| Sir John Wakeling Baker | |
| Birth Date: | 23 October 1897 |
| Birth Place: | Winnipeg, Canada |
| Death Place: | Bromley, England |
| Allegiance: | United Kingdom |
| Branch: | British Army (1916–18) Royal Air Force (1918–56) |
| Serviceyears: | 1916–1956 |
| Rank: | Air Chief Marshal |
| Commands: | Controller Aircraft (1953–56) Vice-Chief of the Air Staff (1952–53) RAF Middle East Air Force (1950–52) Coastal Command (1948–50) No. 12 Group (1945–46) No. 33 Squadron (1935) |
| Battles: | First World War Pink's War Second World War |
| Awards: | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Military Cross Distinguished Flying Cross Mentioned in Despatches |
Air Chief Marshal Sir John Wakeling Baker, (23 October 1897 – 10 March 1978) was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force in the mid-20th century.[1]
Baker was commissioned into the Royal Garrison Artillery in February 1916.[2] He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps later that year initially as a Gunnery Liaison Officer.[2]
In 1918 he was awarded the Military Cross, the citation for which was promulgated in The London Gazette on 26 July 1918, reading:
He was appointed a Flight Commander in No. 60 Squadron in January 1924 during Pink's War in Waziristan.[2] He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1925, with the citation praising his: "gallant and distinguished service with the Royal Air Force in Waziristan. This officer showed devotion to duty throughout the operations and set a high example to all ranks. He performed 69 hours war flying as a pilot, which included 35 raids."[3]
Baker was appointed Officer Commanding No. 33 Squadron in 1935 and then joined the Directing Staff at the RAF Staff College in 1939.[2] He served in the Second World War, initially as Deputy Director of Plans at the Air Ministry and then as Director of Bomber Operations from February 1941.[2] He continued his war service as Senior Air Staff Officer first at Headquarters, Air Forces in India and then at South East Asia Command.[2] He finished the war as Air Officer Commanding No. 12 Group.[2]
After the war, Baker became Director-General of Personnel in 1946, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Coastal Command in 1948 and Commander-in-Chief RAF Middle East Air Force in 1950.[2] Baker's last appointments were as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff in March 1952, Vice-Chief of the Air Staff in November 1952 and Controller of Aircraft at the Ministry of Supply before he retired in 1956.[2]
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