Aircraft G-AENS Hawk Major Crashed, Priddy Somerset 20/11/41

[JohnCarden]

This aircraft crashed during WWII when piloted by my Uncle, after whom I was named. He was John Baker. The plane ran out of fuel and crashed into hillside near Priddy, Wells, Somerset.

He flew for the Air Transport Auxiliary.

I don't know any more, but I intend to go to the RAF Museum, in London, where kin may inspect service records.

I also intend to travel to Priddy to see if I can find anyone who knows anything about it.

If anyone has any ideas or can help, please let me know.

John Carden

[Malcolm Clarke]

Hello John.

I am unsure whether you have this information taken from an Internet website "A Fleeting Peace"

G-AENS Miles M.2H Hawk Major 198 G-AENS DP848 Phillips & Powis Aircraft Ltd/Woodley >Reading AC Ltd 18.09.36 Impressed 10.3.41 Crashed nr Priddy 20.11.41

I seems that at the time of the crash, the aircraft would have been impressed into the RAF and registered as DP848 and perhaps your uncle was piloting the aircraft on a delivery flight to an RAF training station.

Malcolm Clarke.

[JohnCarden]

Thank you, I had that text but did not know what "impressed" meant before. Your theory abut delivery seems plausible. But where from and where to? I hope that the records at the RAF museum will tell me more.
I knew nothing of this as a kid in the 50's. John's photo was on my Nan's TV, but no one ever talked about it. I think after the war people were just pleased to get on with life, and everyone had sad losses from their families.
Thank you for the info. If I find out more I will post it.

[moxy]

http://afleetingpeace.org/the-ata/index.php

The above has photographs of John Baker and some details of his service in the ATA. Look under male pilots who joined the ATA in 1941.

Best regards

Rob