Magister P6350 near Tunstall, near Catterick.
On 12th November 1939 this aircraft flew into the ground just to the west of Catterick
airfield for no apparent reason with the sole occupant being killed. There is still some mystery about why
took off and crashed because it occured at 07.50hrs, when one presumed it was still fairly dark and the aircraft would have had little navigation
equipment. A brief entry in Catterick's ORB on this day states that "P/O Baker, 219 Sqn killed in Magister P6350".
Pilot - P/O Stephen George Baker RAF (41245), aged 24, of Paignton. Buried Paignton Cemetery, Devon.
Stephen Baker was graded as P/O on probation from the rank of Acting P/O on probation on 23rd October 1939. The date of his commission is not yet known.
Magister P6350 was built to contract 778435/38 by Phillips and Powys Ltd., at Woodley and delivered to 41 Squadron at Catterick in June 1939.
41 Squadron moved to Wick on 19th October 1939 and the aircraft remained at Catterick, but was not transferred to 219 Squadron, however they almost certainly used the aircraft as a Hack aircraft.
Cat.W/FA damage was recorded in the accident detailed above and it was struck off charge/written off on 15th December 1939. The pilot was a 219 Squadron pilot although technically the aircraft was a 41 Squadron aircraft.