Robert Baird (November 13, 1921 – July 7, 1992) was a highly decorated United States Marine CorpsColonel. 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 fighterace of the war.
Baird deployed to the Pacific for a second tour, joining Marine Night Fighter Squadron 533 (VMF(N)-533). On May 7, 1945, the squadron flew its 15 F6F Hellcats over 1,000 miles from Saipan to Okinawa, the longest flight over water by a single-engine aircraft squadron during World War II. Arriving at Okinawa, Baird and the rest of his squadron landed at Yontan Field.[3] The squadron operated off of Ie Shima.[4]
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.[5]
On the night of June 22, which was officially the last day of the battle of Okinawa, Captain Baird claimed two more victories, along with ace status. Baird would claim his sixth and final kill of the war on the night of July 13.[5]
Captain Baird became the first and only Marine night fighter ace of World War II. Additionally, he was the only Marine F6F Hellcat ace of the war.[4][6] Baird was awarded multiple medals for his skillful airmanship during this time, including the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, and the Distinguished Flying Cross.[5]
Later career and lifeedit
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.[2]
In October 1950, Baird deployed to Korea, where he served with several different night fighter squadrons until September 1951. After the Korean War, he was again assigned to several different units at Quantico, Cherry Point, and El Toro. In the late 1950s, Baird was stationed at Naval Air Station Atsugi, Japan, and then Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii until January 1961.[2]
For extraordinary heroism as Pilot of a Fighter Plane in Marine Night Fighting Squadron FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Okinawa Shima, Ryukyu Group, on the nights of 9 June, 16 June and 13 July 1945. Courageous and aggressive while engaged in combat air patrol, Captain Baird skillfully employed his radar to make contact with an enemy reconnaissance plane on 9 June and, striking quickly and furiously at low altitude, destroyed the hostile aircraft. Again, while on combat air patrol on the night of 16 June, he intercepted an enemy bomber and, pressing home a determined run, shot down the hostile plane. Later, the same night by making excellent use of his radar, he established contact with another Japanese aircraft and destroyed it. Captain Baird's fourth kill during this period occurred on the night of 13 July when, after establishing radar contact with an enemy bomber, he fearlessly closed in and, firing bursts from all six guns, shot down the hostile aircraft. His courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.[7]
Referencesedit
^ ab"Col Robert Kent "Black Mac" Baird, Sr". Find A Grave.
robert, baird, flying, robert, baird, november, 1921, july, 1992, highly, decorated, united, states, marine, corps, colonel, during, world, shot, down, total, japanese, planes, awarded, navy, cross, making, only, marine, night, fighter, robert, bairdbornnovemb. 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 Robert BairdBornNovember 13 1921Los Angeles CaliforniaDiedJuly 7 1992 1992 07 07 aged 70 Sonoma County CaliforniaBuriedArlington National CemeteryAllegianceUnited States of AmericaService wbr branch United States Navy United States Marine CorpsYears of service1942 1971RankColonelService number0 20565UnitMarine Night Fighting Squadron 533 VMF N 533 Battles warsWorld War II Battle of OkinawaKorean WarVietnam WarAwardsNavy CrossSilver StarLegion of Merit w Combat V Distinguished Flying Cross Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Battle of Okinawa 3 Later career and life 4 Awards and decorations 4 1 Navy Cross citation 5 ReferencesEarly life and career editRobert Baird was born on November 13 1921 in Los Angeles California 1 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 2 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 2 Battle of Okinawa editBaird deployed to the Pacific for a second tour joining Marine Night Fighter Squadron 533 VMF N 533 On May 7 1945 the squadron flew its 15 F6F Hellcats over 1 000 miles from Saipan to Okinawa the longest flight over water by a single engine aircraft squadron during World War II Arriving at Okinawa Baird and the rest of his squadron landed at Yontan Field 3 The squadron operated off of Ie Shima 4 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 5 On the night of June 22 which was officially the last day of the battle of Okinawa Captain Baird claimed two more victories along with ace status Baird would claim his sixth and final kill of the war on the night of July 13 5 Captain Baird became the first and only Marine night fighter ace of World War II Additionally he was the only Marine F6F Hellcat ace of the war 4 6 Baird was awarded multiple medals for his skillful airmanship during this time including the Navy Cross the Silver Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross 5 Later career and life editBaird 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 2 In October 1950 Baird deployed to Korea where he served with several different night fighter squadrons until September 1951 After the Korean War he was again assigned to several different units at Quantico Cherry Point and El Toro In the late 1950s Baird was stationed at Naval Air Station Atsugi Japan and then Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii until January 1961 2 From mid 1961 to mid 1965 Baird was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps in the Pentagon He then spent the next two years at Naval Air Station Alameda California In August 1967 he deployed to Vietnam where he served as the Chief of Staff for the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing until September of the following year He was awarded the Legion of Merit for his service in Vietnam 2 Baird retired from the Marine Corps with the rank of colonel on July 1 1971 Robert Baird died on July 7 1992 in Sonoma County California He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery 1 2 Awards and decorations edit nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp United States Naval Aviator BadgeNavy CrossSilver Star Legion of Meritw Combat V Distinguished Flying CrossAir Medalw 5 16 Silver Star and 5 16 Gold Star Combat Action Ribbon Navy Presidential Unit Citation w 3 16 Bronze StarAmerican Campaign Medal Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medalw three 3 16 bronze stars World War II Victory MedalNational Defense Service Medalw 3 16 Bronze Star Korean Service Medalw three 3 16 Bronze Stars Vietnam Service Medalw 3 16 Bronze StarVietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal First Class Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit CitationUnited Nations Korea Medal Vietnam Campaign Medal Republic of Korea War Service MedalNavy Cross citation edit Citation For extraordinary heroism as Pilot of a Fighter Plane in Marine Night Fighting Squadron FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY THREE in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Okinawa Shima Ryukyu Group on the nights of 9 June 16 June and 13 July 1945 Courageous and aggressive while engaged in combat air patrol Captain Baird skillfully employed his radar to make contact with an enemy reconnaissance plane on 9 June and striking quickly and furiously at low altitude destroyed the hostile aircraft Again while on combat air patrol on the night of 16 June he intercepted an enemy bomber and pressing home a determined run shot down the hostile plane Later the same night by making excellent use of his radar he established contact with another Japanese aircraft and destroyed it Captain Baird s fourth kill during this period occurred on the night of 13 July when after establishing radar contact with an enemy bomber he fearlessly closed in and firing bursts from all six guns shot down the hostile aircraft His courage daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service 7 References edit a b Col Robert Kent Black Mac Baird Sr Find A Grave a b c d e f Robert Baird Veteran Tributes Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 Marines mil a b HISTORICAL BULLETIN VOLUME XXXI NUMBER 4 2005 PDF Fortitudine a b c Robert Baird Military Times Barrett Tillman 20 May 2014 US Marine Corps Fighter Squadrons of World War II Bloomsbury Publishing pp 235 ISBN 978 1 78200 953 5 Valor Awards for Robert Baird Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Baird flying ace amp oldid 1134872883, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
