John Napier BELL

B: 25th April 1916 D: 18th June 1940

Born: Adelaide, South Australia, 25 April 1916 (SA Births Register District: Adelaide Book: 977 Page: 564 Record ID: 576252)

Died: Air Crash (secret rescue mission to France), Ploudaniel, France, 18 June 1940, aged 24 years

John attended St Peters College in Adelaide prior to returning to Farina to work with the family in Bell’s Store.

 

 

Father: John Henry BELL  B: 11th Jul 1885, Port Augusta. D:

Mother: Eva Annie BELL  (nee )  B: 1st Jan 1890, Adelaide.   D:

Siblings:

Alfred Napier BELL B: 1st April 1918 Port Darwin, NT. D: 20th January 1944 Shaggy Ridge, PNG.

Bruce Napier BELL B: 9th Feb 1924, North Adelaide.  D:

His story is out of the ordinary, and it’s conclusion, even more so.

John was borne in Adelaide on April 25th 1916, to Jack and Eva Bell. Jack, with his brother Richard, took over what was Mansfield’s Store at Farina. The store was renamed Bell’s Store, and by the 1930’s, had become the centre of the town.

John attended St Peters College in Adelaide as a boarder from 1931 to 1933. John’s housemaster was  Lt Col John Holroyd Hill so served with distinction in the first world war.

On July 15th 1935, John enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force at Point Cook, Victoria.

No. 10 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force was formed at Point Cook in Victoria on July 1 1939. At the end of July, a small number from the squadron was sent to the United Kingdom to collect and train on new aircraft, and then fly them back to Australia. On the outbreak of World War 2 on October 7 1939, the Australian Government ordered the squadron to remain in the UK to assist the war effort. John was posted to that squadron.

No. 10 Squadron RAAF’s role using Short Sunderland flying boats, was to locate and destroy German submarines and engage in air-sea rescue. In June 1940, it was given another task. The Admiralty requested that an aircraft and crew from the squadron be made available immediately for a secret mission. John Bell volunteered for the mission.

The mission was so secret, that none on 10 Squadron”s base knew where the aircraft was going or why. Only John and his crew were briefed.

At about 11.00pm on June 17th, the Duty NCO was instructed to see that a Walrus Amphibian aircraft was prepared for the mission. He was to see that an armourer fixed a gun in the rear hatch. He was also to brief a nominated Wireless Electrical Mechanic who understood the radio set, but had never operated one in the air. He gave the operator a quick course in operating the set, and also a quick gunnery course.

The Walrus did have a “sort of ring” for mounting a gun – but no gun. So a gas operated Vickers Machine Gun was borrowed from a Sunderland aircraft. It didn’t fit, so a rough modification was made.

John took off with his quickly selected crew at about 3.00am on June 18. They were expected back after dark the same day. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft.

The above text is an extract from research papers provided by Lindsay Gould.

  1. Enlistment records, National Archives of Australia
  2. Post war records and correspondence

Non-Wartime Service

15 Jul 1935: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, SN 162, Aircrew Training Units, Point Cook,Victoria, Australia  
1 Sep 1938: Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, SN 162, No. 9 Squadron (RAAF)  

World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939: Involvement Flying Officer, SN 162, No. 9 Squadron (RAAF)  
1 Jan 1940: Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, SN 162, No. 10 Squadron (RAAF), Battle of the Atlantic – RAN and RAAF Operations  
18 Jun 1940: Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, SN 162, No. 10 Squadron (RAAF), Battle of the Atlantic – RAN and RAAF Operations

 

 

None known.

Book: “Four Men and The Walrus” by Alan Hall. ISBN: 978-0-646-92101-3

Virtual War Memorial: John Napier Bell

Deb Robinson has researched John Napier Bell and has put together her research in a page on Facebook.    – View the information on Facebook here

The information in this profile of John Napier BELL was compiled by Farina Restoration volunteers Mark Roberts and Emily Richardson.

