Royal N. Baker

Lieutenant General Royal Newman "King" Baker (November 27, 1918 – April 17, 1976) was a United States Air Force (USAF) flying ace during the Korean War. He accrued 13 victories in the war.

Baker was one of the few military aviators who flew operationally in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.

Biography Baker was born in Corsicana, Texas, in 1918, where he graduated from high school in 1936. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in industrial arts from North Texas State Teachers College in 1941. He began his military career as an aviation cadet at Hicks Field, Texas, in June 1941, and graduated from flight training in January 1942 with a commission as second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF). He then attended USAAF Observer School at Brooks Field, Texas.

In March 1942 he joined the 308th Fighter Squadron of the 31st Fighter Group at New Orleans, Louisiana, and went with the group to Atcham Army Air Forces Station, England, in June 1942, the first American fighter group to reach England. The group was subsequently equipped with British Supermarine Spitfire aircraft and Aug. 19, 1942, participated in the historic Dieppe Raid. Three months later, the group moved to North Africa, where General Baker piloted the British fighter in air operations over Algeria, Tunisia, and Sicily. For his aerial combat achievements, Baker was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 16 oak leaf clusters.

Command Pilot Badge Distinguished Service CrossAir Force Distinguished Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clustersSilver StarLegion of Merit with three bronze oak leaf clustersDistinguished Flying Cross with three bronze oak leaf clustersAir Medal with four silver oak leaf clustersAir Medal with four silver oak leaf clusters (second ribbon required for accouterment spacing)Air Medal (third ribbon required for accouterment spacing)Joint Service Commendation MedalAir Force Commendation MedalAir Force Outstanding Unit AwardAmerican Defense Service MedalAmerican Campaign MedalEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one silver and two bronze campaign starsWorld War II Victory MedalNational Defense Service Medal with one bronze service starKorean Service Medal with two bronze campaign stars Vietnam Service Medal with silver and bronze campaign starsAir Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clustersSmall Arms Expert Marksmanship RibbonFrench Croix de Guerre with PalmSouth Korean Order of National Security Merit (Third Class)South Korean Order of National Security Merit (First Class)National Order of Vietnam (Commander)Vietnam Air Force Distinguished Service Order (2nd Class)Republic of Korea Presidential Unit CitationRepublic of Vietnam Gallantry CrossUnited Nations Service Medal for KoreaVietnam Campaign MedalKorean War Service Medal