John Robert Baldwin

John Robert Baldwin
Born (1918-07-16)16 July 1918
Bath, England
Died 15 March 1952(1952-03-15) (aged 33)
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Air Force
Years of service 1939–1954
Rank Wing Commander
Service number 122337
Commands held No. 123 (Typhoon) Wing (1945)
No. 146 (Typhoon) Wing (1944–45)
No. 198 Squadron RAF (1943–44)
Battles/wars Second World War
Korean War
Awards Distinguished Service Order & Bar
Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar
Air Force Cross
Croix de Guerre (Belgium)
Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands)
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)

Wing Commander John Robert Baldwin DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, AFC (16 July 1918 – 15 March 1952) was a Royal Air Force fighter pilot and the top scoring fighter ace flying the Hawker Typhoon exclusively during the Second World War. He was posted missing, presumed killed, during service with the United States Air Force in the Korean War.

Career

The only son of Chambré Baldwin (1884–1969) and Grace Baldwin, John Baldwin was born in Bath. Beginning as ground crew with the RAFVR at the start of the Second World War, he served in France during 1940, and spent the ‘Blitz’ period on bomb disposal duties. Baldwin volunteered for aircrew in 1941 and trained as pilot. Commissioned as a Pilot Officer in March 1942, he joined No. 609 Squadron RAF on 17 November 1942, flying the Hawker Typhoon.

His first success was damaging a FW 190 in December 1942. On 20 January 1943 fighter bombers from JG 26, supported by JG 2 attacked London in daylight with some 90 Bf 109s and Fw 190s in three waves. No. 609 Squadron intercepted the second wave, and claimed four Bf 109-Gs from 6./JG 26. Three of these successes were by Baldwin. Post war research indicates that these may have included Leutnant Wenzel was reported missing, and Unteroffiziers Marquardt and Budde, who were both captured. Baldwin met the two captured pilots a few days later.

On 25 March he was shot down into the Channel by a FW 190. On 4 October 1943 he claimed two Bf 109's of JG 2. On 16 October 1943, six Typhoons from 609 Squadron encountered several JU-88s, three being claimed, with a half-share to Baldwin. (IV./KG 6 lost at least two aircraft ). From mid October 1942 to June 1943 the squadron claimed some 27 of the 47 air victories claimed by Typhoons, making it the most successful Typhoon squadron.

Baldwin moved from No. 609 Squadron to command No. 198 Squadron RAF in November 1943. On 1 December he destroyed a Fw 190, and on 4 December a Do 217, his ninth victory. He was awarded a Bar to his DFC, and destroyed three Fw 190’s and a Caudron Goeland during January 1944. His tour ended in April 1944, and he served with No 2 Group Operations staff. In June 1944 he was appointed to command No. 146 Wing RAF. On 29 June 1944, flying with 193 Squadron, he shot down two Bf 109’s, and two weeks later on 3 July, flying with 197 Squadron, he destroyed another.

During operations following the invasion of north-west Europe, Baldwin was involved in a "friendly fire" incident. On 27 August 1944, his wing was requested by the Royal Navy to attack enemy vessels off Le Havre. Typhoons of No. 263 Squadron RAF and No. 266 Squadron RAF attacked the ships. Baldwin requested clarification, as the ships did not appear to be enemy, but he was told to press on. The ships turned out to be the Royal Navy's 1st Minesweeping Flotilla. In the course of the attack, HMS Britomart and HMS Hussar were sunk, while HMS Salamander had her stern blown off. The attacks cost 117 sailors killed and 153 wounded. The subsequent court of enquiry identified the fault as lying entirely with the Navy; the officer arranging the minesweeping had not informed others of the area of operations.[1][2]

In February 1945 he assumed command of No. 123 Wing RAF. On the last days of the war in Europe he was commanding the Wing in operations against enemy shipping in the Baltic Sea.

On 3 May 1945 squadrons of 83 Group were attacking enemy shipping, and No. 198, No. 184, No. 193, No. 263, and No. 197 squadrons attacked the passenger liners SS Cap Arcona and SS Deutschland and the freighter SS Thielbek, which were believed to be used by the Germans to escape. The ships had actually been used by the Germans to house prisoners, many from the concentration camp at Neuengamme. As a result of the attack over 7,000 died.

He was credited with 15 and 1 shared aerial victories destroyed, 4 damaged, and 5 damaged on the ground as well as many ground vehicles.[3]

He was awarded a permanent commission in the RAF in October 1946. He then led a team of four pilots from the RAF Central Fighter Establishment on attachment to the USAF in Korea. He flew operationally with the 16th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing. He was posted missing, presumed killed, in March 1952 during the Korean War flying a North American F-86 Sabre.[4]

He was profiled on the Nova Program Missing in MiG Alley.[5]

Honours and awards

This officer has participated in numerous sorties, invariably displaying great courage and operational efficiency. This was amply demonstrated during a sortie one day in January, 1943, when he attacked a formation of three enemy aircraft. In his first attack, Flying Officer Baldwin shot down the leading aircraft of the hostile formation. Following this success he destroyed another of the formation before his own aircraft was hit in one of the wings. When the third enemy fighter attempted to attack from the rear, Flying Officer Baldwin out-manoeuvred the attacker and shot it down. On another occasion, during a sortie over Belgium, he damaged four locomotives.
— London Gazette[6]

[7]

Since being awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross, Squadron Leader Baldwin has led his squadron on very many sorties, during which 30 enemy aircraft have been shot down. Much of the great success achieved can be attributed to Squadron Leader Baldwin's superb leadership, fine tactical ability and iron determination. His sterling qualities were amply demonstrated in January, 1944, when he led an attack on a force of some 30 Focke Wulf 190s, 9 of which were shot down, Squadron Leader Baldwin being responsible for 2 of the successes. His example was inspiring
— London Gazette[8]

Notes

  1. ↑ Fenton, Ben (29 August 1994). "Secret papers detail RAF raid on Royal Navy". Daily Telegraph.
  2. ↑ "Sinking of HMS Britomart and HMS Hussar by Friendly Fire". Halcyon Class Ships.
  3. ↑ Shores, Christopher; Wiliams, Clive (1994). Aces High: A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces in WWII. London: Grub Street. p. 108. ISBN 9781898697008.
  4. ↑ "W/C. "Johnny" Baldwin Missing". Flight. 21 March 1952. p. 315.
  5. ↑ "Nova: Missing in MiG Alley". PBS.
  6. 1 2 The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35919. p. 976. 26 February 1943. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
  7. ↑ London Gazette dated 14 January 1944
  8. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36418. p. 1165. 10 March 1944. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
  9. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36863. p. 5954. 29 December 1944. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
  10. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37863. p. 459. 24 January 1947. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
  11. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 38113. p. 5145. 31 October 1947. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
  12. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 38161. p. 39. 1 January 1948. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
  13. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 39999. p. 5768. 30 October 1953. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
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