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| Squadron/s | 452 SQN |
| Rank On Discharge/Death | Pilot Officer (PLTOFF) |
| Contributing Author/s | Phil Listemann, Paul Carter, Updated by Vince Conant June 2013 The Spitfire Association |
Pilot Officer Baker had arrived at 452 squadron as his first operational posting on 23rd December 1941; from 53 OTU (Operational Training Unit-Spitfires) based at Heston Aerodrome located to the west of London. It was situated on the border of the Heston and Cranford areas of Hounslow, Middlesex. In September 1938, the British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, flew from Heston to Germany three times in two weeks for talks with Adolf Hitler, and returned to Heston from the Munich Conference with the paper referred to in his later "Peace for our time" speech from 10 Downing Street.
It was to be a mere two weeks before his fateful flight!
Presented in September 1940 by the Co-operative Wholesale Society, Manchester, with a donation of 5,000 pounds, Mk.Vb AB195 was not taken on charge at Brize Norton until 12 December 1941. It began its short fighting career with No, 452 (R.A.A.F.) Squadron at Redhill on 28 December, and was engaged on sweeps and escort duties. On 4 January 1942 AB195 spun into the sea about half-a-mile south-west of Beachy Head during a cannon test. Pilot Officer Allenby Leslie Baker 403159 RAAF aged 23 of Murwillumbah, New South Wales, is commemorated on Panel 111 on the Runnymede Memorial.
Name BAKER, ALLENBY LESLIE
Service Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number 403159
Date of Birth 18 Nov 1918
Place of Birth MURWILLUMBAH, NSW
Date of Enlistment 9 Dec 1940
Locality on Enlistment Unknown
Place of Enlistment SYDNEY, NSW
Next of Kin BAKER, THOMAS
Date of Death 4 Jan 1942
Rank Pilot Officer
Posting on Death 452 Squadron
Roll of Honour MURWILLUMBAH NSW
Cemetery: Runnymede Memorial
Country: England
Area: Surrey
Rank: Pilot Officer
Official Number: 403159
Unit: Royal Australian Air Force
Force: Air Force
Nationality: Australian
Details:
04/01/42 Aged 23 Panel 111. Son of Thomas James Baker and Emily Anna Baker, of Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia.
War memorial photograph and details by volunteer/s: David Ayling
