WW2 Mosquito pilot, 103, urges Britons to learn from the mistakes of the past
A decorated 103-year-old Second World War pilot has urged people to learn from the past to avoid repeating mistakes as he reflected on the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
Colin Bell, a former flight lieutenant and Mosquito pilot, served as a pathfinder with 608 Squadron and survived 50 bombing raids over Germany.
"A poll was taken not long ago, and defence was down at number eight on the list of priorities, when in my judgement it ought to be number one," said Mr Bell.
The Royal Air Force veteran and Distinguished Flying Cross-holder said remembering the events of the Second World War should be a wake-up call to never sleepwalk into war.
Mr Bell said: "[Wartime memorials] remind people how important it is to have adequate defence - and unfortunately this is something I think your everyday Briton has rather lost sight of.
"I remember the warnings given by Sir Winston Churchill that people were disregarding.
"Believe it or not until 1938 the British government were trying to persuade other people in Europe to disarm, while Germany was arming up to the teeth. How stupid can you get?
"I hope the lessons are being learnt, albeit late in my lifetime."
Mr Bell flew the de Havilland Mosquito fighter-bomber, and he survived 50 raids over Germany, including 13 over Berlin, during WW2.
His actions earned him acclaim from Bomber Command.
He said memorials such as the D-Day 80th anniversary are crucial to reminding people of the gravity of war and how to learn from our history.
When describing the Mosquito, he said: "It was faster, it would just respond to the slightest pressure on the controls.
"It could fly on one engine almost as well as it could on two - slowly, but it was very responsive.
"I was very lucky to be flying Mosquitos, I was very lucky to be in the RAF as a pilot. I always regard it as a privilege."
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