82 http://www.britainatwar.comCOLLECTIONS|KENT BATTLE OF BRITAIN MUSEUM
David was born on January 22, 1921
and was granted a Short Service
Commission in the RAF. He began his
initial flying training at 11 Elementary
& Reserve Flying Training School
at Perth, Scotland, on February
6, 1939 as a pupil pilot. With his
instruction completed, Bell-Salter was
commissioned as a pilot officer and
joined the newly formed 253 Squadron
at Manston, Kent, on November 6,
1939.
He was sent to Poix, France, with
253 Squadron’s ‘A’ Flight on May 18,- On this day Bell-Salter shared in
the destruction of a Henschel HS 126.
But was then shot down in Hurricane
L1655, by a Messerschmitt Bf 110 of
4./ZG 26 south of Vitry-sur-Seine
during an attack on Heinkel He 111s of
11./KG 1. He was unhurt and re-joined
his unit on May 22. On the 24th, the
flight was withdrawn to Kirton-in-
Lindsey, Lincolnshire.
On September 2, 1940 he was shot
down in Hurricane I V6640, in combat
over the Sussex coast near Rye. He
attempted to get out of his cockpit,
but he was flying without gloves and,
with his hood open, his hands were
too cold to pull the harness pin out.
Down to 1,500ft (457m), he finally
managed work the release and shot
out by kicking his feet on the floor.
The aircraft, being in a full-throttle
dive, made the airflow such as to
render him unconscious as he went
through it. He came to at only 100ft
from the ground, hanging upside down
by one leg with a single rigging line
caught behind his knee. The parachute
was torn across and flapping and his
harness was off and hanging beside
him. On hitting the ground, Bell-
Salter passed out again. He sustained
several badly crushed vertebrae, both
shoulders were dislocated, one knee
was broken and his right heel smashed.
He was admitted to Rye hospital. His
Hurricane crashed approximately half
a mile south of the railway station at
Appledore, Kent.BACK IN THE COCKPIT
He was posted from 253 Squadron to
RAF Kenley, Surrey, on October 5, 1940
as non-effective sick and was in various
hospitals for several months. But he
eventually returned to his duties and in
June 1941, Bell-Salter was instructing atVISITOR INFORMATION
The museum is open from April
2 to November 3 from 10am to
4pm, with extended hours (10am
to 5pm) May to September. Closed
Mondays, except Bank Holidays. Last
entry is one hour before closing.
Admission is charged (cash only).
Please note that no cameras, video
recorders or any other types of
electronic recording equipment are
allowed in the museum.
Contact: Kent Battle of Britain
Museum, Aerodrome Road, Hawkinge,
Folkestone, Kent, CT18 7AG. Tel:
01303 893140. http://www.kbobm.orgABOVE
One of six
display halls in
the Operation Block
at the Kent Battle
of Britain Museum.53 Operational Training Unit, Heston,
near London. He was released from the
RAF in 1946 as a flight lieutenant. He
died in February 1998.
We were contacted in January 2019
by Peter Freeborn who acquired the
Maltese boat from Plt Off Bell-Salter’s
mother in 1979 and over the last
40 years has fully restored it on two
separate occasions, returning it to its
former glory, even down to the correct
colours for the shipyard that built it
in Malta. The vessel was subsequently
donated by Peter on June 25 this
year, with the blessing of Bell-Salter’s
widow and daughter, so we at the Kent
Battle of Britain Museum Trust, can
commemorate him alongside so many
of his friends and colleagues. It’s all part
of our tribute to the Few.“The aircraft, being in a full-throttle dive, made the airflow such as
to render him unconscious as he went through it. He came to at
only 100ft from the ground, hanging upside down by one leg with a
single rigging line caught behind his knee”
RIGHT
Inside the Lord
Dowding Memorial
Hangar at Hawkinge.80-82 MUSEUMS BAW SEPT2019.indd 82 8/15/2019 9:27:18 AM