Roland Henry Baker Jr (1923 - 1994)

Ancestors

Biography

Distinguished Flying Cross, Naval Aviator Air Group VF-6, US Navy Carrier World War II USS Hancock (CV-19), US Navy Carrier Korean War USS Philippine Sea (CV-47), In Dec 1942. Aircraft: SBD SB2C (Helldivers) F6F-5 (Helcat) AD-5W (Skyraider) R5D. 13,568 flight hours, 329 carrier landings (including 43 night). VAW-12 Detachment O in C. VR-24, R5D Plane CDR. Five ATP FAA Type Ratings. Credited w/two "Zekes". Out 5/1/1963.

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29 Mar 1945 U.S. Navy Hellcat fighter pilot Roland Henry Baker (left) aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Hancock recounts a rescue mission of a bailed-out helldiver pilot, Somerville (2nd right), saving Somerville from certain death in Kagoshima Bay, near the Island of Kyushu, Japan during World War II. A dogfight ensued with fighter pilots Baker, Moeller and Kilnger of the VF-6 shooting down at least five Japanese "zero" fighter planes during the dogfight and successfully rescued Somerville from the Kagoshima Bay. Roland H. Baker encountered anti-aircraft fire from shore batteries around the bay during most of the two hours he was so damaged by anti-aircraft fire that he could not land aboard his carrier but had to make a crash water landing. "The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Ensign Roland H. Baker, Jr. … His skill and courage were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service." Somerville later became a judge and thanked Roland H. Baker for saving his life. Roland H. Baker was the youngest U.S. Navy fighter pilot to serve in World War II.

On September 2, 1945 at 9:04 A.M. Roland Baker and the VF-6 fighting squadron flew overhead while U.S. General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Commander in the Southwest Pacific and Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, Japanese foreign minister Mamoru Shigemitsu and and General Yoshijirō Umezu "By Command and on behalf of the Emperor of Japan and the Japanese Government" signed the instrument of surrender on the deck of the U.S.S. Missouri.

Col Roland Henry Baker, Jr (10 Oct 1923 Chelsea, Suffolk, Mass - 12 Jun 1994 Nashville, Davidson, Tenn) was my father.

Roland Henry Baker, Jr's father was Captain Roland Henry Baker, Sr (1 May 1897 West Newton, Middlesex, Mass - 27 Jan 1985 Elkins, Merrimack, N.H.) a veteran of World War I and son of Frederic Warren Kidder Baker (1872 – 1941) and Ada Foss (one of the Heavenly Twins, singer, born 1876 and daughter of author and adventurer James Henry Foss).

Roland Henry Baker, Jr's mother was Ethel Gertrude Lenfest (30 Sep 1898 Chelsea, Suffolk, Mass - 2 Feb 1995 in Nashville, Davidson, Tenn) daughter of Charles Grant Lenfest (21 Dec 1868 Cambridge, Mass - 26 Jan 1927 Boston, Mass) and Maria Adela Sampson (3 Oct 1867 Boston, Suffolk, Mass - 14 Aug 1949 Belmont, Middlesex, Mass).

Roland Henry Baker, Jr married first Cornelia "Connie" Keyworth (10 Feb 1932 Boston, Suffolk, Mass – 14 Jan 2013 Raleigh, Wake, N.C.) the daughter of Edward Connell Keyworth (1901 – 1978) and Lenore D Hewett (1902 – 1987) and had two daughters with Connie: Kathryn Ann "Kathy" Baker and Carey Lee Baker.

Roland Henry Baker, Jr married second Joan Leonard Chadbourne of Providence, R.I., a school teacher and daughter of Joseph Humphrey Chadbourne, Jr (1900 – 1975) and Barbara Anita Bullard (1906 – 1998). Roland and Joan had one son Roland Henry Baker III of Santa Barbara, California. Roland Henry Baker, Jr adopted Joan's three daughters from a previous marriage: Sivea, Gwyn and Meg Cattelll.

