The loss of Sergeant Ronald Baker, 56 Squadron, 11th August 1940. Not every Hurricane pilot lost on operations went down in the stylised blaze of glory. Many were lost to a combination of mechanical issues and bad luck. One such pilot was Sergeant Baker of 56 Squadron. An experienced pre-war pilot, he had fought valiantly during the Battle of France, and had success during the Dunkirk period, damaging two He 111’s, and later destroying a Ju 87 in the Battle of Britain. It was during a sortie on 11th August 1940 that he failed to return, and became one of the twenty-five pilots lost that day – the highest killed and missing on any single day during the Battle of Britain. 56 Squadron had been scrambled from Rochford to cover a convoy in the North Sea. The formation was led by Flying Officer Percy Weaver, and at 5,000 ft they encountered cloud split into two layers. Weaver gave the order to climb above the second layer, but not long after breaking through, they were given the order to reinforce Green section who were still below the main cloud layer. Sergeant Baker, flying as Red 3, had emerged from the top layer of cloud slightly ahead of Weaver, and but failed to join up with the section as they headed back down. There then began the tragic set of events, frantic actions, and confusion which saw the loss of Baker. F/O Weaver wrote: ‘I flew for about one minute up the convoy, but on looking back saw a white plume going down towards the sea. I turned around and flew towards it, I realised it was a Hurricane with glycol pouring out. I saw the pilot jump out, I noticed his parachute had a large rent in one panel. This was about 6 miles East of the convoy. I circled the spot for a few minutes, fired my Plessy gun to attract attention, and told the forward tender at Martlesham what had happened. I am not certain he received this message, as he was busy transmitting operational messages. I was unable to keep the pilot in view , but was certain of the approximate position owing to a sandbank a mile or so away. I then saw a Destroyer draw away from the convoy and commence coming towards us. After a while it turned around and went in the opposite direction. I chased after him and tried to get him to turn round, but did not succeed. When I arrived back at the approximate location, I found out that Yellow 2 ( Pilot Officer Bryan Wicks ) had located the pilot. I told him to remain in position. Then I saw the wake of a fast motor boat some 10-15 miles East, and flew over to attract his attention. This I did, and brought him towards Yellow 2, by this time the Destroyer was within 4 miles of the scene, having previously turned back to avoid shallow water. It stayed in this position. The motor launch did not locate the pilot, but turned straight back to the Destroyer, alongside which he anchored. By this time Yellow 2 had located to pilot again, so I returned to the launch, to persuade him to come back again. This he did, and by diving at the pilot they located him, and hauled him on board. The Destroyer spotted by Percy Weaver was HMS Westminster, under the command of Lieutenant Commander A.A.C Ouvrey RN. He later wrote of the events: ‘At about 1210 on Sunday 11th August 1940 when in postion 020 degrees Sunk Head Buoy, an aerial battle was seen between British fighters and unidentified aircraft. Just afterwards a fighter was observed to crash bearing 180 degrees and the pilot was seen to be descending by parachute. Orders were received ( Vega’s 1211 ) “Search down channel where aircraft are circling for fighter aircraft in sea”. Ship proceeded at full speed and course was altered to Black Deep but it appeared from the distance and bearing of the aircraft circling the spot, that the crash had taken place either over Long Sand or more probably in Knock Deep. As it was impossible to cross Long Sand it was necessary to cross via Long Sand Head Buoy and then down knock deep. An M.T.B. from the vicinity of Kentish Knock was led by fighter aircraft to the spot and had arrived by 1250. This M.T.B. was at first unable to locate the body, and mistaking the signals from the aircraft, abandoned the search and closed WESTMINSTER. As aircraft were still circling the spot, M.T.B. was ordered to continue the search and it was successful in recovering the body at about 1325 in approx. position 133 degrees S.W Swin Light Vessel 4. WESTMINSTER one and a half miles South East of this spot being unable to approach close due to lack of water, M.T.B. then closed and transferred body to WESTMINSTER. Artificial respiration was resorted to immediately the body was aboard the M.T.B. and continued in WESTMINSTER under direction of the Medical Officer. It is deeply regretted that all means were without avail, the man having been in the water 70 minutes. Medical Officer reports no sign of any injury, and death was due to drowning. The body and all affects found thereon were landed on arrival at Sheerness and transferred to Superintendent Royal Marines Police at Dockyard Mortuary.’ It is possible that with a damaged parachute, Baker hit the sea faster, and harder than he should have, and with all likelihood, it rendered him incapable of fending for himself. Either way, it was a tragic set of circumstances that led to his death. His body was returned home, with a burial service in his home town of Letchworth on 15th August, attended by his immediate family and his widow, Olive. He was 23 years old
Posted on: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 09:27:07 +0000