Operation: Training

Date: 13th March 1941 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 31 Air Navigation School

Type: Avro Anson 652 Mk I

Serial: N9652

Code: -

Base: RCAF Port Albert, Ontario, Canada

Location: Bondhead, Ontario, Canada

Pilot: Sgt. John Clydesdale Bell 580239 RAF Age 30. Killed

Nav U/T: LAC. Maurice Godfrey Folkard 999012 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

Nav U/T: LAC. Ivor Wilfred Jackson 1153084 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

W/Op U/T: AC2. John Langfield Floers 1153084 RAFVR Age ? Seriously Injured

REASON FOR LOSS:

The twin engine airplane departed RCAF Camp Borden on a training flight with a crew of four on board. While flying in formation, Anson N9595 struck the tail of N9652 on the port side.

Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located in Bond Head. Seven crew members in both aircrafts were killed one survived although we don't have details how?

Official Report

Nature of accident and stage of flight:

Collision in mid-air. Anson 9595, flying north north east, overtook and struck tail of Anson
9652 flying north. Both aircraft crashed, 9652 from a spin, landing on its back, completely wracked, and 9595, out of control, at high speed ) and blowing up.

Primary Report:

Carelessness and negligence of pilots of both aircraft in not keeping sufficiently sharp lookouts, resulting in collision of these aircraft at 15,00 ft. and each aircraft crashing to the ground/

Recommendations:

AMT states in 1300-N9652: 'Although.....it was agreed that each pilot was guilty of negligence to some degree, it is still maintained that the pilot of N9595 was more at fault than the pilot of the other aircraft, Anson N9595 approached Anson N9652 with this aircraft on its starboard side. by 'rules of the air it was therefore responsible for avoiding the other aircraft. In addition, at the moment of contact and immediately prior to this contact, it was in a much better position to observe the other aircraft.

Court f Enquiry
Sq/Ldf. A. Carter - Sq/Ldr. S. Mather - F/O. B.H Hopkins

Sgt. John Clydesdale Bell. Barrie Union Cemetery. Grave Lot 250. Block G. Also remembered on family grave in Holy Cross Parish Churchyard. Ryton, Tyne and Wear, England. Son of Thomas Henderson Bell (died 25th May 1952, age 65), and Ann Whitfield Bell (died 20th August 1967, age 78 husband of Isabel Bell (died 20th Aug. 1967), of Dean Bank, of Dean Bank Co. Durham, England. He was described as a very experienced and capable pilot.~~~
Left; Sgt. John Clydesdale Bell

John's younger brother, Fl/Lt Matthellw William Bell, 227 Squadron, was killed in action on 15th March, 1945, whist carrying out air operations in Lancaster PA214 over Illesheim, Germany. Further details here.

LAC. Maurice Godfrey Folkard. Barrie Union Cemetery. Grave Lot 250. Block G. Son of Frederick and Gertrude Annie Folkard, of Roundhay, Leeds, Yorkshire, England.

LAC. Ivor Wilfred Jackson. Barrie Union Cemetery. Grave Lot 250. Block G. Son of Captain Ernest Wilfred Jackson, Merchant Navy and of Florence C. Jackson, of Commondale, Yorkshire, England. Epitaph: 'Sleeping Where No Shadows Fall In Heavenly Peace He Awaits Us All'. His younger brother Fl/Lt. Matthew William Bell RAFVR lost his life in 1945. See here for full details.

Newspaper report on the funeral:

With one of the winters worst blizzard, whipping now across the Barrie Union cemetery, seven young English airmen who died in a midair plane collision last week, were buried with full military honours, Officers and men of the RAF March 17. to which they belonged, were joined in mourning by RCAF men and civilians. The service was led by Fl/Lt. E.H Harston, padre (see note) of the Camp Berden stotion. This photo shows the firing party paying last honours

N9595 Burial and other details:

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Henry Dodsworth. 561105 RAF Age 29. Barrie Union Cemetery. Grave Lot 250. Block G. Husband of Ivy Dodsworth, of Stockton-on-Tees, Co. Durham, England. (Apparently joined the RAF at 16 years old)

Right: W/Op U/T: ACI. Colin Trevor Douglas

W/Op U/T: ACI. Colin Trevor Douglas. 619059 RAF Age 20. Hamilton Cemetery (Woodland). Sec. 3. Lot 23. West. grave. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Ernest Douglas, of Sherwood, Nottingham, England.

Nav U/T: LAC. Eric Alfred Rundell. 927867RAFVR Age 24. Barrie Union Cemetery. Grave Lot 250. Block G. Son of Mr. and Mrs. C. V. Rundell, of Brunton Park, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, husband of Madge Rundell, of Whitchurch, Shropshire, England.

Nav U/T: LAC. Stanley Porter. 990449 RAFVR Age 24. Barrie Union Cemetery. Grave Lot 250. Block G. Son of Joseph and Minnie Porter, of Liverpool, England.

(note) Ernest Hector Harston - born on the 05th May 1891 passed away on the 03rd January 1969, age 77. Husband of Margaret Vitaline Harston (née Foster - died on the 01st May 1980, age 95)

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of these crew with thanks to the National Archives Kew, Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Left: A County Durham Flag presented at the headstone of the Bell family in the grounds of Holy Cross Church, Ryton which is a village close to Gateshead in historic County Durham.

The headstone names 5 family members namely
Thomas Bell, his sons John Bell and Matthew Bell, Wife Ann Bell and daughter Ann Joyce Richardson. (courtesy Paul Strophair)

uClose up of Bell family grave

Cort of enquiry report

Other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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