Robert Baird

Robert Baird (November 13, 1921 – July 7, 1992) was a highly decorated United States Marine Corps Colonel. During World War II, he shot down a total of six Japanese planes and was awarded the Navy Cross, making him the only Marine night fighter ace of the war.

Early life and career Robert Baird was born on November 13, 1921, in Los Angeles, California. He enlisted in the United States Navy on July 30, 1942. Entering the Aviation Cadet Program, he was designated a Naval aviator and received his commission as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on March 1, 1943.

Baird was assigned to Marine Night Fighter Squadron 532 (VMF(N)-532) at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina in June 1943. He was with that squadron when it deployed to the Pacific Theater in February 1944. Baird returned to the United States that November. The squadron operated off of Ie Shima.

On the night of June 9, Captain Baird used his radar to score his first victory, a Japanese reconnaissance plane. The night of June 16, Baird shot down two more enemy aircraft, including one bomber. Baird was awarded multiple medals for his skillful airmanship during this time, including the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Later career and life Baird returned to the United States in September 1945, where he was assigned to several different squadrons at Cherry Point for the next two years. After a few months at Quantico, Virginia, he was ordered to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California in November 1948.