1943 RAF Casualty help wanted

[nigelshipp]

1211171 Sergeant (Pilot) Thomas Baker Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve was killed on 22 September 1943 aged 22

he was the son of Arthur and Alice Baker of Corby, Northamptonshire and now rests in my local town Cemetery.

Can anyone tell me anything about the circumstances of his death and are the names of the other crew involved known.

Regards
Nigel

[Icare9]

From the CWGC record it looks as if you mistyped the date:
Name: BAKER, THOMAS
Initials: T
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Age: 22
Date of Death: 20/09/1943
Service No: 1211171
Additional information: Son of Arthur and Alice Baker, of Corby.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Row 62. Grave 7.
Cemetery: CORBY CEMETERY

As no Squadron is given, perhaps he was still under training, conducting an air test or navigation exercise. Geoff's Search Engine produces 27 RAF deaths that day, with A Bracey; AW Foster and JJ Fox (and probably others) being potential other men.

I'm sure someone will be along with better info

[Peter Clare]

Sgt. Baker is listed in 'Flight' 2 December 1943 as 'Killed On Active Service' which means that he died as a result of an accident or something similar whilst engaged on operational duties. Thus, if a person was killed on a training sortie, or a flight not engaged in operations against the enemy that would be classed as KOAS.

[Peter Clare]

20 September 1943

1485 Flight
Wellington X HE350
Op. Training

P/O. W G. Baker inj
Sgt. J. Pemberton inj
Sgt. A. Kirkman inj
P/O. R A. Baker DFC +
Sgt. T C. Newton inj
Sgt.A. Bracey +
Sgt. T. Baker +

Took off 1537 hrs Skellingthorpe for air gunnery training but as the Wellington gained height both motors cut. Unable to turn back the pilot crash landed at 1540 hrs two to three miles NW of the runway. At least three were admitted to RAF HospitalRaucebyy.Sgts Pembertonn.Kirkman and Newton had been attached from 1654 HCU, while P/O. Baker was serving with 50 squadron. Details of his commission had been Gazetted on 15 June 1943 with promulgation of his DFC appeared in the London Gazette on 16 November of that same year. From Ferriby in Yorkshire he lies in Cleethorpes Cemetery. His namesake, Sgt. Baker was taken to Corby Cemetery, while Sgt. Bracey rests at Burton-on- Trent Cemetery.

BCL Vol.8 - W R. Chorley

Hope this helps

Regards
Peter

[nigelshipp]

Thanks for replying Peter, you have told me everything i wanted to know. Can i just double check something - you listed 3 bakers in that crew making a total of 7 onboard instead of the standard 6 - is this correct.

Regards
Nigel

Also thanks to Icare9 for taking the time to respond

[Peter Clare]

Nigel

I can confirm that there were three Bakers on the crew list and that the total crew = seven.
As it was a training flight, maybe the seventh crew member was an instructor?

Regards
Peter

[nigelshipp]

Many thanks Peter,

I own the single war medal to the Corby casualty and wanted to know the details of his death

I looked up the survivors on the CWGC only to find Sgt. T C. Newton died in another accident in 1944.

All the best
Nigel