Baker, Eric Melville
- Date of death:
- 1985
- Service number:
- 47303V
- Nationality:
- South African
Biography
Promotions:
?: Captain;
April 1943: Major;
May 1944: Lieutenant-Colonel.
Career:
1940 - May 1941: Training Pilot, South Africa;
May 1941 - January 1942: No. 4 Squadron, SAAF, North Africa;
January 1942 - March 1942: No. 2 Squadron, SAAF, North Africa;
March 1942 - December 1942: No. 10 Squadron, SAAF, South Africa;
December 1942 - March 1943: No. 3 Squadron, SAAF, North Africa;
April 1943 - August 1943: Commanding Officer No. 3 Squadron, SAAF, Mediterranean;
August 1943 - January 1944: Commanding Officer No. 5 Squadron, SAAF, Mediterranean;
January 1944 - May 1944: South Africa;
May 1944 -September 1944: Commanding Officer No. 239 Wing, Italy;
September 1944 - May 1945: Commanding Officer No. 27 School, South Africa.
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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Major
- Unit:
- No. 5 Squadron, Royal South African Air Force
- Awarded on:
- January 25th, 1944
"Major Eric Melville Baker has completed many operational missions during the campaign in the Western Desert, Sicily and Italy and has at all times displayed courage, enthousiasm and a fine fighting spirit.
In December, 1943, he led a large formation in an attack on important enemy gun positions in Italy. Despite bad weather, his formation located and bombed the target in spite of intense activity from the ground defences. This sortie necessitated a long flight at low altitude over well defended territory, but nevertheless fine results were obtained.
Major Baker has destroyed three enemy aircraft in air combat and damaged others."
LG 36346/483.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Major
- Unit:
- No. 5 Squadron, Royal South African Air Force
- Awarded on:
- April 7th, 1944
"Major Eric Melville Baker has completed 358 operational hours in East Africa, Western Desert, North Africa, Sicily and Italy.
Throughout his tours he has exhibited great gallantry and outstanding qualities of leadership. At different times he commanded two squadrons, and, whilst he was in command, each unit was a model of efficiency both operationally and administratively.
Although the greater portion of his hours was completed in operations against ground targets, he has destroyed three enemy aircraft in air combat and damaged two others.
Whilst commanding his last squadron, he led practically every sortie, ans in five months completed 80 missions, during which time 70 Motor Transport were destroyed and many others damaged.
Major Baker's navigational ability is exceptional and this, coupled with his determination, has resulted in the squadron locating targets which other squadrons were unable to locate owing ro bad weather conditions.
The high morale of his pilots was due to his inspired leadership and the fearlessness he had displayed in pressing home repeated attacks on targets in the face of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire."
LG 36459/1616.
Sources
- Photo 1: Christopher Melville Baker
- - Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette of 21st January 1944, Issue 36346, dated 25th January 1944
- Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette of 4th April 1944, Issue 36459, dated 7th April 1944
- Ciel de Gloire
- DFC and DSO citation
Photo
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