The Airmen's Stories - P/O R V Baron

Rupert Victor Baron also known as George, was born on 25th June 1900 at Barton upon Irwell, Lancashire. His parents were Ernest Edward Lewis Baron (1868-1941) and Beatrice Baron (nee Turner 1874-??)

At age 17 George was employed aboard the vessel ss Philadelphia, which ran a Liverpool - New York service, as an assistant pantryman. According to the ships manifest he was 5' 3'" tall.

George served in the Merchant Navy during WW1. He had put his birth as 1899 so that he could enlist, a common occurence.

In early 1934 he married Pansy Louisa Leekey in Westminster London, they settled in Highbury Fields, London.

Baron gained his civil pilot's licence and owned his own aircraft. When war was declared he immediately applied to join the RAF.

Presumably considered too old for pilot training, he was commissioned in the RAF in April 1940 as a direct-entry Air Gunner.

On completion of training he joined 219 Squadron at Catterick in June 1940.

On 12th October he was flying as crew in Blenheim L1113 on a routine night patrol. Unexpected engine vibration was experienced and the pilot, P/O GM Head, throttled back. This action caused a high speed stall. Both men baled out but Baron's parachute failed to open. The aircraft crashed at Court Lodge Farm, Ewhurst.

Baron is buried in Sittingbourne and Milton Cemetery. He was 40 years old.