Operation: Training

Date: 18 March 1941 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 2 School of Army Co-operation

Type: Bristol Blenheim IV

Serial: T2443

Code: Unknown

Base: RAF Andover, Hampshire

Location: Penton Mewbey, Hampshire

Pilot: P/O John Lewis Baines 88686 RAFVR Age 27 - Killed (1)

Obs: P/O Ion Hugh Acland J/2827 Age 26 - Killed (2)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Victor Moore 755356 RAFVR Age 22 - Killed (3)

We appeal to anyone with further information and/or photographs to please contact us via our HELPDESK

REASON FOR LOSS

Control was lost after take off from Andover. The aircraft dived into the ground at Penton Mewsey, Wiltshire.

BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS OF THE CREW

(1) P/O John Lewis Baines was born on 16 October 1913 at Oadby, Leicestershire the son of Architect and Surveyor John Cecil Bailnes and Eleanor Septima Baines nee Britten. He had one sibling Thomas Cecil Baines born 1908. In 1939 the family lived at "The Brambles", Gullet Lane, Kirby Muxloe, Leics. John Cecil Baines died in 1928 aged 50.

John Lewis Baines attended Oakham School (1922-1931 School House) and after leaving school was a Boot & Shoe Factor & Agent. He learned to fly at Leicester Aero Club taking his certificate in DH82 Tiger M. Gipsy Major, 130 on 18 March 1939.

On 30 March 1940 he married Shirley Hardy-Smith at Barrow-upon-Soar, Leicestershire. They had a daughter born in 1941, Sally J.E. Baines.

937631 LAC John Lewis Baines was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on probation on 30 November 1940 (London Gazette 3 January 1941)

His address is recorded in the 1941 Probate Calendar as Arncliffe, Hinkley Road, Muxloe, Leicestershire. Admistration of his estate was granted on 25 July to his widow and his mother. His effects were valued at £2448 11s.

He is commemorated on the Memorial Cross, London Road, Oadby and the on the War Memorial at St Peter's Church, Oadby, Leicestershire.

(2) P/O Ion Hugh Acland was born on 17 October 1914 at Victoria, British Columbia, Canada the son of English born father and Hotel Owner (Cowichen Bay Inn), Captain John Bevil Acland and American born mother Marjorie Acland nee Guernsey of Cowichen Bay, Vancouver Island, British Columbia and Ganges, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia. He had a sister Ione Vivienne Guthrie and was a descendant of Sir Thomas Dyke Acland 6th/10th Baronet of Columb-John, Devon.

Ion Acland was educated at St. Aiden's Private School (1919-1928) and Oak Bay High School (1928-1932) where for the final year he studied Navel Architecture.

After leaving school he worked as a Shipyard Apprentice (1932-35) Assistant Navel Architect (1936-38) as a Coxwain for the Canadian Hydrographic Survey (1938) Department of National Defence - Draughtsman and Assistant Engineer at Patricia Bay Aerodrome (1939 -19400

He was fully qualified to operate any type of small water-craft. He had boat designing experience and was studying as a Surveyor and Engineer. He engaged extensively in sailing, squash and rugby and was captain of the Victoria "Rep" Rugby Team 1938-40.

When he enlisted at Vancouver on 13 April 1940 he was described as 5'11½" tall weighing 197 lbs with a ruddy complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair.

After initial training at RCAF Toronto Ion was posted to Air Observer School at RCAF Malton Ontario (27 May to 17 August 1940) followed by armament training at No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School at RCAF Jarvis, Ontario (19 August to 29 September 1940). He was awarded his Air Observer Badge and promoted to Sergeant on 28 September 1940 . He was then posted to No. 1 Air Navigation School at RCAF Trenton, Manitoba for advanced air observer training (30 September to 26 October 1940) and on 27 October he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer. He remained at RCAF Trenton until 12 November when to RCAF Rockcliffe and was posted overseas on 14 November 1940.

His movements after arriving in the UK are not known.

In 1948 the memory of Ion Hugh Acland was honoured by the Province of British Columbia with the naming of Acland Rock in the New Westminster Land District.

Details courtesy of our Colin Bamford

(3) Sgt. Victor Moore was born in 1918 at Wolstanton, Staffordshire the son of Herbert Moore and Alice Moore nee Hickman. He had a brother Tom Moore born in 1919. Herbert Moore died in 1918 aged 52 and Alice Moore married John Goodwin in 1924. The family lived at 39 Brook Street, Longport, Stoke on Trent. From early boyhood he was associated with Longport Methodist Church where he was a member of the church band. Victor worked in the pottery industry at Burslem and enlisted in the RAFVR in 1939.

BURIAL DETAILS, MEMORIALS AND EPITAPHS

P/O John Lewis Baines was buried at Oadby Cemetery, Leicestershire. Grave reference. Section A. Grave 43.

P/O Ion Hugh Acland was buried at Andover Cemetery, Andover Hampshire. Grave reference. Plot H. Grave 10.

Sgt. Victor Moore was buried on 24 March 1941 at Stoke-on-Trent (Tunstall) Cemetery, Staffordshire. Grave reference. Section A.A.r. Grave 40.

Researched by Aircrew Remembered researcher Roy Wilcock for all the relatives and friends of the members of this crew - February 2017

With thanks to the sources quoted below.