This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
Baker, Royal Newman, Lt Gen USAF(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Corsicana, Texas
Last Address Georgetown, Texas
Date of Passing May 01, 1976
Location of Interment Pecan Grove - McKinney, Texas
His two-war (WWII and Korea) record was a total of 16.5 destroyed in the air, 2 probables, and 3 damaged. He also flew combat missions in VietNam.Â
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His DSC citation: Awarded for actions during the Korean War
The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Colonel Royal N. Baker, United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Pilot with the 336th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, FIFTH Air Force, in action against enemy forces in the Republic of Korea on 14 February 1953. While leading a flight of F-86 aircraft near Imsan-dong, North Korea, Colonel Baker sighted four MIG-15s launching an attack on a flight of friendly aircraft who were apparently unaware of the impending attack. Colonel Baker, with outstanding valor and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, immediately initiated a fearless, aggressive attack on the enemy aircraft. He singled out one MIG, which was making a firing pass, as the focal point of his action. Realizing that the allied pilots under attack were in grave danger, Colonel Baker commenced firing at maximum range, boring unswervingly toward the target, until solid hits were scored in the tailpipe section, causing the MIG to smoke heavily and decelerate. Colonel Baker continued his undivided vigilance of the enemy craft until it went into a spin and crashed into the ground. Although low on fuel deep in enemy territory, Colonel Baker remained in the battle area until all friendly aircraft were safe from any immediate threat. Colonel Baker's cool, assured performance under fire, his unhesitating and selfless action in deflecting the enemy and saving the life of a pilot and his singleness of purpose in exposing himself fearlessly to enemy fire in order to protect those threatened is indicative of the highest degree of courage and gallantry.
General Orders:Â Headquarters, Far East Air Forces: General Orders No. 169 (April 3, 1953)
Aircraft/Missile Information
General characteristics
* Crew: 2-3 (pilot, radar operator, optional gunner) * Length: 49 ft 7 in (15.11 m) * Wingspan: 66 ft 0 in (20.12 m) * Height: 14 ft 8 in (4.47 m) * Wing area: 662.36 ft² (61.53 m²) * Empty weight: 23,450 lb (10,637 kg) * Loaded weight: 29,700 lb (13,471 kg) * Max takeoff weight: 36,200 lb (16,420 kg) * Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney R-2800-65W Double Wasp radial engines, 2,250 hp (1,680 kW) each * Propellers: four-bladed Curtiss Electric propeller, 1 per engine o Propeller diameter: 146 in (3.72 m) *
* Main wheel track: 17 ft 2 in (5.24 m) * Fuel capacity: o Internal: 640 US gal (2,423 L) of AN-F-48 100/130-octane rating gasoline o External: Up to four 165 US gal (625 L) or 310 US gal (1,173 L) tanks under the wings * Oil capacity: 22 US gal (83.3 L) of AN-0-8 oil per engine
Performance
* Maximum speed: 318 knots (366 mph, 589 km/h) at 20,000 ft (6,095 m) * Combat range: 530 nm (610 mi, 982 km) * Ferry range: 1,650 nm (1,900 mi, 3,060 km) with four external fuel tanks * Service ceiling 33,100 ft (10,600 m) * Rate of climb: 2,540 ft/min (12.9 m/s) * Wing loading: 45 lb/ft² (219 kg/m²) * Power/mass: 0.15 hp/lb (25 W/kg) * Time to altitude: 12 min to 20,000 ft (6,100 m) (1,667fpm)
Armament
* Guns: o 4× 20 mm Hispano M2 cannon in ventral fuselage, 200 rounds per gun o 4× 0.50 cal (12.7 mm) Browning M2 machine guns in upper turret, 560 rounds per gun * Bombs: for ground attack, four bombs of up to 1,600 lb (726 kg) each or six 5 inch (127 mm) HVAR unguided rockets could be carried under the wings. Some aircraft could also carry one 1,000 lb (454 kg) bomb under the fuselage.
