Addison Earl Baker

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-39409.jpeg UPL 39409 Lt. Col. Addison Earle Baker -- Pilot of "Hell's Wench" - killed with his copilot, Maj. John Jerstad and crew, leading the 93rd Bomb Group over Ploesti Aug, 1, 1943

Removed associations not depicted in the image. Associated content should be added to the AIRCRAFT and/or PERSON records.

Object Number - UPL 39409 - Lt. Col. Addison Earle Baker -- Pilot of "Hell's Wench" - killed with his copilot, Maj. John Jerstad and crew, leading the 93rd Bomb Group over...

Lieutenant Colonel Addison Baker was the Commanding Officer of the 93rd Bomb Group from May 17, 1943. He was killed in action (KIA) over Ploesti during Operation Tidal Wave on 1 August, 1943.



In the summer of 1943, Baker was dispatched to North Africa with the 93rd Bomb Group to take part in Operation Tidal Wave, to bomb the oil refineries at Ploesti. Baker piloted the B-24D Liberator, Hell's Wench, 42-40994, on the Ploesti mission. Upon reaching the target area, the Group Lead Pilot, Col. K.K. Compton, of the 93rd Bomb Group turned at the wrong point and headed for Bucharest ! Baker and several other shocked pilots behind Compton, attempted to warn the element command pilot, but, when Compton failed to respond, Baker broke formation and led the remainder of the men in the 93rd Bomb Group, who wanted to attack their targets, back toward Ploesti.



On approach to the target, Hell's Wench, took two direct flak hits, causing Baker to jettison his bombs as both of his wings were hit, the aircraft began leaking fuel, and became engulfed in flames. At almost the same time, Baker had to break formation and pull up to give his men a last desperate chance to bail out and live. As Col. Baker and his copilot, Major John Jerstad, made an attempt to gain altitude, so that his crew could escape their burning plane by parachute, the aircraft lost speed in the climb, stalled, rolled over, crashed, and exploded in flames, killing everyone aboard. 10 KIA.

1 Aug 1943.



Addison Baker's body was never recovered. He was given a memorial site in Florence American Cemetery and Memorial, Florence, Italy. He was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his role and sacrifice on the Ploesti mission. 1 Aug 1943.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 93rd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11021584
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17037959
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 329th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11019924
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18070690
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Major John Louis Jerstad of the 93rd Bomb Group. First handwritten caption on reverse: 'Maj John Louis Jerstad as A/C.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '93 BG Major John Jerstad awarded posthumous MoH.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron Headquarters (2nd Combat Bomb Wing) 98th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 16009546 / O-435784
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Hell's Wench
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Bengazi Airfield, Wheelus Airbase

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Chicago, Illinois 1 January 1907

Died

Ploesti 1 August 1943 Killed over Il Concordia Vega Refinery, Ploesti

Buried

Commemorated on the Wall of the Missing, Florence American Cemetery.

Revisions

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Black Sunday - Ploesti - Michael Hill

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Black Sunday - Ploesti - Michael Hill

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Ploesti Sortie Report, 93rd Bomb Group

Removed associations to people who did not fly as a part of Baker's crew during his service or on board his aircraft Operation Tidal Wave. Removed associations to aircraft and units which Baker never served with.

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Black Sunday - Michael Hill ---- Wikipedia - Addison E Baker

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Black Sunday - Michael Hill ---- Wikipedia - Addison E Baker

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Anatomy Of A Disaster - Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg ---- Black Sunday - Michael Hill ---- Into The Fire - Duane Schultz ---- TogetherWeServed.com ---- FindAGrave.com ---- Personal Archives - John S. Young

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Black sunday - Michael Hill

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Black Sunday - Michael Hill

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Black sunday - Michael Hill

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Black Sunday - Michael Hill

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Wings of valor II - The Ploesti Raid

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 9-Nov-2014: CO informration: http://www.usaaf.com/8thaf/bomber/93bg.HTM; Decoration/Commemoration: American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC).

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Freeman, MOH Citation

Addison Earl Baker: Gallery (3 items)