Roland Henry Baker, Jr married third Emily Kay Carter, a singer, no children with Emily.

His Baker ancestors originally came from Sissinghurst, Kent, England. During the great migration 400 years ago his forefather Thomas Baker was a founding member of the Roxbury Colony in the early 1600's. In the late 1700's during an ill fated Navel campaign against the British his father a ship's surgeon, Lemuel Baker, left Roxbury and was shipwrecked in Steuben, Washington, Maine where the family remained for generations. The Bakers of Steuben, Maine made regular voyages back to the first Church of Roxbury for baptisms, marriages and deaths. The first Church of Roxbury remained the cornerstone of the family for generations.

His American Baker pedigree is Col Roland Henry Baker, Jr 10 (1923-1994), Captain Roland Henry Baker, Sr 9 (1897 – 1985), Frederic Warren Kidder Baker 8 (1872 – 1941), John H Baker 7 (1822 – 1873), Eli Forbes Baker 6 (1790 – 1855), Lemuel Baker 5 (1742 –), Capt John Baker 4 (1705 – 1781), Thomas Baker 3 (1676 – 1761), John Baker 2 (1644 – 1732), Thomas Baker 1 (1608 – 1683), Sir Thomas Baker (1557 - 1625), Sir Richard Baker (1527 - 1594), Sir John Baker (1488 – 1558), Member of Parliament and Exchequer of England of Sissinghurst, Kent, England according to noted genealogist and expert on the Roxbury Colony Bakers, Guy Elis Baker of Albany, New York.

Nearly 20 years after World War II Baker retired from the U.S. Navy after serving as a fighter pilot in the Korean War. He continued his flying career untimately flying private jets including Lear Jets, Goldstreams and Sabreliner Alphas. He briefly took up car racing. On the afternoon of 12 Jun 1994 Roland H. Baker was killed while riding a Vincent Black Shadow on the country roads of Davidson County, Tennessee.

From Roland Baker, Jr back to Capt John Baker in the founding colony at Roxbury the Bakers have served in The American War of Independence, King Philips War, The War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, World War II and the Korean War and many other wars with distinction, honor, valor and most of all loyalty to their fellow solders and they have taken this spirit into civic minded responsibilities.

Find A Grave: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=315940 Family Tree: http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/59016579/person/48041652200

Sons of the American Revolution National Number 57173 State Number 5330 (Massachusetts).

Key life events:

Birth 1923 10 Oct Chelsea, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA

His Grandfather Charles Grant Lenfest Dies 1927 26 Jan — Age: 3 Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA

His Parents Divorce 1928 — Age: 5

His mother remarries to Col Roland H Choate, Massachusetts National 1936 — Age: 13 Falmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA

His Grandfather Frederic Kidder Baker Dies 1941 6 Jan — Age: 17 2 South State St, Concord, Merrimack, New Hampshire

Empire of Japan attacks Pearl Harbor 1941 7 Dec — Age: 18

Military 1942 Dec — Age: 19 Eager to become a naval aviator and fight the Empire of Japan Roland lies about his age to qualify. Roland primarily flew an F6F-5 Helcat in World War II. He also flew the SBD Douglas Dive Bomber (Dauntless), SB2C (Helldivers), AD-5W (Skyraider) and R5D.

