Last week I received a call from an old lady (88 years old). She told me that she had rescued one of two crew members from a crashed aircraft in Kiel-Wellsee. He had bailed out of the aircraft after it had been hit by Flak. The old lady took him into her parent’s house for two weeks. She remembered that he had had head wound, and would often shelter with him in the bomb shelter during the Kiel bombing raids. She gave him civilian clothing and told people that he was a relative. When the Allies arrived, she took him to the British.
Only one Mosquito crashed in the Kiel area in the last two weeks of the war – this was KB529, from 163 Squadron at Wyton, where it had taken off at 21.37. The crew members were Flight Lieutenant W.G. Baker, and Flying Officer A.A. Hawthorne (who is buried in Kiel War Cemetary, 1.F.19.)
Can anyone help me to confirm the identity of the wounded officer? Perhaps his address or that of a relative? The old lady tells me that her rescue of the pilot was one of the best times of her life, and would like to know the name of the officer before she dies.
It would be very nice if I could help her
Regards
Nils
By: andrewclark - 29th April 2020 at 14:42
Reviving a very old thread. The pilot of this aircraft was F/L William George Baker (DFM) 51161. He is recorded as having being liberated from German capture on 4th May 1945 and thus survived the war – relinquishing his RAF commission on 18th July, 1949.
By: Pathfinder - 26th September 2005 at 11:32
yesterday I received a new call from the woman who saved the pilot in Kiel-Wellsee.
She told me some new details – maybe this details help us to find the right aircraft and the crew !?
1. The pilot was married, on his right small finger he carried his ring. (he told her, his wife is waiting at the airfield for him)
2. The flight this day against Kiel was his first raid.
3. His rank was Lieutenant (?)
4. His parachute was yellow
5. The date of crash was in the last 8 days of the war
6. The woman brought him to the british units, at the railway-station of Kiel. The british soldier laughed, as she has told, she have hidden a british pilot at home.
I have a other crash of Mosquito in the last days of the war in Kiel;
13.04.1945
NT 494 VY-N, 85.Sqdn.
Flight Lieutenant H.B. Thomas was at first MIA
Flying Officer C.B. Hamilton was killed.
Regards
Nils
By: JägerMarty - 16th August 2005 at 04:15
Interesting story there, surprised she hid him like that considering Kiel was bombed quite heavily.
Good luck with the info 🙂
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August 15, 2005 at 10:54 pm