Malta Memorial, Malta
Wellington Mk Xlll HZ594 MD-?, torpedo bomber.
Aircraft shot down by flak and shell fire by the Italians as it passed Bastia, Corsica at low level. Three dead and three seriously injured picked up at crash site.
He has no known grave.
Barker, Gerald Louis (Flying Officer)
Killed in Action 1943-July-22
Birth Date: 1917-August-25
Born: Winnipeg Manitoba
Parents: Henry E and Mary Barker, The Pas, Manitoba
Spouse: Shirley O Barker of Niagara Falls, NY, USA
Home: Niagara Falls, New York, USA
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RCAF
Unit
458 (MP) Sqn- Squadron (RAAF)
We Find and Destroy
Base
RAF Protville, Tunisia
Rank
Flying Officer
Position
Pilot
Service Numbers
J/20378
Target
Shipping Reconnaissance
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Finadagrave.com
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)Mission
Wellington B. Mk. Xlll HZ594
Bombing 1943-July-22 to 1943-July-22
458 (B) Sqn (RAAF) RAF Protville, Tunisia
458 Australia Squadron (We Find and Destroy) Wellington XIII aircraft HZ 594 was on an anti-shipping strike operation over the Mediterranean, west of Sardinia and from Corsica to Toulon. At 0135, the crew broadcast a sighting report. At 0320 hours, the aircraft sent a message to base requesting instructions, and was directed to return to base. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft which did not return to base. It is believed to have been shot down by flak near Bastia, Corsica. Casualties included RCAF Flight Lieutenant G.L. Baker (pilot); RAAF Flt. Sgt. I. Kippenberger (navigator); RAFVR Sgt's. L.S. Hill (wireless operator / air gunner), L.H. Johnson (wireless operator / air gunner), F.C. Kingston (pilot), and R. Wilkinson (pilot).Wellington HZ594 B. Mk. Xlll - Bombing - 1943-07-22 to 1943-07-22
Squadron: 458 (B) Sqn (RAAF)
Start Date: 1943-07-22
Completion Date: 1943-07-22
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City:
Target Specific: shipping reconnaissance
Base: RAF Protville, Tunisia
Take Off Time: 2130
Squadron Code: MD
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Bastia, Corsica
Crash Specifics: Tyrenanean Sea
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: flak
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable
458 Australia Squadron (We Find and Destroy) Wellington XIII aircraft HZ 594 was on an anti-shipping strike operation over the Mediterranean, west of Sardinia and from Corsica to Toulon. At 0135, the crew broadcast a sighting report. At 0320 hours, the aircraft sent a message to base requesting instructions, and was directed to return to base. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft which did not return to base. It is believed to have been shot down by flak near Bastia, Corsica. Casualties included RCAF Flight Lieutenant G.L. Baker (pilot); RAAF Flt. Sgt. I. Kippenberger (navigator); RAFVR Sgt's. L.S. Hill (wireless operator / air gunner), L.H. Johnson (wireless operator / air gunner), F.C. Kingston (pilot), and R. Wilkinson (pilot).
6 Group Unavailable
458 Australia Squadron (We Find and Destroy) Wellington XIII aircraft HZ 594 was on an anti-shipping strike operation over the Mediterranean, west of Sardinia and from Corsica to Toulon. At 0135, the crew broadcast a sighting report. At 0320 hours, the aircraft sent a message to base requesting instructions, and was directed to return to base. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft which did not return to base. It is believed to have been shot down by flak near Bastia, Corsica. Casualties included RCAF Flight Lieutenant G.L. Baker (pilot); RAAF Flt. Sgt. I. Kippenberger (navigator); RAFVR Sgt's. L.S. Hill (wireless operator / air gunner), L.H. Johnson (wireless operator / air gunner), F.C. Kingston (pilot), and R. Wilkinson (pilot).
