Cousin Fred ~ Too Tall to be a Pilot

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: 2020 Week 16 (AIR)


In preparing to write this week's blog I looked over my mother's maternal side of the tree. Normally as I ponder - someone leaps out. It's almost like they have raised their hand to have their story told. This week that didn't happen.

When I set up my 2020 plan to take fair turns for all sides of this Bramble Bush I hadn't realized that sometimes I would struggle with who to write about. No one jumped out at my as the logical choice for this week's prompt AIR.

I then had a novel idea. Why not go to the source. I phoned my grandma, and asked her if she had anyone in her side of the family who would fit for the hint AIR. I suggested a pilot, hot air balloon enthusiast, or anyone that had something to do with air or high places.

After a very short moment she replied "Well. My cousin Fred Baker was too tall to fly fighter jets in World War 2". In that moment I realized I had heard about Cousin Fred before. He was always referred to as 'Cousin Fred' because my grandma's brother is named Fred as well. I had heard that exact sentence, but had never asked exactly how tall Fred was, nor did I ask why the sentence was worded exactly that way.

I set off looking for Frederick Herbert Baker's attestation papers, but was unsuccessful. I knew they would have had his exact height in those papers.

What I did find was a photo showing Cousin Fred wearing his Pilot Wings:

Photo that was with
Great Britain, Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificate
source: Ancestry.ca (retrieved April 19th 2020)

with a record of Fred's WINGS:

Great Britain, Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificatesource: Ancestry.ca (retrieved April 19th 2020)

It now made sense why the sentence was worded the way it was. Cousin Fred had passed his WINGS, but couldn't fly the fighter jets because he was too tall so he served as ground crew during World War 2.

What didn't make sense to me was why a Canadian would earn British flight credentials. So I went in search of exactly what Cousin Fred's training had been. 

During World War 2 Britain sought assistance from their dominions (Canada, Australia, New Zealand) in training more pilots, and the program was called British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP). After learning about the program it made sense why Britain had issued Cousin Fred's WINGS. 

****** If you are interested in learning more about
the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP)
check the sources below ******

I was still a bit perplexed about exactly how tall Cousin Fred was so I went back to my original source, and called Grandma. Grandma said that she can't be sure, but Cousin Fred was probably about 6'5".  She guessed this because he was about the same height as my uncle (her youngest son) who is 6'5". 

Grandma also told me that she always thought her youngest son was 6'6", but he recently told her that he couldn't let her continue to lie so wanted her to know he's only 6'5". 

What we do know was that Cousin Fred was a very tall guy. 

I pondered why they would have let him start the training if he was too tall.

I set off to find out exactly how tall is too tall to fly fighter jets.

I was not able to find a record of height restrictions for Britain's World War 2 fighter pilots, but I did find an article that stated U.S. fighter pilots must be no taller than 6'5" standing & 3'4" sitting.

With Grandma's guess that Cousin Fred was about 6'5" it seems he would have just fit, but depending on the proportions of his build he may have been too tall when sitting. Or maybe he was taller than 6'5".  Maybe grandma's original 6'6" guess was more accurate. Or maybe today's fighter jet height restrictions are different than they were for World War 2.

He must have fit the initial height requirements because he was granted his Pilot Wings after completing 63 flight hours. At some point after that, the family story goes, he didn't fit into the fighter jets. Cousin Fred spent the time he was deployed during World War 2 as grounds crew even though he had qualified as a pilot.

I asked Grandma what Cousin Fred did after World War 2 & if he married. She said that she should know what he did for a living, but couldn't remember. She also said he married, but a bit later than was expected. She couldn't remember his wife's name or if he had children. Grandma has an amazing memory, but at 93 years old there are things she just can't remember. 

This is all I know about my 1st cousin X2 removed
Frederick Herbert Baker
BIRTH 26 MAY 1919 • Rural Municipality of Daly, Manitoba, Canada
DEATH Unknown

son of
Amy Florence Dendy
BIRTH 27 MAY 1894 • Camberwell, Surrey, England
DEATH 14 JUL 1982 • Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
and 
William John (Jack) Baker
BIRTH ABT 1877 • Plymouth, Devon, England
DEATH Unknown


I know that if Grandma remembers the answer to the questions I've asked she will phone. Over the past few years I have started to write down everything she tells me so I can remember once she is no longer here for me to ask.

****updated information and photos can be found here:
Week 41 (NEWEST) Fishing For Cousins ~ When The Bait Works

Ask the questions while the story-tellers still remember!







This is why I search - 



Cause ... 





You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!
















***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***







Sources:


Air Force Fighter Pilot Qualifications, by Jennifer Alyson; Houston Chronicle News, Retrieved April 19th 2020 from
https://work.chron.com/air-force-fighter-pilot-qualifications-8456.html

The Canadian Encyclopedia, British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, Retrieved april 19th 2020 from
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/british-commonwealth-air-training-plan

Great Britain, Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificate. Royal Aero Club, index cards and photographs are in the care of the Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon, London, England. Retrieved from Ancestry.ca April 19th 2020

Juno Beach Centre, Canada in the Second World War, British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, Retrieved April 19th 2020 from
https://www.junobeach.org/canada-in-wwii/articles/british-commonwealth-air-training-plan/

Juno Beach Centre, Canada in the Second World War, The BCATP Training Programme, Retrieved April 19th 2020 from
https://www.junobeach.org/canada-in-wwii/articles/british-commonwealth-air-training-plan/the-bcatp-training-programme/

Royal Airforce Museum, Taking Flight, Pathway to Pilot, pilot Wings, Retrieved April 19th 2020 from
https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/online-exhibitions/taking-flight/historical-periods/pilots-wings.aspx

Royal Airforce Museum, Taking Flight, Pathway to Pilot, Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate, Retrieved April 19th 2020 from
https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/online-exhibitions/taking-flight/pathway-to-pilot/royal-aero-club-aviators-certificate.aspx

Royal Airforce Museum, Taking Flight, Pathway to Pilot, World War 2, Retrieved April 19th 2020 from
https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/online-exhibitions/taking-flight/pathway-to-pilot/second-world-war.aspx

Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, BCATP Was a Breathtaking Canadian Undertaking That Helped the Allies Win WWII, November 14, 2016, By Ed Unrau, Retrieved April 19th 2020 from
http://royalaviationmuseum.com/bcatp-was-a-breathtaking-canadian-undertaking-that-helped-the-allies-win-wwii/




Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

___________________________________________________________