Addison E. Baker.

Lt. Col. Addison E. Baker served as pilot and commanding officer of the 93rd Bomb Group during the August 1, 1943 low-level attack against the Ploesti oil refineries -- Operation Tidal Wave. He piloted B-24D serial 42-86897, leading his formation into the target at extremely low altitude.

Baker's aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire over Ploesti and crashed and burned in the town at an altitude of 300 feet or less. He did not survive the crash. Baker was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during this mission.

The crash was witnessed and confirmed by Major Joseph G. Pate Jr., Major George S. Brown, and Captain Carl G. Barthel, all of whom reported seeing the aircraft go down at Ploesti. His loss is documented in MACR-331.

Born 1 January 1907 in Chicago, Illinois, he joined the Regular Army as a Private in 1929, earned his Air Corps Second Lieutenant's commission and pilot wings in 1931, and served as a National Guard officer before being called to active duty in 1940. He was memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery, later annotated as recovered.