| Brian Edmund Baker | |
|---|---|
| Born | 31 August 1896 Hertford, Hertfordshire |
| Died | 8 October 1979 (aged 83) Lincoln, Lincolnshire |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1915–1950 |
| Rank | Air Marshal |
| Commands held | No. 32 Squadron RAF No. 141 Squadron RAF RAF Gosport RAF Leuchars Transport Command |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross Air Force Cross Order of the White Lion (Czechoslovakia) Croix de Guerre (1914-1918) Commander's Cross with Star of the Polonia Restituta Czechoslovak Military Cross Commander of the Legion of Merit (US) |
Air Marshal Sir Brian Edmund Baker KBE, CB, DSO, MC, AFC (31 August 1896 – 8 October 1979) was a British Flying Ace in World War I credited, in conjunction with his gunners, with 12 victories, comprising 1 aircraft captured, 1 and 3 shared destroyed, and 6 and 1 shared 'out of control'.[1]
Baker served in the Rifle Brigade at the outbreak of war and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) in August 1915.[2] He was then transferred to France with a total of only twelve hours flying time and joined No. 13 Squadron, which was flying BE2 aircraft.[3] In January 1917 he was given command of a flight in the newly-formed No. 48 Squadron. He helped shoot down a Gotha heavy bomber on 22 July 1917.
In July 1918 was appointed Officer Commanding No. 141 Squadron at RAF Biggin Hill.[3]
After the war he remained with the RAF, being appointed Officer Commanding the Experimental Section at the Royal Aircraft Establishment in 1926, Officer Commanding No. 32 Squadron in 1929 and Chief Flying Instructor at RAF Leuchars in 1932.[3] He went on to be Senior RAF Officer on HMS Courageous in 1935, Station Commander at RAF Gosport in 1937 and Station Commander at RAF Leuchars in 1938.[3]
He served in World War II as Air Officer Commanding No. 51 Group from 1940, Air Officer Commanding RAF Iceland from 1941 and Air Officer Commanding No. 16 Group from 1942 before transferring to No. 19 (Reconnaissance) Group in 1943 and taking command of RAF East Africa in 1945.[3]
After the War he was appointed Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters RAF Middle East and then, from December 1945, Deputy Air Commander-in-Chief, RAF Mediterranean and Middle East before becoming Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF Transport Command in 1947 and retiring in 1950.[3]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Ralph Cochrane |
Commander-in-Chief Transport Command 1947–1950 |
Succeeded by Sir Aubrey Ellwood |
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