Gordon Stanley Baker's Air Force Story!
Wriiten by 2nd Cousin Herb Barge

2020poppy

Gordon Stanley Baker was born July 7, 1921 in Kyle, Saskatchewan, the son of Nathaniel William an Louisa Amelia (Mills) Baker.

He had one younger sister Dorothy Aileen, and a much younger brother Alan McLeod.

Gordon with 1st cousins Myrtle, Pat, & Mildred
Gordon Baker (Left) with first cousins Myrtle and Patricia Pinkerton (rear), Mildred Lonsdale (right) and his sister Dorothy (front) in 1927.

During World War II, on January 4, 1941, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Airforce as a pilot, attaining the rank of Flight Lieutenant. He completed 43 missions, the majority with the famed Pathfinders for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Quote from Gordon "The reaction to war being declared was one of gravity because I knew, probably more than many, the horrors of war. My father had been wounded at Vimy Ridge in the First World War and he told me about the lice, the mud, the mangling of bodies and minds but he also instilled in me that if your country calls you, you must defend it."

- Gordon Stanley Baker

Gordon Baker 1941
Gordon Baker 1941

Before leaving for overseas he had a picture taken with his mother and younger brother.

Gordon, Lou, Alan
Gordon with his mother Louise and brother Alan, 1943

The following is the report on the awarding of the DFC.

BAKER, F/L Gordon Stanley (J29073) Distinguished Flying Cross - No.582 Squadron
Award effective 8 September 1945 as per London Gazette dated 21 September 1945 and AFRO 1704/45 dated 9 November 1945. Born 1921 in Matador, Saskatchewan; home there; enlisted Saskatoon, 4 January 1941). Trained at No.1 ITS (graduated 20 February 1943), No.2 EFTS (graduated 17 April 1943) and No.12 SFTS (graduated 20 August 1943). Commissioned August 1943. Award presented 18 June 1949. No citation other than "completed...numerous operations against the enemy in the course of which [he has] invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty." Public Records Office Air 2/8750 has recommendation dated 16 April 1945 when he had flown 42 sorties (211 hours 32 minutes), 12 August 1944 to 14 April 1945.
The following is the list of sorties flown:
12 Aug 44
Falaise
30 Oct 44
Cologne
28 Dec 44
Munchen Gladbach
22 Mar 45
Dulmen
15 Aug 44
Volke
4 Nov 44
Bochum
30 Dec 44
Cologne
24 Mar 45
Sterkrade
25 Aug 44
Russelheim
6 Nov 44
Gelsenkirchen
1 Jan 45
Dortmund
25 Mar 45
Hannover
29 Aug 44
Stettin
8 Nov 44
Wanne Eickel
2 Jan 45
Nuremburg
11 Apr 45
Nuremburg
10 Sep 44
Le Havre
11 Nov 44
Dortmund
6 Jan 45
Hanau
13 Apr 45
Kiel
12 Sep 44
Stuttgart
16 Nov 44
Julich
1 Feb 45
Ludwigshaven
14 Apr 45
Potsdam
17 Sep 44
Westkapelle
18 Nov 44
Munster
9 Feb 45
Goch
 
20 Sep 44
Calais
21 Nov 44
Worms
13 Feb 45
Bohlen
 
12 Oct 44
Wanne Eickel
12 Dec 44
Essen
14 Feb 45
Chemnitz
 
14 Oct 44
Duisburg
15 Dec 44
Ludwigshaven
20 Feb 45
Monheim
 
15 Oct 44
Wilhelmshaven
23 Dec 44
Cologne
22 Feb 45
Duisburg
 
28 Oct 44
Cologne
27 Dec 44
Munchen Gladbach
19 Mar 45
Hanau
 
Gordon in his Lancaster Cockpit 1944
Gordon in his Lancaster Cockpit 1944

Gordon Baker with the DFC in September 1945
Gordon Baker with the DFC in September 1945


The picture below is from RAF Pathfinders.com 582 Squadron taken as described there "This wonderful photograph was clearly taken on or just after Victory in Europe Day on 8 May 1945. The photograph was taken at Little Staughton. It was sent by Keith Leadbetter, whose father joined the squadron at the very end of the war and is somewhere in the photograph." Click on the photo to view it in detail and click the + over the seventh individual from the left in the front row - that is Gordon Stanley Baker.

582 Squadron


Gordon
A screen shot of Gordon in the above photo in case you could not pick him out in the above.

He married Mae Clark in December 1945 and raised a son Terry and daughter Bonnie, when he retired to live in Saskatoon and operate a Farm south of Kyle, SK.

Gordon is listed on the Kyle, Saskatchewan, Royal Canadian Legion's Honour Roll.


Kyle, Saskatchewan, Royal Canadian Legion Honour Roll

Gordon with his Dad, Son & Grandson in 1978
Gordon with his Dad, Son & Grandson in 1978

Gordon passed away December 13, 1999.

Special Addition:Todd Zazelenchuk was raised on the Co-op Farm and worked for Gordon for a couple of summers. He became a teacher and invited Gordon to talk to his class about his wartime experiences. He then made a recording of his interviews with Gordon. Todd has since moved to the States, but he recently made this website about Gordon and sent the link to his daughter and son. We are sharing a link to his site Gordon Baker, DFC


Page updated November 15, 2021