic	Victory shared with Charles D. B. Green
5	13 May 1918 @ 0800 hours	Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n B695	Albatros D.III	Destroyed	Livanovo	Victory shared with Acheson Goulding
6	15 May 1918 @ 0530 hours	Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n B28	Albatros D.V	Destroyed	Hudova	Victory shared with Frederick Travers
7	1 June 1918 @ 1505 hours	Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n B692	Siemens-Schuckert D.III	Destroyed	Casandale
8	15 June 1918 @ 0915 hours	Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n B692	Albatros D.V	Destroyed	Marinopolje	Victory shared with Leslie Hamilton, another pilot
9	18 June 1918 @ 0750 hours	Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n B692	Albatros D.V	Destroyed	North of Paljorca	Victory shared with Acheson Goulding
10	23 June 1918 @ 0745 hours	Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n B6925	Albatros D.V	Destroyed	Hill 5401-Rupel Pass	Victory shared with Leslie Hamilton
11	9 July 1918 @ 0800 hours	Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n B6945	Rumpler reconnaissance plane	Destroyed	Angista, Greece
12	19 July 1918 @ 0800 hours	Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n B692	Albatros D.V	Destroyed	West of Livanova aerodrome	Victory shared with Arthur Jarvis, two other pilots
13	5 August 1918 @ 0815 hours	Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D3945	Siemens-Schuckert D.III	Destroyed	3000 yards northwest of Hudova	Shared victory
14	15 August 1918 @ 1200 hours	Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D3945	LVG reconnaissance plane	Destroyed	Seres Uesnik
15	21 August 1918 @ 0910 hours	Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D3945	LVG reconnaissance plane	Destroyed	Gerejik-Derbent
16	18 September 1918 @ 0630 hours	Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D3945	Fokker fighter	Destroyed	Karali

Text of citations

Distinguished Flying Cross

"Lieut. (T./Capt.) Gerald Gordon Bell (E. Ontario R.). This officer has had numerous engagements with hostile aircraft, invariably displaying marked gallantry and leadership of a high order, notably on the 1st of June, when he, accompanied by another pilot, attacked a formation of twelve enemy scouts; he shot down one in flames and drove down others out of control, only breaking off the engagement when all his ammunition had been expended."

References

• http://pw20c.mcmaster.ca/case-study/canada-s-first-black-airman-gerry-bell Retrieved 5 May 2014.