Baker, Edward Donald (Flight Lieutenant)

Born in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, 1915; home in Charlottetown; enlisted Montreal, 19 July 1940. Trained at No.1 ITS (graduated 3 November 1940), No.3 EFTS (graduated 18 January 1941) and No.8 SFTS (graduated 4 May 1941). Commissioned April 1941.

Killed in action on 1 April 1942, flying Wellington Z8842. Name on Runnymede Memorial. 214 Federated Malay States Squadron (Ultor In Umbris). Wellington aircraft Z 8842 failed to return from night bombing operations. FS S.S. Dawes and four RAF crew members were also killed.

Distinguished Flying Cross - No.214 Squadron - Award effective 30 March 1942 as per London Gazette dated 16 March 1943 and AFRO 616/43 dated 9 April 1943. Award presented to next-of-kin, March 1944. The citation reads - "This officer has completed numerous sorties since September 1941, involving attacks on Berlin, Stettin, Kiel, Brest, Hamburg, and Lubeck. He has at all times displayed enthusiasm for operations and has pressed home his attacks with vigour. One night in February 1942, whilst attacking Kiel, his aircraft was extensively damaged by anti-aircraft fire, the undercarriage, flaps and turrets being rendered useless. The airspeed indicator ceased to function and the fabric was torn in numerous places. On the return journey height was lost continually owing to engine trouble. Despite this, Flight Lieutenant Baker skillfully flew his damaged aircraft to an airfield in this country where he landed with the undercarriage retracted. On impact the aircraft caught fire. The crew managed to escape but the second pilot and a gunner each sustained a fractured arm while Flight Lieutenant Baker's nose was broken. His experiences have in no way diminished his enthusiastic daring and fortitude." Detail provided by H. Halliday, Orleans, Ontario.

No.214 Squadron RAF