Colin Bell

Flight Lieutenant Colin Bell, DFC, is a British pilot notable being the last surviving Second World War de Havilland Mosquito pilot. Bell joined the Royal Air Force in 1940, and had a three-year spell as a flying instructor before joining No. 608 (Pathfinder) Squadron, with whom he flew fifty sorties over Germany. In 2026 Bell released his memoir, Bloody Dangerous.

Early life Bell was born on 5 March 1921. He was inspired to join the RAF after seeing a nearby house struck by a bomb during the London Blitz.

RAF service Bell joined the RAF in 1940, and was sent to the United States for civilian flying training under the Arnold Scheme. Following America's entry into the war, Bell was retained as an instructor, responsible for training British and American cadets in the piloting of single-engined aircraft.

In 2019, Bell was formally presented with his wings by Air Marshal Stuart Atha; due to his time as an instructor during the Second World War, he had not received them upon completing his flying training.

In 2023, Bell took part in a fundraising drive for the London Air Ambulance, the Royal College of Nursing Foundation, and the RAF Benevolent Fund. As part of this drive, he abseiled 17 storeys down the side of the Royal London Hospital. At 102 years old, he set the world record for 'oldest-ever participant in an abseil'.

On 5 March 2026, Bell's memoir, Bloody Dangerous, was published by Hachette UK. During the press tour, Bell was welcomed to Buckingham Palace by King Charles III, and presented with the citation to his Distinguished Flying Cross.