Medal of Honor: Addison Earl Baker – World War II, August 1st 1944

Name: Addison Earl Baker
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Conflict: World War II
Unit: 93rd Heavy Bombardment Group, U.S. Army Air Corps
Date of Action: August 1, 1943
Location: Ploesti, Romania

Summary of Action:
The sky over Romania burned with flak and fire as Lt. Col. Addison Baker and the 93rd Bomb Group roared in low over Ploesti—flying just 200 feet off the ground. The mission, codenamed Operation TIDAL WAVE, was one of the most daring and dangerous of the war: a low-level, full-force bombing run against Hitler’s prized oil refineries, the heart of the Nazi war machine.

Baker’s B-24 Liberator, Hell's Wench, was in the lead position. His was the ship the others would follow, the one that would guide the formation through smoke, confusion, and withering enemy fire.

As they approached the target, a wall of antiaircraft guns opened up. A direct hit slammed into Baker’s aircraft—shredding its frame and igniting fire in the bomb bay. Flames licked at the fuselage. Smoke filled the cockpit. The controls trembled in his hands.

He was flying over open terrain. He could have crash-landed. Saved himself. Saved part of his crew. No one would have blamed him.

But Baker didn’t flinch.
He didn’t waver.
He led.

With his aircraft burning, with death seconds away, Baker held course—his crippled bomber remaining steady in the vanguard. Breaking formation would have thrown the entire group into chaos. He refused.

Only after releasing his bombs on the target with devastating accuracy did he pull out of formation. Then, still thinking only of his crew, he tried desperately to gain altitude—so they might bail out and live.

But Hell's Wench couldn’t hold. The fire had done its work. Addison Baker’s final act was one of selfless command: steering his doomed aircraft away from the formation, preventing a midair collision, and sparing the lives of other American airmen.

Then Hell’s Wench plunged to earth in a fireball.

He never made it home.
But his group did.
And Ploesti burned behind them.

Medal of Honor Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy on 1 August 1943. On this date he led his command, the 93d Heavy Bombardment Group, on a daring low-level attack against enemy oil refineries and installations at Ploesti, Rumania. Approaching the target, his aircraft was hit by a large caliber antiaircraft shell, seriously damaged and set on fire. Ignoring the fact he was flying over terrain suitable for safe landing, he refused to jeopardize the mission by breaking up the lead formation and continued unswervingly to lead his group to the target upon which he dropped his bombs with devastating effect. Only then did he leave formation, but his valiant attempts to gain sufficient altitude for the crew to escape by parachute were unavailing and his aircraft crashed in flames after his successful efforts to avoid other planes in formation. By extraordinary flying skill, gallant leadership and intrepidity, Lt. Col. Baker rendered outstanding, distinguished, and valorous service to our Nation.