|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brian
Edmund b: 31 Aug 1896
r: 10 May 1950
d: 8 Oct 1979
KBE - 15 Aug 1944, CB - 2 Jun 1943, DSO - 4 Mar 1918, MC - 25 Mar 1917, AFC - 1 Jan 1919, MiD - 20 May 1918, CdeG(F) - 18 Apr 1918, PR2 - 12 Jun 1945, WL2 - 15 Mar 1946, CMC - 26 July 1946, LoM (Cdr) - 13 Sep 1949
(Army):
- (T) 2 Lt: 9 Jan 1915, (T) Lt:
xx xxx xxxx, (T) Capt: 1 Jan 1917.
(RAF):
- Capt: 1 Apr
1918, (T) Maj: 1 Jul 1918 - 1 May1919,
Act Maj: 1 May 1919, Flt Lt: 1 Aug 1919 [1 Apr 1919], Sqn Ldr: 1 Jul 1925, Wg Cdr: 1
Jan 1933, Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1937,
Act A/Cdre: 30 May 1940, (T)
A/Cdre: 1 Jul 1940, Act AVM:12
Jul 1942, (T) AVM: 1 Dec 1942,
A/Cdre: 1 Jun 1943, AVM:
1 Dec 1944, AM: 1 Jul 1947.
xx Sep 1911: Member (Cpl), Haileybury OTC
xx
xxx xxxx: Sapper, Royal Engineers
9 Jan 1915: Officer, Rifle Brigade
22 Sep 1915: U/T Pilot, No 6 Reserve Sqn*
7
Dec 1915:
Appointed
Flying Officer, RFC
23 Dec 1915: Pilot, No 13 Sqn RFC. (BE2)
16 Mar 1916: Supernumerary, No 13 Sqn RFC
21 Mar 1916: Returned to Home Establishment
1 Jun 1916: Staff, HQ No 8 Wing
19 Oct 1916: Assistant Instructor, No 14 Reserve Sqn
1
Jan 1917:
Flight Commander, No 48 Sqn RFC. (Bristol F2B – Rendcomb)
xx Feb 1917: Flight Commander, No 35 Reserve Sqn RFC (Filton)
xx Feb 1917: Flight Commander, No 62 Sqn RFC (Filton)
xx Apr 1917: Flight Commander, No 5 Reserve Sqn RFC (Castle Bromwich)
xx Apr 1917: Flight Commander, No 38 Reserve Sqn RFC (Rendcomb)
26
Apr 1917:
Flight Commander, No 48 Sqn RFC. (Bristol F2B – Western Front)
26
Apr - 3 Jul 1917:
Officer Commanding (Temp), No 48 Sqn RFC. (Bristol F2B – Western Front)
28
Jan - 8 Feb 1918:
Officer Commanding (Temp), No 48 Sqn RFC. (Bristol F2B – Western Front)
14 FEb 1918: Admitted to Central Hospital, Finchley
30 Apr 1918: Attached, No 49 Wing for disposal
1 Jul 1918: Graded as Squadron Commander
1
Jul 1918:
Officer Commanding, No 141 Sqn. (Bristol F2B
- Biggin Hill)
1
Mar 1919:
Officer Commanding, No 141 Sqn. (Bristol F2B
- Ireland)
1 Aug 1919: Awarded Permanent Commission as a Captain
21 Jun 1920: Attached, No 24 Sqn for course on DH9A
27 Jun 1920: Flight Commander, No 100 Sqn
11 Nov 1920: Supernumerary, No 100 Sqn
12 Dec 1920: Supernumerary, RAF Depot
28 Jun 1921: Staff, School of Technical Training (Men)
27 Jul 1921: Attended Instructors' Course, Central Flying School.
15 Oct 1921: Qualified as Flying Instructor (Category 'A2')
1 Dec 1921: Embarked at Liverpool for Egypt
1 Dec 1921: Flying Instructor, No 4 FTS.
13 Dec 1921: Disembarked in Port Said
1 - 27 Jun 1922: Attached to HQ Middle East for course in Meteorology
19
Feb 1924: Supernumerary, Aden Flight.
12
Mar 1924: Officer Commanding, Aden Flight.
15
Apr 1925: Flying
Instructor, No 4 FTS, Abu Sueir.
