World War II Honoree

Royal Newman 'King' Baker

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Corsicana, Texas

Honored By

Pearl Thomas

In January 1942, he graduated from flight training and in March 1942 he joined the 308th Fighter Squadron of the 31st Fighter Group. This was the first fighter group to reach England and they were stationed at Atcham Army Air Forces Station, England. The group was equipped with British Spitfire aircraft and August 19, 1942, participated in the Dieppe Raid. The group moved to North Africa where he piloted in air operations over Algeria, Tunisia, and Sicily. For his aerial combat achievements, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 16 oak leaf clusters. In November 1943 he was assigned flight commander with 493rd Fighter Squadron, 48th Fighter Group. Early in 1944, he again went to the European Theater of Operations and was assigned to the Ninth Air Force. He flew P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft in the campaigns of Air Offensive, Europe, Normandy. and Rhineland. He was awarded the Silver Star and also received an oak leaf cluster to the Distinguished Flying Cross. By the end of his second European tour of duty, he had flown a total of 523 hours on 272 combat missions. Returned to the United States in December 1944 and served as assistant director and director of fighter pilot training units.