Military 1943 1 Jan — Age: 19 USS Hancock, Japan LT ROLAND H. BAKER, USNR FLIGHT LOG ID: 1734 Service Date In:01/01/1943 Aviation Designation Naval Aviator Aircraft: SBD SB2C (Helldivers) F6F-5 (Helcat) AD-5W (Skyraider) R5D Ship/Units/Deployments: USS Hancock (VF-6)

USS Hancock Launched 1944 24 Jan — Age: 20 Hanock is launced from Bethlehem Steel in Quincy, Mass 24 Jan 1944 and fitted in the Boston Navy Yard for shake-down training in Trinidad and Venezuela. 9 Jul 1944 returns to Boston and is launched 31 Jul 1944 to Pearl Habor. 888 feet, 33 knotts 3448 souls

USS Hancock joins Carrier Task Group 38.2 attack Okinawa 1944 5 Oct — Age: 20 375 nmi (690 km) west of the Marianas 5 Oct USS Hancock joins Carrier Task Group 38.2 under Adm Gerald F Bogan and Vice Admiral Mitscher's Fast Carrier Task Force 38 and raid Japanese air and sea bases in the Ryūkyūs Islands. On 10 Oct 1944 they inflict heavy damages on Okinawa.

USS Hancock attacks Formosa 1944 12 Oct — Age: 21 Formosan now Taiwan Starting 12 Oct USS Hancock attacks Formosan (Taiwan) for several days taking out over a dozen Japanese planes, several cargo ships, ammunition dumps, hangars, barracks, industrial plants and transport systems while under heavy attack by the Japanese.

USS Hancock Launches attacks on The Philippines 1944 18 Oct — Age: 21 Laoag, Aparri, Camiguin, Luzon, Cebu, Panay, Negros, and Masbate On 18 Oct her places struck the Philippines at Laoag, Aparri, Camiguin, Luzon, Cebu, Panay, Negros, and Masbate destroying enemy air power. Thus enemy air power was paralyzed during General MacArthur's key invasion of Leyte. 29 Oct they attacked Manila.

Kamikaze attach on USS Hancock 1944 25 Nov — Age: 21 17 Nov Hancock because Flagship (TF38) under Adm McCain. Kamikaze exploded a plane some 300 ft (90 m) above the ship, but a section of its fuselage landed amidships, and a part of the wing hit the flight deck and burst into flames.

USS Hancock Accident 1945 21 Jan — Age: 21 South China Sea USS Hancock Accident, Two 500 lb. bombs exploded on flight deck 21 Jan 1945 killing 50 service men and injuring 75 more when a a plane returning from a sortie burst into flames. The following day, USS Hancock launched attack planes on Okinawa.

Attachs in the South China Sea and Explosion on Deck 1945 Jan — Age: 21 South China Sea After a severe typhoon (17 Dec 1943) they attached Luzon 7 Jan, Formosa 9 Jan, Indochina, Saigon Hainan, Gulf of Tonkin, the Pescadores, Hong Kong Habor, 20 Jan Formosa again, and Okinawa 22 Jan.

Hancock clears way for bloody Iwo Jima battle 1945 Feb — Age: 21 In order to prepare the invasion of Iwo Jima (the bloodiest battle) Hancock isolated it from air and sea support with attacks on Tokyo 16 Feb downing 83 planes, naval bases at Chichi Jima and Haha Jima 19 Feb. 22 Feb Hancock aided the invasion.

Heroic Rescue Mission: Roland saves bailed-out helldiver 1945 29 Mar — Age: 21 Kagoshima Bay, near the Island of Kyushu, Japan Heroic Rescue Mission from USS Hancock of a bailed-out helldiver pilot, Somerville, saving Somerville from certain death in Kagoshima Bay, near the Island of Kyushu, Japan. Roland ditched in the sea. Rec'd Distinguished Flying Cross. Credited two Zero

Hancock clears airfields in preparation for Okinawa Assault 1945 Mar — Age: 21 Attacks on Honshū, Nansei-shoto 1 Mar (a diversion) and Ulithi 4 Mar. Kyūshū 18 Mar, 20 Mar the TF was attacked by kamikazes. One plane exploded 700 ft overhead and fragments hit their deck. Under TG 58.3 they struck Nansei-shoto Minami Daito late Mar.