16 Oct 1925: Supernumerary, RAF Depot
27 Oct 1925: Temporary duty, Directorate of Training.
4 Nov 1925: Duty Att Officer, Directorate of Training.
1
Mar 1926: Supernumerary, Experimental Section, RAE
3
Mar 1926: Officer Commanding, Experimental Section, RAE
27
Nov 1929: Supernumerary, No 32 Sqn. (Siskin
IIIA – Biggin Hill)
1
Dec 1929: Officer Commanding, No 32 Sqn. (Siskin
IIIA – Biggin Hill)
12
Dec 1932: CFI, RAF Training Base, Leuchars.
15 Feb - 15 May 1933:
Officer Commanding (Temp),
RAF Training Base, Leuchars.
2 Sep 1934:
Supernumerary, RAF Training Base, Leuchars.
4
Sep 1934:
Attached, HMS Courageous.
15 Sep 1934: Supernumerary
Temporary Duty, RAF Base, Leuchars.
24 Sep 1934: Attached, RAF Depot whilst attending Tactical Course
11 Jan
1934: Supernumerary,
HMS Eagle.
4 Feb 1935: Senior RAF Officer, HMS Eagle
4 Apr 1935 Returned to UK on HMS Eagle
23
May 1935: Supernumerary, HMS Courageous.
18
Jul 1935: Senior RAF Officer, HMS Courageous.
1 Jul 1936: Officer Commanding, RAF Abbotsinch
3 Nov 1936: Officer Commanding, RAF Lympne
21 Dec 1936: Officer Commanding, RAF Abbotsinch
25
Apr 1937: Supernumerary, RAF Gosport.
1
May 1937: Officer Commanding, RAF Gosport.
1 Sep 1938: Officer Commanding, RAF Leuchars.
3 May 1940: Supernumerary N/E sick, RAF Leuchars
30 May 1940: AOC, No 51 Group.
7 Mar 1942: Supernumerary, No 51 Group
20 Mar 1942: Supernumerary, RAF Iceland.
24 Mar 1942: AOC, RAF Iceland.
12 Jul 1942:
AOC, No 16 Group.
28
Jul 1943: AOC, No 19
(Reconnaissance) Group.
2 Nov 1944: Supernumerary, AHQ East Africa
17
Nov 1944: AOC, RAF East Africa.
24
Apr 1945: Supernumerary, HQ RAF Middle East.
30
Apr 1945: SASO, HQ RAF Middle East.
1 Nov 1945: SASO, RAF Mediterranean and Middle East.
15 Dec 1945: Deputy Air C-in-C, RAF Mediterranean and Middle East.
1 Jul 1947: Supernumerary, RAF Mediterranean and Middle East.
4 Aug 1947: No 5 Personnel Despatch Centre (Disembarked on 5 Aug 1947 followed by leave)
17
Sep 1947: Supernumerary, Transport Command
24 Sep 1947: AOC in C, Transport Command
31 Mar 1950: Supernumerary, No 1 Personnel Holding Unit, pending retirement
Educated at Haileybury School, he gained RAeC Certificate No 1938 on 25 October 1915 and completed his time on the Western Front with 12 confirmed victories.
Citation for the award of the Military Cross
"2nd Lt. (T./Capt.) Brian Edmund Baker, Rif. Bde., and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led his patrol with great skill against a hostile formation, which he attacked, accounting for five enemy machines out of six. Later, he drove a hostile machine down in flames, and attacked and destroyed another one by diving 7,000 feet on to it and firing at such close range as to nearly collide with it. His gallantry has been at all times of great value to his squadron."
(London Gazette - 25 August 1917)
Citation for the award of the Distinguished Service Order
"T./2nd Lt. (T./Capt.) Brian Edmund Baker, M.C., Gen. List and R.F.C.-
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Whilst on patrol he engaged nine Albatross scouts, five of these being driven down, two of which he accounted for. On another occasion, whilst leading his flight on in offensive patrol, he dived alone on a formation of six enemy scouts, driving one down out of control. During the course of his patrol work he has brought down ten enemy machines, and his work on all occasions has been magnificent. He is a dashing patrol leader, and inspires all with the greatest keenness."
*His records state he was trained by "No 2 Sqn, Montrose", but this squadron was operating on the Western Front and No 6 Reserve Squadron was operating from Montrose at this time.
This entry was last updated on 26/07/25 1946©
P E Bairsto
