WWII RAF Battle Of Britain Spitfire Fighter Ace S/L Henry Baker Signed (RARE)
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:1660810 | Modified Item: No |
| Type: Military | Sub-Type: RAF WWII FIGHTER PILOT |
| Object: SIGNED BOOKPLATE |
You are looking at a small bookplate signed by the following late great Battle of Britain RAF fighter ace:
Squadron Leader Henry Baker :
He began his flying training at 9 E&RFTS Ansty on 25th July 1938. After completing his training he joined 19 Squadron at Duxford on 15th December 1939.
While over Dunkirk on 1st June 1940 he shot down a Me110 and damaged another. He was involved in a car accident and spent two months in hospital. after recovering, he joined 41 Sq...uadron in late August 1940 and flew his first operational sortie with the squadron on 14th September. On the 15th he shared in shooting down a He111 and damaged another and on the 30th he shot down a Me109.
On 8th October 1940 he joined the newly-formed 421 Flight at Hawkinge. On 1st November he shot down a Me109 and damaged another, on the 24th he shot down another Me109 and damaged another and a few days later he shared a Me109 and damaged another. Near the end of 1940 he was loaned to 306 (Polish) Squadron at Ternhill, which had only recently become operational.
On 11th January 1941 421 Flight was renumbered 91 Squadron. He was posted away and joined 74 Squadron at Biggin Hill on the 23rd. On a 'Rhubarb' operation on 26th May he shot down a Me109.
With his tour completed in late July 1941, he spent the next six months instructing.
After a period in hospital, followed by a convalescence at Torquay, he was posted to a fighter squadron in the Western Desert in May 1942.
Promoted to Acting Squadron Leader, he became C/O of229 Squadron at Ta Kali, Malta in September. On 12th and 13th October he damaged Me109's.
In December 1942 he returned to the UK and in January 1943 he went to RAF HQ Northern Ireland as OC Tactics and Training. In April he became an instructor at 55 OTU Annan, Scotland but in May went to Gibraltar to take part in ferrying 300 Hurricanes to Cairo. New pilots took them on to Teheran, where they were picked up by Russian pilots.
Back in the UK in July 1943, he joined 118 Squadron at Coltishall as a supernumerary Flight Lieutenant. In January 1944 he was based at Croydon as a ferry pilot and in March he went to CFS Montrose for an instructors course, following which he went to Wrexham as CFI.
During January 1945 he was posted and became CGI at 17 FTS Cranwell and after another ground job at RAF Kimbolton later in the year, he was released from the RAF on 1st January 1946 as a Squadron Leader. He passed away in July 2013.
This bookplate / piece would look great mounted in any Battle of Britain book.
Please note the small bookplate is not attached / glued to the larger picture of Henry Baker.
International bidders please note any item(s) purchased for over £20 must pay for and be posted by international signed for postage only.
Squadron Leader Henry Baker :
He began his flying training at 9 E&RFTS Ansty on 25th July 1938. After completing his training he joined 19 Squadron at Duxford on 15th December 1939.
While over Dunkirk on 1st June 1940 he shot down a Me110 and damaged another. He was involved in a car accident and spent two months in hospital. after recovering, he joined 41 Sq...uadron in late August 1940 and flew his first operational sortie with the squadron on 14th September. On the 15th he shared in shooting down a He111 and damaged another and on the 30th he shot down a Me109.
On 8th October 1940 he joined the newly-formed 421 Flight at Hawkinge. On 1st November he shot down a Me109 and damaged another, on the 24th he shot down another Me109 and damaged another and a few days later he shared a Me109 and damaged another. Near the end of 1940 he was loaned to 306 (Polish) Squadron at Ternhill, which had only recently become operational.
On 11th January 1941 421 Flight was renumbered 91 Squadron. He was posted away and joined 74 Squadron at Biggin Hill on the 23rd. On a 'Rhubarb' operation on 26th May he shot down a Me109.
With his tour completed in late July 1941, he spent the next six months instructing.
After a period in hospital, followed by a convalescence at Torquay, he was posted to a fighter squadron in the Western Desert in May 1942.
Promoted to Acting Squadron Leader, he became C/O of229 Squadron at Ta Kali, Malta in September. On 12th and 13th October he damaged Me109's.
In December 1942 he returned to the UK and in January 1943 he went to RAF HQ Northern Ireland as OC Tactics and Training. In April he became an instructor at 55 OTU Annan, Scotland but in May went to Gibraltar to take part in ferrying 300 Hurricanes to Cairo. New pilots took them on to Teheran, where they were picked up by Russian pilots.
Back in the UK in July 1943, he joined 118 Squadron at Coltishall as a supernumerary Flight Lieutenant. In January 1944 he was based at Croydon as a ferry pilot and in March he went to CFS Montrose for an instructors course, following which he went to Wrexham as CFI.
During January 1945 he was posted and became CGI at 17 FTS Cranwell and after another ground job at RAF Kimbolton later in the year, he was released from the RAF on 1st January 1946 as a Squadron Leader. He passed away in July 2013.
This bookplate / piece would look great mounted in any Battle of Britain book.
Please note the small bookplate is not attached / glued to the larger picture of Henry Baker.
International bidders please note any item(s) purchased for over £20 must pay for and be posted by international signed for postage only.