Kamikaze takes Hancock Out during Invasion of Okinawa 1945 Apr — Age: 21 1 Apr Hancock provided support to the 10th Army for the invasion of Okinawa. During the invasion on 7 Apr a Kamikaze killed 62 men, injured 71, destroyed the port catapult and a group of aircraft. Hancock was sent for repair 9 Apr to Pearl Harbor.

Hancock Roars Back into Action 1945 13 Jun — Age: 21 13 June 1945 Hancock is back and atttacks Wake Island on 20 Jun.

Hancock Strikes Mainland Japan Hard 1945 Jul — Age: 21 10 July Hancock strikes Tokyo hard. She continues sorties until the Japanese capitulate 14 Aug 1945.

Hancock Drops supplies on POW Camps 1945 Aug — Age: 21 After Japanese capitulation Hancocks scouts for POW camps and drops emergency supplies. They collect aerial photo intelligence in preparation for humanitarian missions. And they continue to clean up small skirmishes shooting down a Japanese dive bomber.

Roland Baker and VF6 Fly over Signing of Instrument of Surrender 1945 2 Sep — Age: 21 Over Deck of USS Missouri in Tokoyo Bay 9:04AM Roland Baker and the VF-6 fighting squadron flew overhead while U.S. General of the Army Douglas MacArthur and foreign minister Mamoru Shigemitsu "By Command and on behalf of the Emperor of Japan" signed the instrument of surrender.

USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) with VR-24 Launched 1945 5 Sep — Age: 21 Pacific Launched 5 Sep 1945 The USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) was launched 5 Sep 1945 from Bethlehem Steel Company in Quincy, Mass. After fitting in Boston and prepartions in Norfolk she sailed on 12 Oct to Cuban water for a shake down cruise. Roland served in VR-24

USS Hancock Operation Magic Carpet and Inactivation 1945 10 Sep — Age: 21 Tokyo Bay to Seattle, Washington 10 Sep 1945 USS Hancock entered Tokyo Bay then transported over 10,000 solder, sailor and aircraft over several trips in Operation Magic Carpet to California from Admiralty Islands, Manila, Guam, Saipan, Pearl Habor and Okinawa and inactivated in Seattle.

USS Philippine Sea cruises in the Mediterranean 1948 — Age: 25 Mediterranean Sea SB2C-5 Helldivers aboard Philippine Sea during her cruise in the Mediterranean in 1948. Roland Spends time traveling various parts of Europe on his leave.

His Grandmother Maria Adela Sampson Dies 1949 14 Aug — Age: 25 Belmont, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA

Korean War Begins 1950 25 Jun — Age: 26 USS Philippine Sea, Pacific off of Korea 1 Aug 1950 the USS Philippine Sea arrived in Korea to support UN forces. She was flagship of TF-77. 5 Aug they flew 140 sorties a day to support the front line in the Battle of the Pursan Perimeter and take out infrastructure, communication and transport.

Philippine Sea Supports the Inchon landing 1950 15 Sep — Age: 26 USS Philippine Sea, Yellow Sea off Korea The Philippine Sea attacked Seoul to divert attention from the Inchon landing. On 15 Sep they gave air support to the massive invasion at Inchon and wiped out N. Korea lines leading to the re-take Seoul by UN forces.

Philippine Sea supports retreat from Yalu River to Hungnam 1950 Nov — Age: 27 USS Philippine Sea A surprise attack by N. Koreas forces the retreat from Yalu River to Hungnam and evacuation of civilians. Philippine Sea provides air support for trapped X Corps at Chosin Reservoir and then cleared a path to evacuation.

Philippine Sea deploys second time to Korea 1952 20 Jan — Age: 28 After returning to the California the Philippine Sea was deployed a second time to Korea. The carrier directed targets against the Sui-ho Dam and Pyongyang. She retuned to San Diego in Aug 1952.

Third Deployment of the Philippine Sea to Korea 1952 Dec — Age: 29 Philippine Sea focused on attacks on rail and communications lines in seage warfar. Truce talks began in Panmunjom leading to the de jure cessation of open warfare.

