29 Mar 1945 U.S. Navy Hellcat fighter pilot Roland Henry Baker (left) aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Hancock recounts a rescue mission of a bailed-out helldiver pilot, Somerville (2nd right), saving Somerville from certain death in Kagoshima Bay, near the Island of Kyushu, Japan during World War II. A dogfight ensued with fighter pilots Baker, Moeller and Kilnger of the VF-6 shooting down at least five Japanese "zero" fighter planes during the dogfight and successfully rescued Somerville from the Kagoshima Bay. Roland H. Baker encountered anti-aircraft fire from shore batteries around the bay during most of the two hours he was so damaged by anti-aircraft fire that he could not land aboard his carrier but had to make a crash water landing. "The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Ensign Roland H. Baker, Jr. … His skill and courage were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service." Somerville later became a judge and thanked Roland H. Baker for saving his life. Roland H. Baker was the youngest U.S. Navy fighter pilot to serve in World War II.
On September 2, 1945 at 9:04 A.M. Roland Baker and the VF-6 fighting squadron flew overhead while U.S. General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Commander in the Southwest Pacific and Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, Japanese foreign minister Mamoru Shigemitsu and and General Yoshijirō Umezu "By Command and on behalf of the Emperor of Japan and the Japanese Government" signed the instrument of surrender on the deck of the U.S.S. Missouri.
Col Roland Henry Baker, Jr (10 Oct 1923 Chelsea, Suffolk, Mass - 12 Jun 1994 Nashville, Davidson, Tenn) was my father.
Roland Henry Baker, Jr's father was Captain Roland Henry Baker, Sr (1 May 1897 West Newton, Middlesex, Mass - 27 Jan 1985 Elkins, Merrimack, N.H.) a veteran of World War I and son of Frederic Warren Kidder Baker (1872 – 1941) and Ada Foss (one of the Heavenly Twins, singer, born 1876 and daughter of author and adventurer James Henry Foss).
Roland Henry Baker, Jr's mother was Ethel Gertrude Lenfest (30 Sep 1898 Chelsea, Suffolk, Mass - 2 Feb 1995 in Nashville, Davidson, Tenn) daughter of Charles Grant Lenfest (21 Dec 1868 Cambridge, Mass - 26 Jan 1927 Boston, Mass) and Maria Adela Sampson (3 Oct 1867 Boston, Suffolk, Mass - 14 Aug 1949 Belmont, Middlesex, Mass).
Roland Henry Baker, Jr married first Cornelia "Connie" Keyworth (10 Feb 1932 Boston, Suffolk, Mass – 14 Jan 2013 Raleigh, Wake, N.C.) the daughter of Edward Connell Keyworth (1901 – 1978) and Lenore D Hewett (1902 – 1987) and had two daughters with Connie: Kathryn Ann "Kathy" Baker and Carey Lee Baker.
Roland Henry Baker, Jr married second Joan Leonard Chadbourne of Providence, R.I., a school teacher and daughter of Joseph Humphrey Chadbourne, Jr (1900 – 1975) and Barbara Anita Bullard (1906 – 1998). Roland and Joan had one son Roland Henry Baker III of Santa Barbara, California. Roland Henry Baker, Jr adopted Joan's three daughters from a previous marriage: Sivea, Gwyn and Meg Cattelll.
Roland Henry Baker, Jr married third Emily Kay Carter, a singer, no children with Emily.
His Baker ancestors originally came from Sissinghurst, Kent, England. During the great migration 400 years ago his forefather Thomas Baker was a founding member of the Roxbury Colony in the early 1600's. In the late 1700's during an ill fated Navel campaign against the British his father a ship's surgeon, Lemuel Baker, left Roxbury and was shipwrecked in Steuben, Washington, Maine where the family remained for generations. The Bakers of Steuben, Maine made regular voyages back to the first Church of Roxbury for baptisms, marriages and deaths. The first Church of Roxbury remained the cornerstone of the family for generations.
His American Baker pedigree is Col Roland Henry Baker, Jr 10 (1923-1994), Captain Roland Henry Baker, Sr 9 (1897 – 1985), Frederic Warren Kidder Baker 8 (1872 – 1941), John H Baker 7 (1822 – 1873), Eli Forbes Baker 6 (1790 – 1855), Lemuel Baker 5 (1742 –), Capt John Baker 4 (1705 – 1781), Thomas Baker 3 (1676 – 1761), John Baker 2 (1644 – 1732), Thomas Baker 1 (1608 – 1683), Sir Thomas Baker (1557 - 1625), Sir Richard Baker (1527 - 1594), Sir John Baker (1488 – 1558), Member of Parliament and Exchequer of England of Sissinghurst, Kent, England according to noted genealogist and expert on the Roxbury Colony Bakers, Guy Elis Baker of Albany, New York.
Nearly 20 years after World War II Baker retired from the U.S. Navy after serving as a fighter pilot in the Korean War. He continued his flying career untimately flying private jets including Lear Jets, Goldstreams and Sabreliner Alphas. He briefly took up car racing. On the afternoon of 12 Jun 1994 Roland H. Baker was killed while riding a Vincent Black Shadow on the country roads of Davidson County, Tennessee.
