Browse Items (45 total)
- Collection: Baker, William Benjamin
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Drawing - aircrew climbing on wing to put out fire
Drawing from front of a Wellington with aircrew out on starboard wing trying to put out fire in engine. Me 109 going the other way above,
Sergeant rank
Cloth sergeant stripes
Drawing - air gunner brevet
Three hand drawn air gunner brevet
"J" Johnnie Lancaster
Top - Front quarter view of the front of a Lancaster with gremlin nose art and airman leaning out of cockpit.
Bottom - Notes with list of operations.
Bottom - Notes with list of operations.
Airman
An airman wearing flying suit and boots standing in a field. On the reverse 'All my love to [....], ever yours, Bill xxxxx'.
William Baker
Head and shoulders portrait of an airman wearing tunic with sergeant rank and air gunner brevet.
William Baker - RAF service and release book
Gives some personal details, medical report,
Newspaper cutting - Lancaster riddled won home
Relates story of Lancaster on operation to Berlin being hit by night fighter fire which wounded crew and damaged aircraft. Returning home with wounded crew and belly landed.
First tour crew
Note listing 1st tour crew. 'Pat Finnerty DFM, Nav C Boyes, F/E Cowling, W/O T Bellamy, B/A H Jones, M/U T J Page DFM, RG WBB, "J" was KO-J DS626 a Lancaster II with Hercules engines'.
Air gunners Association
Sets out details of association, history and subscriptions.
Combat report
Relates events during operation to Essen on 12/13 March 1943. Enemy fighter attacked and was engaged and hit by rear gunner. Claimed as damaged. After releasing bombs in heavy anti-aircraft fire and searchlights rear gunner engaged Me 109. Gunner…
William Baker recommendation for award of Distinguished Flying Cross
Relates actions on operation to Berlin on 30/31 January 1944. Baker was wounded during night fighter attack. Finding wireless operator dead, the rear gunner unconscious and navigator wounded, he then manned the rear turret despite no communications…
Combat report
Combat report by Flying Officer V S Breckenridge. Relates first attack by fighter killed wireless operator and wounded rear and mid-upper gunners as well as damaging the aircraft. Second fighter attack caused more damage and the pilot and navigator…
William Baker commissioning scroll
Appointing William Benjamin Baker DFC a pilot officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Legend
Allegorical story telling story of an operation in terms of knights of medieval Kingdom of Avalon setting out and riding to battle in the land of the Huns and city of Burlyne. Tells story of operation including wounding of crew and return flight.…
Crew photograph and list of operations
First page - photograph of seven airmen wearing battledress with brevet standing in front of a Lancaster. Captioned 'Lancaster - 138 Squadron, Alf Warren (3rd from the left) mid upper gunner'. Then follows a list of thirty-one operations between 2…
W B Baker’s observers and air gunners flying log book
Observers and air gunners flying log book for W B Baker, air gunner, covering the period from 11 November 1942 to 9 June 1944. Detailing his flying training and operations flown. He was stationed at RAF Stormy Down and RAF Wickenby. Aircraft flown in…
Squadron photograph
A large group of airmen sitting and standing in three rows in front of a Lancaster and also standing on top of wings. One man sits on each engine and two on top of cockpit.
Squadron photograph
A large group of aircrew sitting and standing in three rows in front of a Lancaster.
Squadron photograph airmen and aircraft
In the foreground a "V" formation of a very large group of aircrew wearing Mae Wests. Further back a large number of Lancasters parked close together with ground crews in line in front those at the front.
This item was sent to the IBCC Digital…
This item was sent to the IBCC Digital…
Seven aircrew
Seven airmen wearing a variety of flying kit standing in line in front of the rear fuselage of a Lancaster (registration ME584 squadron letter "Y"). Captioned 'Jimmie Hall wireless op Scot (marked with cross), Jack Meek observer Canada, Bill…
Lancaster KO-J and operation against Skoda Works
Top - air-to-air photograph of a Lancaster letter 'KO-J' DS626 over open countryside. The pilot was Sergeant G P Finnerty. Captioned 'Our aircraft homeward bound, after a night out. (of a different kind) 115 Squadron, March 1943'.
Bottom right -…
Bottom right -…
Poems
Top left - poem - cheers for the men on the ground by E Sykes 1942. Six verse poem about forgotten ground crew compared to those who fly. Top right - a reply to Mr Sykes ode (newsletter No 26) by 'Bif' Baker (No 18). Letter putting Mr Sykes to rights…
Group of veterans
A large group of men wearing blazers standing in a car park. In front one man is being presented with a decoration. One man on left holding up a standard.
Aircraft
Top - painting of a Lancaster being bombed up. Captioned 'Winter of 43 somewhere in England. by David Shepherd'.
Bottom - photograph - view from above of a Lancaster with Spitfire and Hurricane on either wing over sea. Captioned 'Memorial in Flight,…
Bottom - photograph - view from above of a Lancaster with Spitfire and Hurricane on either wing over sea. Captioned 'Memorial in Flight,…