Lieutenant Commander Bell-Irving lost his life when the brakes on 871 Squadron's RCN McDonnell F2H-3 Banshee (BuNo 126333) jet fighter aircraft failed while taxiing aboard the HMCS 'Bonaventure'; the Banshee rolled off the side of the aircraft carrier. Pilot LCDR Brian Bell-Irving ejects as his aircraft falls but he sustains mortal injuries during the ejection. [This is the only operational ejection from a RCN Banshee aircraft.]
From the Canadian Virtual War Memorial-
Military Service:-
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Trade: Pilot
Service Number: O-5756
Age: 32
Force: Navy
Unit: 871 Squadron, RCN
Honours/Citation: Canadian Forces Decoration (CD)
He enlisted on 5 July 1945 aboard HMCS 'Discovery', in Canada.
Son of Robert and Kathleen Rose Bell-Irving. husband of Carolyn (née Chelew) Bell-Irving and father of Michael Bell-Irving of Boulderwood, Nova Scotia, Canada; brother of Peter, Robin and Harry Bell-Irving.
Lieutenant Commander Brian Bell-Irving is commemorated on Page 89 of the 'In the Service of Canada' Book of Remembrance.
[RCN HMCS Bonaventure:-
"Bonnie" was commissioned at Belfast on 17 Jan 1957, and arrived at Halifax on 26 Jun 1957, carrying on deck an experimental hydrofoil craft that was to serve in the development of HMCS 'Bras D'Or'. Unlike her predecessors, 'Bonaventure' had Banshee jet fighters and Tracker A/S aircraft as her complement. Like them, she enjoyed a busy career of flying, training and participating in A/S and tactical exercises with ships of other NATO nations.
*However, on 19 Sept 1969 Canada's anti-militarism government in power at the time announced the retirement of HMCS 'Bonaventure', Canada's last aircraft carrier. It was a drastic cut to Maritime Command of the Canadian Armed Forces.*]
From the Canadian Virtual War Memorial-
Military Service:-
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Trade: Pilot
Service Number: O-5756
Age: 32
Force: Navy
Unit: 871 Squadron, RCN
Honours/Citation: Canadian Forces Decoration (CD)
He enlisted on 5 July 1945 aboard HMCS 'Discovery', in Canada.
Son of Robert and Kathleen Rose Bell-Irving. husband of Carolyn (née Chelew) Bell-Irving and father of Michael Bell-Irving of Boulderwood, Nova Scotia, Canada; brother of Peter, Robin and Harry Bell-Irving.
Lieutenant Commander Brian Bell-Irving is commemorated on Page 89 of the 'In the Service of Canada' Book of Remembrance.
[RCN HMCS Bonaventure:-
"Bonnie" was commissioned at Belfast on 17 Jan 1957, and arrived at Halifax on 26 Jun 1957, carrying on deck an experimental hydrofoil craft that was to serve in the development of HMCS 'Bras D'Or'. Unlike her predecessors, 'Bonaventure' had Banshee jet fighters and Tracker A/S aircraft as her complement. Like them, she enjoyed a busy career of flying, training and participating in A/S and tactical exercises with ships of other NATO nations.
*However, on 19 Sept 1969 Canada's anti-militarism government in power at the time announced the retirement of HMCS 'Bonaventure', Canada's last aircraft carrier. It was a drastic cut to Maritime Command of the Canadian Armed Forces.*]
Lieutenant Commander Bell-Irving lost his life when the brakes on 871 Squadron's RCN McDonnell F2H-3 Banshee (BuNo 126333) jet fighter aircraft failed while taxiing aboard the HMCS 'Bonaventure'; the Banshee rolled off the side of the aircraft carrier. Pilot LCDR Brian Bell-Irving ejects as his aircraft falls but he sustains mortal injuries during the ejection. [This is the only operational ejection from a RCN Banshee aircraft.]
From the Canadian Virtual War Memorial-
Military Service:-
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Trade: Pilot
Service Number: O-5756
Age: 32
Force: Navy
Unit: 871 Squadron, RCN
Honours/Citation: Canadian Forces Decoration (CD)
He enlisted on 5 July 1945 aboard HMCS 'Discovery', in Canada.
Son of Robert and Kathleen Rose Bell-Irving. husband of Carolyn (née Chelew) Bell-Irving and father of Michael Bell-Irving of Boulderwood, Nova Scotia, Canada; brother of Peter, Robin and Harry Bell-Irving.
Lieutenant Commander Brian Bell-Irving is commemorated on Page 89 of the 'In the Service of Canada' Book of Remembrance.
[RCN HMCS Bonaventure:-
"Bonnie" was commissioned at Belfast on 17 Jan 1957, and arrived at Halifax on 26 Jun 1957, carrying on deck an experimental hydrofoil craft that was to serve in the development of HMCS 'Bras D'Or'. Unlike her predecessors, 'Bonaventure' had Banshee jet fighters and Tracker A/S aircraft as her complement. Like them, she enjoyed a busy career of flying, training and participating in A/S and tactical exercises with ships of other NATO nations.
*However, on 19 Sept 1969 Canada's anti-militarism government in power at the time announced the retirement of HMCS 'Bonaventure', Canada's last aircraft carrier. It was a drastic cut to Maritime Command of the Canadian Armed Forces.*]
From the Canadian Virtual War Memorial-
Military Service:-
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Trade: Pilot
Service Number: O-5756
Age: 32
Force: Navy
Unit: 871 Squadron, RCN
Honours/Citation: Canadian Forces Decoration (CD)
He enlisted on 5 July 1945 aboard HMCS 'Discovery', in Canada.
Son of Robert and Kathleen Rose Bell-Irving. husband of Carolyn (née Chelew) Bell-Irving and father of Michael Bell-Irving of Boulderwood, Nova Scotia, Canada; brother of Peter, Robin and Harry Bell-Irving.
Lieutenant Commander Brian Bell-Irving is commemorated on Page 89 of the 'In the Service of Canada' Book of Remembrance.
[RCN HMCS Bonaventure:-
"Bonnie" was commissioned at Belfast on 17 Jan 1957, and arrived at Halifax on 26 Jun 1957, carrying on deck an experimental hydrofoil craft that was to serve in the development of HMCS 'Bras D'Or'. Unlike her predecessors, 'Bonaventure' had Banshee jet fighters and Tracker A/S aircraft as her complement. Like them, she enjoyed a busy career of flying, training and participating in A/S and tactical exercises with ships of other NATO nations.
*However, on 19 Sept 1969 Canada's anti-militarism government in power at the time announced the retirement of HMCS 'Bonaventure', Canada's last aircraft carrier. It was a drastic cut to Maritime Command of the Canadian Armed Forces.*]
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