John Dewey Baker 
M, (1926 - 21 November 1944)
- Relationship
- 9th great-grandson of Herman Op Den Graeff
John Dewey Baker was born in 1926. He was the son of James Edward Baker and Fern May Liford. John Dewey Baker died on 21 November 1944 at New Guinea, Australia, at age 18 years.
From Gary R. Hawpe, ed. and Steven L. Turner, comp., 'Military News,' Van Bibber Pioneers E-Newsletter, Vol. 5 No. 10 (August 2002), p. 16.
OBITUARY OF S/SGT JOHN D. BAKER
U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS
S/Sgt. John D. Baker, brother of Miss Ida Baker and Mrs. Mary E. Scott, both of 1014 English Avenue, was killed November 21st, 1944 in New Guinea. He was on his second mission then.
A top turret gunner on a B-29 Bomber, he previously served in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy, and had flown more than seventy missions there. In his column last March, Ernie Pyle mentioned S/Sgt. Baker as having flown more missions than any other member of his squadron.
The young airman enlisted in the Air Corps three years ago and had been in the South Pacific since September. He received the Purple Heart for wounds received in Italy last spring, and also held the air medal with three oak leaf clusters along with the distinguished flying cross. He was home last May (1944) just before the death of his mother (Fern May Liford).
The sergeant was 18 (he lied about his age and enlisted in the Air Corps at the age of 15) and attended Arsenal Technical High School (in Indianapolis, Indiana).
Survivors, besides Miss (Ida) Baker and Mrs. (Mary) Scott include another sister, Mrs. Catherine (Baker) Alexander, Tacoma, Washington, his father, James E. Baker, Evansville (Indiana), and three brothers, Walter L. (Baker) of Evansville (Indiana), Earl (Baker) of Martinsville (Indiana), and William Baker, serving in France (with the U.S. Army).
Indianapolis Star -- Indianapolis, Indiana.
From Gary R. Hawpe, ed. and Steven L. Turner, comp., 'Military News,' Van Bibber Pioneers E-Newsletter, Vol. 5 No. 10 (August 2002), p. 16.
OBITUARY OF S/SGT JOHN D. BAKER
U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS
S/Sgt. John D. Baker, brother of Miss Ida Baker and Mrs. Mary E. Scott, both of 1014 English Avenue, was killed November 21st, 1944 in New Guinea. He was on his second mission then.
A top turret gunner on a B-29 Bomber, he previously served in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy, and had flown more than seventy missions there. In his column last March, Ernie Pyle mentioned S/Sgt. Baker as having flown more missions than any other member of his squadron.
The young airman enlisted in the Air Corps three years ago and had been in the South Pacific since September. He received the Purple Heart for wounds received in Italy last spring, and also held the air medal with three oak leaf clusters along with the distinguished flying cross. He was home last May (1944) just before the death of his mother (Fern May Liford).
The sergeant was 18 (he lied about his age and enlisted in the Air Corps at the age of 15) and attended Arsenal Technical High School (in Indianapolis, Indiana).
Survivors, besides Miss (Ida) Baker and Mrs. (Mary) Scott include another sister, Mrs. Catherine (Baker) Alexander, Tacoma, Washington, his father, James E. Baker, Evansville (Indiana), and three brothers, Walter L. (Baker) of Evansville (Indiana), Earl (Baker) of Martinsville (Indiana), and William Baker, serving in France (with the U.S. Army).
Indianapolis Star -- Indianapolis, Indiana.
Last Edited=1 Jan 2012