Flt Lt Colin Bell DFC has a day to remember at the Battle of Britain Airshow

The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans was delighted to take Flt Lt Colin Bell DFC to the Aero Legends Battle of Britain Airshow at RAF Woodchurch in Kent on 8 August, where he was given a hero’s welcome.

Colin was accompanied by London licensed black cab driver, Dean Euesden, who watched in awe as Colin signed copy after copy of his recently published memoir, Bloody Dangerous, for enthusiastic airshow visitors.

Colin’s own wartime story is extraordinary. He joined the RAF in 1940 and, after completing his flying training in the USA, returned to Britain and converted to the de Havilland Mosquito. As a member of No. 608 (Pathfinder) Squadron, Colin flew 50 bombing missions over Germany, including 13 raids on Berlin. He survived numerous terrifying encounters, including engine failures, fuel starvation, severe icing, anti-aircraft fire and close explosions. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his wartime service.

Now one of the last surviving WWII Mosquito pilots, Colin has captured those remarkable experiences in Bloody Dangerous. Published in 2026 to mark his 105th birthday, the book offers a fascinating first-hand account of flying the RAF's legendary "wooden wonder" on operations over Nazi Germany.

It was a privilege for the Taxi Charity to help Colin enjoy a day surrounded by aircraft, veterans and people eager to hear his stories, and Dean certainly had a memorable ringside seat as Colin signed books and shared his experiences with a new generation.

You can buy Colin Bell’s Bloody Dangerous here: www.littlebrown.co.uk/titles/colin-bell/bloody-dangerous/9780349148977