World War II Honoree

DeWitt B. Baker

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

McRae, Georgia

Honored By

Sibyl M. Baker, DeWitt Jr. & Grant

Relationship

Wife & Sons

SERVED AS A B-17, B-24, B-26 BOMBER AND C-47 TRANSPORT ENLISTED PILOT, ASSIGNED TO THE 2ND FERRYING DIVISION, AIR TRANSPORT COMMAND. ENTERED THE SERVICE JULY 1, 1939 AND LATER SELECTED FOR AVIATION FLIGHT TRAINING, COMPLETING PRIMARY TRAINING AT BENNETTSVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA AND BASIC FLIGHT TRAINING AT BUSH FIELD, AUGUSTA, GEORGIA. HE GRADUATED FROM ADVANCED FLIGHT TRAINING (CLASS 42-G) AT TURNER ARMY AIRFIELD, ALBANY, GEORGIA WITH HIS PILOT WINGS AND THE RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT. WHILE ASSIGNED TO THE NEW CASTLE ARMY AIRFIELD, WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, HE RECEIVED HIS COMMISSION ALONG WITH THE RANK OF 2ND LIEUTENANT ON OCTOBER 12, 1942 AND LATER TRANSFERRED TO AN AIR TRANSPORT COMMAND UNIT IN THE CHINA THEATER. WHILE PARTICIPATING IN THE CHINA OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN, HE FLEW C-47 MISSIONS OUT OF SHANGHAI, KUNMING AND CHENGTU, TRANSPORTING CARGO AND MILITARY PERSONNEL. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: AIR MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND A DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION. PRIOR TO ENTERING THE SERVICE, HE ATTENDED THE ROTC MILITARY COLLEGE, DAHLONEGA, GEORGIA AND THE WEST POINT PREPARATORY SCHOOL IN HAWAII. AFTER THE WAR, HE CONTINUED TO SERVE HIS COUNTRY FOR 21 YEARS.