Douglas Ishmeal Baker

Douglas Ishmeal Baker was born in McLain County, Oklahoma, on 27 August 1921, growing up on a farm near Payne, Oklahoma. He graduated from Lindsay High School in 1938, continued working on the farm, attended the University of Oklahoma in 1941, and then enlisted in the US Navy Reserve on 30 June 1942.

Baker was selected for flight training as an Aviation Cadet and, on 2 August 1943 was commissioned an Ensign, Naval Aviator, US Navy Reserve. In November 1943 Baker was assigned to the “Jokers”—Fighting Squadron Twenty (VF-20)— flying the Grumman F6F Hellcat.

Assigned to the USS Enterprise (CV-6), VF-20’s first combat actions started on 31 August 1944, targeting the Bonin Islands, Peleliu, Okinawa, Formosa, Luzon, Leyte, and enemy shipping. Baker flew missions against the Japanese Task Forces in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. In a letter to Baker’s mom, his commander wrote, “Baker’s fellow pilots called him the ‘Oklahoma Kid’ because of his aggressiveness and extremely sharp eyesight.”

On 12 October 1944, Baker downed four enemy aircraft, earning him his first Silver Star. Three days later, Baker downed two additional enemy aircraft making him an Ace. Between 18 October and 14 November 1944, he was credited with downing six additional enemy aircraft. On his last mission on 14 December 1944 over Clark Field, Luzon, LTJG Baker downed four enemy aircraft, bringing his total to sixteen, but his Hellcat was hit by enemy ground fire and disappeared.

LTJG Baker earned two Silver Stars, four Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Presidential Unit Citation, a Navy Unit Citation, and the Purple Heart. Credited with 16 downed enemy aircraft, Baker’s record as a fighter pilot ranks him 7th among all Naval aviators and 62nd of all American fighter pilots (1916–1972). Baker was inducted into the Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame in 1994.

LTJG Baker’s body was recovered in 1947 and now rests in Green Hill Cemetery, McClain County, Oklahoma.