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Addison E. Baker

HometownOH

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.

Killed in ActionPASSED 01 AUG 1943

Sortie Log

1 CATALOGUED SORTIE
01 AUG 1943

The sorties below are those we have been able to document for this airman, drawn from flight logs, mission records, and archival sources. It is not necessarily a complete account of every mission flown; gaps may reflect missing documentation, transferred assignments, or records lost to time.

8AF Mission
Date
Target
Aircraft
№ 115
01 AUG 1943
Ploesti, Romania
B-24D serial number 42-86897 was the aircraft assigned to Lt. Col. Addison E. Baker and his crew for the August 1, 1943 low-level attack on the Ploesti oil refineries, flown from Bengasi (Site No. 7) as part of Operation Tidal Wave. The aircraft was lost to enemy anti-aircraft fire over Ploesti, Romania. According to intelligence officer statements, 38 aircraft of the 93rd Bomb Group reached the target on this mission. Returned crews reported that this aircraft crashed in the town of Ploesti from an altitude of 300 feet or less and burned. The aircraft was observed to crash and burn by multiple witnesses including Major Pate, Major Brown, and Captain Barthel. The MACR was filed on January 18, 1943 (date-stamped; likely a clerical error for August 1943), and received by the Air Adjutant General's office on October 9, 1943. Engines listed on the report carry AAF serial numbers 42-85864, 42-86277, 42-86900, and 42-86318. The aircraft was flying at an extremely low altitude — 300 feet or less — consistent with the low-level attack profile of Operation Tidal Wave.
42-86897
§ Interment
Cemetery
Florence American Cemetery