Roll of Honour: Montgomery Baker

Lieutenant M. H. A. Baker

1772 Sqn., HMS Ringtail

Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

Killed on active service, 29 July 1944, England. Aged 24.

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Montgomery Baker was born about 1920, the son of Albert and May Baker of Ottershaw. Albert was a school teacher from Hittisleigh in Devon and May was from Mitcham in Surrey.

Montgomery served with 1772 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm which was formed at HMS Ringtail (part of Royal Naval Air Station Burscough, Lancashire) in May 1944. The squadron was equipped with Fairey Firefly two seater fighters. Much of the time was spent practicing  carrier landings on HMS Empress.

                         

Fairey Firefly of 1772 Sqn.

On 29 July 1944 Montgomery was the observer aboard Firefly Z1958 which was piloted by Lieutenant Commander A. H. D. Gough (commanding officer of 1772 Squadron). About 17 miles west of Southport over the Irish Sea the aircraft was involved in a mid air collision with Firefly Z1956 also of 1772 Squadron. Z1956 was piloted by Lieutenant M. J. C. Wright with Lieutenant J. G. C. Sloan as observer. All four men bailed out but Baker and Sloan were killed. Montgomery’s body was never recovered.

Montgomery Baker is remembered on the Lee-on-Solent Memorial, Hampshire (bay 5, panel 4) and on the Woking County Grammar School roll of honour located in Christ Church, Woking.

                                             

Lee-on-Solent Memorial

(Copyright CWGC)

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Last updated 18 August 2009

Sources

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

www.naval-history.net