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Baker Cleo Alvin

Name:
Cleo Alvin Baker
Rank:
Sergeant
Serial Number:
37232012
Unit:
395th Bomber Squadron, 40th Bomber Group, Very Heavy
Date of Death:
1944-06-05
State:
Missouri
Cemetery:
Manila American Cemetery, Taguig, Philippines
Plot:
Walls of the Missing
Row:
Grave:
Decoration:
Air Medal, Purple Heart
Comments:

Cleo Alvin Baker was born on May 7, 1923 in Iowa. He served in the 395th Bomber Squadron, 40th Bomber Group, Very Heavy as a Sergeant during World War II.

On 5 June 1944, B -29 serial 42-6282, Capt John E. Sanders, Airplane Commander, proceeded on a combat mission to Bangkok, Siam in formation, beyond the point of no return using wing tanks only, without testing the operation of the fuel transfer system. The pump had been tested on the ground prior to the mission, and its previous excellent air operation was taken for granted.

Due to the tail heavy condition of the airplane, the pilot did not desire any gasoline transferred before bombs were dropped. When the fuel transfer system was tried, it failed to function and course was altered to nearest field, Cox's Bazaar, India. Upon arrival there, the Navigator was uncertain of his position and believed it was a Japanese Base. Rather than risk delivering a new B -29 airplane to the Japanese at their field, the Pilot decided to continue to Chittagong.

About fourteen (14) miles short of the field at Chittagong, India, the Pilot was forced to land the airplane in the water about 1½ miles off-shore. The airplane was landed excellently in smooth water and began to fill with water immediately in both pressurized compartments. All crew members escaped from the forward compartment after pulling life rafts release handles. No crew member escaped from the rear compartment without aid from outside by crew members from the front compartment. Four (4) crew members were never seen after ditching began and were either injured in the landing and drowned, or were unable to escape from the plane and were drowned. Although the life raft doors were released, the rafts did not emerge from their compartments.

Sgt Baker is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines. He was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is also commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov