untacticcal000  

A number of Australian aviation pioneers have made names for themselves in Western Australian skies. Namely Sir Norman Brearley, Horrie Miller & Jimmy Woods spring to mind. Whilst not known outside of his home state that notorius aviation, Harry Frederick Baker known also as cannonball has an equal claim to fame due to his pioneering aviation exploits.Harry was known for his earlier years in flying in the 1920's, his covert missions during the second world war  and his entry into Australian National Airways in both England and Australia. "Cannonball" - Harry Baker also made his name as a motorcycle racer in the early 1920's when he became the first man in Western Australia to travel over land in excess of 100 miles per hour. This whetted his desire for more speed and took to flying in 1928.
He took flying lessons with major Norman Brearley's Perth flying school which operated out of the Maylands aerodrome.
In 1929 Harry Baker entered the aviation Industry on a full time basis, when he joined with Crude Oil Tractor Traders, LTD, as a flying serviceman piloting the company's tiny Klemm monoplane, VH-ULU throughout the Western Australian wheatbelt, servicing Lanz and Bulldog tractors.
In September 1929 he flew the Klemm to Sydney to participate in the East-West Centenary Air Race. He did complete the race of which was won by Horrie Miller. The Klemm although was a very small aircraft in itself came in second last.
Harry Baker then fitted floats to the klemm and in early 1930, Harry flew from Perth over to Rottnest Island. Rottnest was a popular tourist haven back then and when Harry landed in Thompson Bay it was to the delight of everyone to see a landing craft of any description on the island.This flight gave the aviation fathers the impetus to create a landing strip on the island.On November 5th 1930 Harry "Cannonball" Baker was the first pilot to land and use the newly created airstrip on Rottnest Island.
!930 was a busy and eventual year for harry, he taught WA's first woman pilot, Miss Helen. Prosser to fly and he also took the first Glider on it's first trial run in Western Australia during that year. The highlight of 1930 was when Harry formed his own company,"Baker-Aviation Co", and acquired a Gypsy-Moth , VH-UJH.
It appeared that Harry's barnstorming days were drawing to a close when he joined into the commercial airline field. He entered in with Major Norman Brearley's West Australian Airways in 1931.He initially flew on the Perth- North West service before switching over to the Perth - Adelaide run. However with Harry baker there were many other eventful flights and namely incidents that reflected Harry's willingness to do heroic acts as an aviator.
Harry was also brother to my wife Sylvia. They both grew up in Maylands in Western Australia. To my recollection of their early childhood events, they traveled from Perth to Busselton by train and spent their summer months by the seaside.Their Granfather was Harry.John.Smith of whom abdicated his position and lived and died at Busselton.
I have more to write on Harry's Aviation exploits but will stop for now.