JNB Medal

FO John Napier Bell No5 Squadron RAAF. Ploudaniel Churchyard, Brittany, France

bell-group

bell-group

Bell Bros Store

Bell Bros Store

Flight Officer Bell’s survey flight in A2-4

 
A few months after John was photographed alongside A2-7 & crew at RAAF Base Richmond, John was promoted to Flight Officer on 1 April 1937.
In July 1937, Flight Officer John Napier Bell found himself assigned to Seagull A2-4 undertaking a third survey flight of Pelagic fish movements along the eastern sea board.
An exciting commission as a newly appointed Flight Officer. Johns first leg was RICHMOND to HOBART then up the coast of the eastern seaboard via allocated pit stops [i.e. Flinders Island, TAS & my connection to this story] through to CAIRNS. The month-long journey departed Richmond, 5th July 1937, returning, on 8th August.
John’s crew were Corporal William Alfred Bradley, Fitter Aero [engineer] ACI Arthur Francis Thorley W/T [wireless telegraphist] operator/ mechanic Stan Fowler CSIR Fisheries research officer, & the brains behind this RAAF & CSIR collaboration. Stan a professional photographer captured numerous images of Supermarine Seagull V serial number A2-4 and the young men who, as they say, flew by the seat of their pants from one destination to another.
Images detailing the journey of these 4 professionals have been sitting in the archives waiting to tell their brilliant story through the lens of Fowlers camera.
My research over the winter of 2023 to work out who the RAAF personnel were, eventually proved successful. Returning these images of John Bell to his home town of Farina, Far North, South Australia my mission over these past few months.
These new images & stories add colour & light to handsome young Flight Officer, John Napier Bell about his early days in the Royal Australian Air Force, which by all accounts were anything but boring.
To read more about John Napier Bell & in particular the ill fated secret mission into France in June 1940 can be read on this link https://www.saam.org.au/…/SAAM%20Biography%20-%20BELL…
 
The photos and story have been compiled by Deb Robinson.

8 July 1936 Aerial photograph of ‘Boat Shelter at San Remo’ [Victoria] by Stanley Fowler
A2-4 and crew did a stop over RAAF Base Point Cook to collect Stanley who resided at Williamstown.
The San Remo boat shelter, potential option as stop over if required.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newsp…/article/244557531/26597304 article in first comment
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/269092111

Photo and commentary compiled by Deb Robinson

10 July: Hobart, next port of call. Terrific photo of John & his crew taken by Stan on board the Tas Police patrol boat ‘Allara’ enjoying a winters day sailing with charismatic Sgt Tom Challenger, well known Tasmanian Police Officer.
L-R Arthur Thorley, Sgt Tom Challenger at wheel, John Bell with William Bradley standing at the back.
Well rugged up for a winter sailing with Tom & Stanley [Tom & Stanley well known to each other from Stans previous boat surveys together through the 1920’s through to this new way of conducting his valuable work]
Photographer: Stanley Fowler 10 July 1937

Photo and commentary compiled by Deb Robinson

Danish seiner ‘Nelson’ Hobart:
Photographer: Stanley Fowler 10 July 1937

Photo and commentary compiled by Deb Robinson

Aerial view of Lady Barron taken from A2-4, Flinders Island, Tasmania taken at 1000 feet above sea level.
Looking at the Lady Barron wharf on right
https://www.flinders.tas.gov.au/lady-barron
Fisher Island centre https://absa.asn.au/wp…/uploads/2015/01/49-Fisher-Is.pdf
Gunters Bay.
Photographer: Stanley Fowler, 13 July 1937

Deb’s note here: I was born on Flinders, grew up on our family farm on the Samphire River 5 km’s from Lady Barron

Photo and commentary compiled by Deb Robinson

Flight Officer John Napier Bell talking with Senior Constable Charles Berryman [Tas Police, Whitemark] Pats River Aerodrome, Flinders Island. Bell is wearing his British Air Ministry 1930 pattern flying suit made from heavy khaki canvas.
Charles Berryman’s daughters Iris & Joan looking at handsome young Bell & A2-4.
Photographer: Stanley Fowler 13 July 1937.

Stanley was also well known to Charles Berryman through his previous surveys in the area. Charles Berryman another WW1 veteran.
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C109395

Deb’s note here: I was born on Flinders, grew up on our family farm on the Samphire River 5 km’s from Lady Barron

Photo and commentary compiled by Deb Robinson

A casual portrait of Flight Officer John Napier Bell beside A2-4 on Pat’s River Aerodrome, Flinders Island, Tasmania
This Aerodrome, a grass airfield was officially opened February 1935.
The RAAF lost a highly qualified pilot, with much potential to reach the higher RAAF ranks [as did his other pilot colleagues from No 5 [Fleet Co-operation] Squadron] when John was killed in France on a top secret, ill fated war mission, on 18 June 1940.
His family suffered more than should have when he was missing, they were treated poorly on reading through his RAAF file.

