John Richard Bell was born on February 12, 1922, in Albion, Cassia County, Idaho. He was the son of Otto E Bell and LaPreal H Hardman McKnight. He was married to Juanita Bilbao Hardman.

John served in the 367th Bomber Squadron, 306th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Ball Turret Gunner on the B-17 #42-31445 during World War II.

On April 24, 1944, his crew took off from Station 111 airfield in Thurleigh, England, for a mission to Oberpfaffenhofen. At about 11:23 AM, their airplane was shot down by flak, taking a direct hit to the #4 engine. Four members were able to bail out just before their plane exploded in flight. The aircraft crashed in the La Salandrière forest range in Saint-Saëns. The others that were not able to bail out died in the incident, including Sgt Bell.

Originally buried in St-Riquier-ès-Plains, Sgt Bell is now buried in the Heber City Cemetery, Heber City, Wasatch County, Utah, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net