Baird, Robert Abner, Maj

Deceased
 
 Service Photo   Service Details
37 kb
View Shadow Box View Printable Shadow Box View Time Line
Final Rank
Major
Last AFSC
1321P-Pilot
Last AFSC Group
Aircrew
Primary Unit
1966-1966, 1321P, 551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing
Service Years
1942 - 1966
Major

 Last Photo   Personal Details 

48 kb


Home State
Utah
Utah
Year of Birth
1922
 
This Military Service Page was created/owned by Sgt Duane Kimbrow to remember Baird, Robert Abner, Maj.

If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
 
Contact Info
Home Town
Provo
Last Address
Otis AFB, Massachusetts

Date of Passing
Nov 11, 1966
 
Location of Interment
Orem City Cemetery - Orem, Utah
Wall/Plot Coordinates
Line of Duty

 Official Badges 

WW II Honorable Discharge Pin


 Unofficial Badges 




 Military Associations and Other Affiliations
In the Line of Duty
  1966, In the Line of Duty


 Additional Information
Last Known Activity:

PROFILE INCOMPLETE: Details of service in WWII, Korea and subsequent needed.

Major Robert Baird entered the Army Air Corps on 16 May 1942.  He had attended both Utah State and Brigham Young  prior to his enlistment. During WWII, he served as a transport plane pilot over "The Hump" in the China-Burma-Inda Theater, serving overseas from 23 August 1945 until 25 January 1946. He left the service 3 April 1946. 

He  returned to active duty during the Korea War, remaing active until his death in 1966..

In 1966, He was the aircraft commander on EC-121H "Constellation" (#55-5262) based at Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts, flying radar operations between Labrador and Bermuda.  At that time, he was serving with the 961st Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron, 551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing.

On 11 November 1966, he and 18 crew were killed in the crash of the aircraft 125 miles off Nantucket, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The aircraft was lost 40 minutes after takeoff, possibly due to engine problems. It crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, as it was seen by fishing craft, ditching and then exploding leaving "only a widening oil slick and a few bits of floating debris marked the spot of the crash. Recovered were pieces of aircraft skin and insulation, a seat with a cushion, and three empty life preservers. Air Force officials identified them as from the missing plane."

Those lost:

961st Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron:
Major Robert A. Baird (Aircraft Commander)
1st Lt. Richard E. Hoppe
1st Lt. Larry D. Rucker
1st Lt. Edward W. Taylor
MSgt. Armand H. DiBonadventura
MSgt. Clarence D. Hendrickson
MSgt. John J. Nerolich
MSgt. Robert A. Thibodeau
TSgt. Arthur J. Lambert
SSgt. Lawrence E. McNeill
SSgt. James R. Pater
SSgt. Robert J. Simmons
A2C Robert P. Kay
A2C Larry L. Stoner

551st Electronic Maintenance Squadron:
SSgt. Robert Sparks
A1C Joseph F. Adamick, Jr.
A1C James D. Rogers
A1C David N. Bailey
A2C James D. Wilbur

Major Baird left a wife and eight children at his passing, five still at home in Massachusetts at that time.

   
Other Comments:

see NOTES

   
 Photo Album   (More...


 1945-1946, C-54 Skymaster
From Year
1945
To Year
1946
   
Personal Memories
Not Specified
   
Image
 C-54 Skymaster Details
 


Aircraft/Missile Information
C-54s began service with the Army Air Forces in 1942, carrying up to 26 passengers. (Later versions carried up to 50 passengers.) The U.S. Navy also acquired the type, under the designation R5D. The C-54 was one of the most commonly used long-range transports by the U.S. armed forces in World War II. 515 C-54s were manufactured in Santa Monica, CA and 655 were manufactured in Chicago, Illinois.

After World War II, the C-54 continued to serve as the primary airlifter of the new United States Air Force and with the United States Navy.

The USAF Strategic Air Command had C-54 Skymasters in service from 1946 through 1975.


Model Douglas C-54A (R5D-1) Skymaster
Length 93.83 ft | 28.60 m
Width 117.49 ft | 35.81 m
Height 27.49 ft | 8.38 m
Engine(s) 4 x Pratt & Whitney E-2000-7 Twin Wasp radial engines generating 1,290hp each.
Empty Weight 37,000 lbs | 16,783 kg
MTOW 62,005 lbs | 28,125 kg
Max Speed 265 mph | 426 km/h | 230 kts
Max Range 3,899 miles | 6,275 km
Ceiling 21,982 ft | 6,700 m | 4.2 miles
Climb Rate Not Available
Hardpoints 0
Armament None.
Accommodations 6 + 86
Operators the United States of America

   
Add your memories to this entry

Last Updated: Nov 11, 2014
   
My Photos From This Aircraft/Missile
No Available Photos

  28 Also There at This Aircraft:
 
  • Donatello, James, V., SSgt, (1943-1949)
  • Economos, Christine
  • Gardner, Bronson
  • Heller, William C., Col, (1942-1965)
  • Rock, Herman, Maj, (1943-1966)
Copyright Togetherweserved.com Inc 2003-2025