Mosquito HK474 at Riccall airfield.
On 15th February 1944 the crew of this 264 Squadron aircraft took off from Church Fenton airfield to undertake a night practice interception flight, probably using the Patrington Ground-Controlled Interception station. On their return to the general area of their home airfield at 19.00hrs the crew received permission to land at Church Fenton but mistook Riccall's airfield lighting for that of Church Fenton. As they attempted to land at Riccall the undercarriage legs caught the wing of Halifax JB919 that was about to take off, the collision removed the undercarriage of the Mosquito and it skidded to a halt on it's belly. A fire immediately took hold and as the navigator opened the side entrance door to escape the aircraft, the flames entered the cockpit. The navigator managed to get clear without injury but unfortunately the pilot was still in the cockpit and received severe burns in escaping. He was admitted to York Military Hospital. Both airmen had flown regularly together with 264 Squadron since June 1943. The 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit Halifax was also badly damaged and was not repaired.
Pilot - F/Lt A J Baker (Possibly F/Lt Alan James Baker RAFVR (120075)). Injured.
Navigator / Radar Operator - F/O G E Smith.
This incident is mentioned in Riccall's station orb and names the pilot as "F/Lt A J Baker (172520)" but there was no one called Baker who carried this service number. F/Lt Baker may have been Alan James Baker RAFVR (120075) and if correct then he was killed on 28th July 1944 flying in 613 Squadron Mosquito NS987 when it crashed in Norfolk.
CWGC list him as being an "Observer" as his trade but by 1944 the term "observer" was not really a trade name used by operational squadrons. I need to obtain further accident documentation for Mosquito HK474 that would give Baker's service number to confirm they are one and the same person. If he was purely flying in the 613 Squadron Mosquito as an observer (or rather observing the exercise) then I can understand him being on board.