Wriiten by 2nd Cousin Herb Barge
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.
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
Before leaving for overseas he had a picture taken with his mother and younger brother.
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
Falaise30 Oct 44
Cologne28 Dec 44
Munchen Gladbach22 Mar 45
Dulmen15 Aug 44
Volke4 Nov 44
Bochum30 Dec 44
Cologne24 Mar 45
Sterkrade25 Aug 44
Russelheim6 Nov 44
Gelsenkirchen1 Jan 45
Dortmund25 Mar 45
Hannover29 Aug 44
Stettin8 Nov 44
Wanne Eickel2 Jan 45
Nuremburg11 Apr 45
Nuremburg10 Sep 44
Le Havre11 Nov 44
Dortmund6 Jan 45
Hanau13 Apr 45
Kiel12 Sep 44
Stuttgart16 Nov 44
Julich1 Feb 45
Ludwigshaven14 Apr 45
Potsdam17 Sep 44
Westkapelle18 Nov 44
Munster9 Feb 45
Goch20 Sep 44
Calais21 Nov 44
Worms13 Feb 45
Bohlen12 Oct 44
Wanne Eickel12 Dec 44
Essen14 Feb 45
Chemnitz14 Oct 44
Duisburg15 Dec 44
Ludwigshaven20 Feb 45
Monheim15 Oct 44
Wilhelmshaven23 Dec 44
Cologne22 Feb 45
Duisburg28 Oct 44
Cologne27 Dec 44
Munchen Gladbach19 Mar 45
Hanau
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.
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.
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