Doyle D Baker (1940 - 2016)

Born 14 Oct 1940 in Cherokee, Alfalfa, Oklahoma, United States

Died 21 Feb 2016 at age 75 in Gloucester Point, Gloucester, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Gaile Connolly [send private message]

Biography

Doyle was born October 14, 1940 in Cherokee, Alfalfa, Oklahoma, United States. His parents were Robert Beecher Baker and Lydia Mae (Guthrie) Baker.^[1]

In 1950, Doyle (age 9) lived in Clay, Alfalfa, Oklahoma, United States with his father Robert (age 57), mother Lydia (age 49), and sister Velda (age 12). His father was a farmer.^[2]

After graduating from Helena High School in Helena, Oklahoma, United States, Doyle attended Oklahoma State University, then entered the United States Marine Corps Aviation Cadet Program at Pensacola, Florida, United States and was commissioned as a Marine Corps Second Lieutenant at Beeville, Texas, United States in 1962.^[1]

After retiring from the Air Force, Doyle spent 18 years flying celebrities and wealthy business people throughout the world in Gulfstreams (II's, III's and IV's), Learjets and Citations.^[1]

Doyle was a member of the Command Barstoolers, the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, the Air Force Association, the Wild Weasel Society, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, and the Quiet Birdmen.^[1]

Doyle died February 21, 2016 in Gloucester Point, Gloucester, Virginia, United States. His obituary was published February 25, 2016 in the Daily Press. At a later date, he was buried in Section 60, Grave 11307 of the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, United States.^[1]

Military Career

• November 1962, F-4 pilot, 513 3rd Marine Air Wing, first El Toro, California then Atsugi, Japan and later DaNang, Vietnam
• September 1966, F-4 pilot, Exchange Officer 16th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
• October 1967, F-4 pilot, Exchange Officer 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Udorn, Thailand
• November 1968, Advanced Flight Instructor at Kingsville, Texas
• Entered United States Air Force through inter-service transfer August 1969 and assigned to Headquarters, Tactical Air Command, Langley AFB, Virginia
• Graduated from Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 1976
• Assistant Operations Officer, 58th Tactical Fighter Sq., Eglin AFB, Florida May 1976
• Squadron Commander of the 43rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Deputy Commander for Operations 343rd Tactical Fighter Group, and Inspector General of the Alaskan Air Command, Elmendorf AFB, 1977, Alaska April 1977
• Chief of Training Development Division, Headquarters, Tactical Air Command, Langley AFB, Virginia September 1981
• Industrial College of the Armed Forces Fort McNair, Washington, DC August 1982
• Deputy Commander for Operations, 37th Tactical Fighter Wing Wild Weasels, George AFB, California July 1983
• Retired as Colonel May 1, 1986.

Medals, Awards, and Honors

• Downed a MIG-17 during aerial combat December 17, 1967
• Completed 243 combat missions during two tours in Vietnam.
• Second high time F-4 pilot
• Legion of Merit
• Distinguished Flying Cross
• Meritorious Service Medal (3 times)
• Air Medal (21 times)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} "Burial"
2. ↑ 1950 Census

• 1950 Census: "United States 1950 Census", database, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:6FSZ-33T3 : Sun Jan 29 14:18:28 UTC 2023), Entry for Robert B Baker, Sr and Lydia M Baker, 24 April 1950, see image, includes:

Name Doyle D Baker

Sex Male

Age 9 years

Birth Year (Estimated) 1941

Birthplace Okla.

Marital Status Single

Race W

Relationship to Head of Household Son

Event Date 24 April 1950

Event Place Clay Township, Alfalfa, Oklahoma, United States

Event Place (Original) Clay, Alfalfa, Oklahoma

Enumeration District 2-13

Line Number 6

Page Number 74

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace

Robert B Baker, Sr Head M 57 years Tennessee farmer, farm

Lydia M Baker Wife F 49 years Kansas

Velda C Baker Daughter F 12 years Okla.

Doyle D Baker Son M 9 years Okla.

• Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/158586748/doyle-d-baker: accessed 29 May 2023), memorial page for COL Doyle D “Pappy” Baker (14 Oct 1940–21 Feb 2016), Find a Grave Memorial ID 158586748, citing Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA; Maintained by Arleta (contributor 46898856), includes:

COL Doyle D “Pappy” Baker

BIRTH 14 Oct 1940

DEATH 21 Feb 2016 (aged 75)

BURIAL Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA

PLOT Section 60, Grave 11307

MEMORIAL ID 158586748

Published in Daily Press on Feb. 25, 2016 (in part):

GLOUCESTER POINT - Last Sunday, February 21, 2016 this world lost a great American hero, and a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend to many in the passing of Col. Doyle D. "Pappy" Baker at his home surrounded by his devoted family and friends. He was born in Cherokee, OK, on October 14, 1940, and graduated from Helena High School, Helena, OK, in 1958. After two years at Oklahoma State University, he entered the United States Marine Corps Aviation Cadet Program at Pensacola, FL and was commissioned as a Marine Corps Second Lieutenant at Beeville, TX in 1962. In November 1962, Pappy was assigned to Marine Fighter/Attack 513 3rd Marine Air Wing, El Toro, CA, as an F-4 pilot. He and the squadron were later assigned to Atsugi, Japan and DaNang, Vietnam from November 1964 to November 1965. In September 1966, he was selected as a Marine Corps Exchange Officer with the 16th Tactical Fighter Sq., Eglin AFB, FL until October 1967. Pappy was then transferred to Udorn Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, where he was still on Exchange Duty, only assigned to the 13th Tactical Fighter Sq. On December 17, 1967, while demonstrating extraordinary ability and skill during aerial combat in a Phantom II, he was officially credited with downing one MIG-17, the first of only three Marines to shoot down a MIG in the Vietnam war. He completed 243 combat missions during his two tours in Vietnam. Upon returning to the United States, Pappy served as an Advanced Flight Instructor at Kingsville, TX, from November 1968 through August 1969. He entered the United States Air Force through an inter-service transfer. After ACSC, he was assigned to Headquarters, Tactical Air Command, Langley AFB, VA until August 1975. Upon graduation from Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK in 1976, he was assigned as Assistant Operations Officer, 58th Tactical Fighter Sq., Eglin AFB, FL from May 1976 to April 1977. For the next four years, he was stationed at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska and his assignments included Assistant Deputy Commander for Operations, Deputy Commander for Operations and Squadron Commander of the 43rd Tactical Fighter Sq.; Deputy Commander for Operations 343rd Tactical Fighter Gp.; and Inspector General of the Alaskan Air Command. From September 1981 to August 1982 Pappy was assigned as Chief of the Training Development Division, Headquarters, Tactical Air Command, Langley AFB, VA and then attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces from August 1982 to June 1983 at Ft. McNair, Washington D.C. From there he served as Deputy Commander for Operations, 37th Tactical Fighter Wing Wild Weasels, George AFB, CA in July 1983 and remained at George AFB until retiring from active duty on May 1, 1986. After retiring Pappy immediately jumped into the corporate world and spent the next 18 years flying celebrities and wealthy business people throughout the world in Gulfstreams (II's, III's and IV's), Learjets and Citations. It was a challenging job that he thoroughly enjoyed. Pappy was a command pilot with a total of over 6600 flying hours and was the first person to reach 5000 hours and was the second high time F-4 pilot. His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Air Medal with 20 Oak Leaf Clusters. Pappy was a member of the Command Barstoolers, the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, the Air Force Association, Society of Wild Weasles, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, and the Quiet Birdmen.

His parents, Robert Beecher Baker and Lydia Mae Guthrie Baker; brothers, James C. Baker and Robert Beecher Baker; and sisters, Edna Mae Baker, Wanda Baker and Velda Baker preceded him in death. He is survived by (names of the living have been omitted per Find A Grave rules).

The family will receive friends Saturday, February 27, 2016 from 4 until 5:30 p.m. at Hogg Funeral Home, Gloucester Point. Full military graveside service will be held in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Family and friends may share condolences and memories at www.hoggfh.com

Father Robert Beecher Baker 1892–1966

Mother Lydia Mae Guthrie Baker 1897–1963

Siblings

Edna Mae Baker 1922–1993

Velda Charlene Baker 1937–2013