LEST WE FORGET 

Photographer: Stanley Fowler 13 July 1937
https://tahs.org.au/flinders-island-airport/

Photo and commentary compiled by Deb Robinson

The Interstate Hotel, Whitemark, Flinders Island, Tas.
L-R John BELL on road, Publican Fred [Charles Frederick] CLARKE, William BRADLEY, Arthur THORLEY, their accommodation for one night on Flinders Island.
Photographer: Stanley Fowler 13 July 1937

https://www.utas.edu.au/tasmanian…/biogs/E001073b.htm

 

Photo and commentary compiled by Deb Robinson

The Whitemark wharf a few metres from the Interstate Hotel.
Holyman’s Trading Ship ‘Aristides’ at low tide.
Photographer: Stanley Fowler 13 July 1937
The Aristides was wrecked near Prime Seal [Three Hummock] a few years after this photo was taken.

Photo and commentary compiled by Deb Robinson

RAAF Supermarine Seagull A2-4 at Pats River Aerodrome.
Senior Constable Charles Berryman at the rear of A2-4 while his daughters Joan [L] & Iris pose for Stanley, 13 July 1937.

A2-4 has its own spectacular history as the only surviving Supermarine Seagull V from the 24 purchased by the RAAF.
A2-4 is in storage at RAF Hendon Museum

A terrific link about the history of Supermarine Seagull V, later to become a Walrus.
https://acesflyinghigh.wordpress.com/…/raaf…/

Photo and commentary compiled by Deb Robinson

Corporal William Alfred Bradley at work in A2-4, Pats River Aerodrome
Photographer: Stanley Fowler 13 July 1937

Photo and commentary compiled by Deb Robinson

Corporal William Alfred Bradley in A2-4 Pats River Aerodrome.
Nalinga hill in background.
Photographer: Stanley Fowler 13 July 1937

Photo and commentary compiled by Deb Robinson

A2-4 at Pats River Aerodrome, Flinders Island, Tasmania.
L-R Iris Berryman, Senior Constable Charles Berryman, Joan Berryman.
Arthur Thorley hanging out of A2-4
William Bradley [hands on hips]
Pilot Officer John Napier Bell.
Luggage on ground.
Holyman’s terminal to the right of A2-4
Part view of house across Palana road, I think owned by the Blundstone family.

Photo and commentary compiled by Deb Robinson

A2-4 at Pats River Aerodrome, Flinders Island, Tasmania.
L-R William Bradley, Senior Constable Charles Berryman, Arthur Thorley, Iris Berryman, Joan Berryman, Pilot Officer John Napier Bell is located on the top of wing refuelling A2-4 from a truck on the right, the gentleman standing on the back of the small truck is my great uncle Henry Briant.
Henry Briant was employed by Holyman’s to refuel, check oil in Holyman’s aircraft & carry out other checks as required.
He also provided transport for passengers to/from Whitemark.
Holyman’s terminal to the right of image
House across Palana road I think owned by the Blundstone family.
Photographer: Stanley Fowler
NAA: A14436 A2/632

Photo and commentary compiled by Deb Robinson

Senior Constable Charles Berryman posing with his daughters Iris left and Joan right in front of A2-4
Photographer: Stanley Fowler 13 July 1937

Photo and commentary compiled by Deb Robinson

Corporal William Alfred Bradley & Pilot Officer John Napier Bell [stern] in skiff, Forster Bay, Narooma, NSW
A2-4 hit a buoy that pierced her hull so perhaps a few extra days for repair work. The crew were capable of doing repairs on the run [fly] so to speak.
Photographer: Stanley Fowler 19 July 1937

Photo and commentary compiled by Deb Robinson

John Napier Bell in flying suit hand on hip, to his left is William Bradley, above is Arthur Thorley with A2-4’s pegasus engine going.
Maryborough, Qld.
Photographer Stanley Fowler 5th August 1937

Photo and commentary compiled by Deb Robinson

Instrument panel flight cabin A2-4 under operation
Photo Stanley Fowler 7th August 1937

Photo and commentary compiled by Deb Robinson

A2-4 at Archerfield Aerodrome, possibly Bell facing the camera in front of the ‘4’ unknown chaps.
Photo: Stanley Fowler 5 August 1937

Photo and commentary compiled by Deb Robinson