WW2 Mosquito pilot visits The Bunker

Officers were delighted to welcome a World War Two veteran to The Bunker museum recently.

Retired Flight Lieutenant Colin Bell, who flew Mosquito planes in the war, visited Hatfield Police Station on Thursday 3 April for a special tour of the museum.

The Bunker, which is situated in the station’s basement, celebrates the Grade II listed building’s heritage as a former aircraft factory.

During its time as an aircraft factory, the police station building famously made the Mosquito planes flown by Colin and his fellow pilots.

The Bunker was subsequently created as a public engagement initiative to foster better relations between the police and the local community, particularly schoolchildren.

Colin – who is 104 years old – was shown round The Bunker by PCSO Anne Devine and Police Support Volunteer Alistair Hodgson. The pair regularly host visits for the local community, helping them to learn more about their local police.

To mark the special visit, the trio were also joined by the High Sheriff of Hertfordshire Annie Brewster for one of the final engagements of her term.

Colin was shown the various rooms inside The Bunker; the air raid shelter, the art deco room, the history room and the police room.

Police Support Volunteer Alistair said: “Colin is a remarkable individual and it was a privilege to have him visit our museum. We are regularly hosting events at The Bunker to meet the community and give them the chance to share their views on local police matters. We explain to them the history of our building, including the war effort, so it was very surreal to be joined in The Bunker by an actual World War Two Mosquito pilot! It is certainly a visit we won’t forget.”

Colin himself added: "During World War Two, I carried out 50 bombing operations over Germany, 13 of them over Berlin at a time when Berlin was a boiling cauldron of anti-aircraft defences - lethal anti aircraft guns and 'wild boar' Luftwaffe night fighters stacked high in the night sky to attack you - it was hell.

“But one of the factors that enabled me to survive was undoubtedly the extraordinary flying characteristics of the Mosquito - it was fast, manoeuvrable and it could out fly all of the German propeller driven aircraft.

“It was particularly poignant then for me to be invited by the police to visit The Bunker - the former home of the de Havilland Aircraft Company which designed and manufactured the Mosquito. The Mosquito had a profound effect on the outcome of the air war.

“It was very special to visit the site where such historically significant work took place. I recommend it to anyone. It is a secret gem of World War II aviation history.

“I would particularly like to thank PCSO Anne Devine and her team, the hugely informative Alistair Hodgson and the amazing and engaging Annie Brewster, the High Sheriff of Hertfordshire for their warm hospitality and a most interesting and informative visit."

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