Korean War Armistice 1953 27 Jul — Age: 29 USS Philippine Sea, Pacific off Korea Korean War Armistice was signed in the summer of 1953, resulting in the de jure cessation of open warfare

Marriage to Cornelia "Connie" Keyworth 1954 — Age: 31 Florida, USA

Dughter Kathryn Ann "Kathy" Baker Born

Daughter Carey Lee Baker Born

Flight Instructor US Navy 1959 - 1963 Pensicola, Florida 1959 — Age: 36 Pensicola, Florida

Divorce from Cornelia "Connie" Keyworth 1961 Nov — Age: 38 Duval, Florida, USA

Reitrement from Naval Aviation 1963 1 May — Age: 39 Pacific, Japan, Korea Naval Aviation Service Record USNR FLIGHT LOG ID: 1734 Significant Achievements: 13,568 flight hours, 329 carrier landings (including 43 night). VAW-12 Detachment O in C. VR-24, R5D Plane CDR. Five ATP FAA Type Ratings. Credited w/two "Zekes". Out 5/1/1963

Marriage to Joan Leonard Chadbourne 12 1964 8 May — Age: 40 Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Adopted Joan's three daughters: Sivea, Meg and Gwyn Cattell.

Occupation 1964 - 1985 — Age: 41 Massachusetts, Canada, Nashville He worked as an executive at a friends firm for a short time but was never happy and wanted to get back into the sky. For a few years he was a pilot United. For a period he fly the U.S. Mail out of Nantucket.

Son Roland Henry Baker, III is born

Chief Pilot at Northern Telecom 1966 — Age: 43 Montreal, Canada He became chief pilot at Northern Telecom. Eventually he would also run the aviation department. Northern Telecom. Northern Telecom would later become Nortel. They started with a single Lear Jet. I used to love flying with him

Residence 1967 -1973 — Age: 44 School St, Essex Junction, Chittenden, Vermont, USA We moved to Vermont to be close to Roland's job in Montreal.

Residence 1973 -1975 — Age: 50 Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA We transferred with Nortel to Massachusetts.

Nortel Moves to Massachusetts and Expands 1973 — Age: 50 Massachusetts The aviation department grew to include a Sabreliner Alpha. I spent a lot of great times with my father in this cockpit growing up.

Nortel Moves to Nashville and expands more 1977 — Age: 54 The Aviation department is now substantial and includes some Golfsteam aircrast. We spend a lot of time in the hanger and going on flights.

Residence 1977 -1994 — Age: 54 Ellesmere Rd, Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee, USA Nortel moved the aviation department to Nashville. Our family was transferred.

Associations/Service Organizations 1980 — Age: 57 USS Hancock Assn. Tailhook Assn. Ret Officers Assn. Naval Reserve Assn. Naval Av Museum Fdn, Vincent Owners Club and Other Riding Associations. Unitarian Church of Nashville. First Church of Roxbury.

His Father Roland Henry Baker Sr Dies 1985 27 Jan — Age: 61 Elkins, Merrimack, New Hampshire, USA

His Aunt Helen Lenfest Dies 1988 28 Feb — Age: 64 Hyannis, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA

Death 1994 12 Jun — Age: 70 Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee, USA On the afternoon of 12 Jun 1994 Roland H Baker was killed while riding a Vincent Black Shadow on the country roads of Davidson County, Tennessee at age

Burial 1994 5 Oct Massachusetts National Cemetery Bourne Barnstable County Massachusetts, USA Plot: 14A, 0, 153Find A Grave: Memorial #315940

Y DNA Analysis by Roland Henry Baker, III, Molecular Genetics, U.C. Berkeley. Y-DNA Haplotype R-L664 subgroup 2.D R1a1-CTS4385>L664>(S3478?)>S2894>YP282-C>YP441>A172 Verified from two separate descendants.