From Roland Baker, Jr back to Capt John Baker in the founding colony at Roxbury the Bakers have served in The American War of Independence, King Philips War, The War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, World War II and the Korean War and many other wars with distinction, honor, valor and most of all loyalty to their fellow solders and they have taken this spirit into civic minded responsibilities.
Military Information: LT, US NAVY
On September 2, 1945 at 9:04 A.M. Roland Baker and the VF-6 fighting squadron flew overhead while U.S. General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Commander in the Southwest Pacific and Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, Japanese foreign minister Mamoru Shigemitsu and and General Yoshijirō Umezu "By Command and on behalf of the Emperor of Japan and the Japanese Government" signed the instrument of surrender on the deck of the U.S.S. Missouri.
Col Roland Henry Baker, Jr (10 Oct 1923 Chelsea, Suffolk, Mass - 12 Jun 1994 Nashville, Davidson, Tenn) was my father.
Roland Henry Baker, Jr's father was Captain Roland Henry Baker, Sr (1 May 1897 West Newton, Middlesex, Mass - 27 Jan 1985 Elkins, Merrimack, N.H.) a veteran of World War I and son of Frederic Warren Kidder Baker (1872 – 1941) and Ada Foss (one of the Heavenly Twins, singer, born 1876 and daughter of author and adventurer James Henry Foss).
Roland Henry Baker, Jr's mother was Ethel Gertrude Lenfest (30 Sep 1898 Chelsea, Suffolk, Mass - 2 Feb 1995 in Nashville, Davidson, Tenn) daughter of Charles Grant Lenfest (21 Dec 1868 Cambridge, Mass - 26 Jan 1927 Boston, Mass) and Maria Adela Sampson (3 Oct 1867 Boston, Suffolk, Mass - 14 Aug 1949 Belmont, Middlesex, Mass).
Roland Henry Baker, Jr married first Cornelia "Connie" Keyworth (10 Feb 1932 Boston, Suffolk, Mass – 14 Jan 2013 Raleigh, Wake, N.C.) the daughter of Edward Connell Keyworth (1901 – 1978) and Lenore D Hewett (1902 – 1987) and had two daughters with Connie: Kathryn Ann "Kathy" Baker and Carey Lee Baker.
Roland Henry Baker, Jr married second Joan Leonard Chadbourne of Providence, R.I., a school teacher and daughter of Joseph Humphrey Chadbourne, Jr (1900 – 1975) and Barbara Anita Bullard (1906 – 1998). Roland and Joan had one son Roland Henry Baker III of Santa Barbara, California. Roland Henry Baker, Jr adopted Joan's three daughters from a previous marriage: Sivea, Gwyn and Meg Cattelll.
Roland Henry Baker, Jr married third Emily Kay Carter, a singer, no children with Emily.
His Baker ancestors originally came from Sissinghurst, Kent, England. During the great migration 400 years ago his forefather Thomas Baker was a founding member of the Roxbury Colony in the early 1600's. In the late 1700's during an ill fated Navel campaign against the British his father a ship's surgeon, Lemuel Baker, left Roxbury and was shipwrecked in Steuben, Washington, Maine where the family remained for generations. The Bakers of Steuben, Maine made regular voyages back to the first Church of Roxbury for baptisms, marriages and deaths. The first Church of Roxbury remained the cornerstone of the family for generations.
His American Baker pedigree is Col Roland Henry Baker, Jr 10 (1923-1994), Captain Roland Henry Baker, Sr 9 (1897 – 1985), Frederic Warren Kidder Baker 8 (1872 – 1941), John H Baker 7 (1822 – 1873), Eli Forbes Baker 6 (1790 – 1855), Lemuel Baker 5 (1742 –), Capt John Baker 4 (1705 – 1781), Thomas Baker 3 (1676 – 1761), John Baker 2 (1644 – 1732), Thomas Baker 1 (1608 – 1683), Sir Thomas Baker (1557 - 1625), Sir Richard Baker (1527 - 1594), Sir John Baker (1488 – 1558), Member of Parliament and Exchequer of England of Sissinghurst, Kent, England according to noted genealogist and expert on the Roxbury Colony Bakers, Guy Elis Baker of Albany, New York.
Nearly 20 years after World War II Baker retired from the U.S. Navy after serving as a fighter pilot in the Korean War. He continued his flying career untimately flying private jets including Lear Jets, Goldstreams and Sabreliner Alphas. He briefly took up car racing. On the afternoon of 12 Jun 1994 Roland H. Baker was killed while riding a Vincent Black Shadow on the country roads of Davidson County, Tennessee.
From Roland Baker, Jr back to Capt John Baker in the founding colony at Roxbury the Bakers have served in The American War of Independence, King Philips War, The War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, World War II and the Korean War and many other wars with distinction, honor, valor and most of all loyalty to their fellow solders and they have taken this spirit into civic minded responsibilities.
Military Information: LT, US NAVY
29 Mar 1945 U.S. Navy Hellcat fighter pilot Roland Henry Baker (left) aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Hancock recounts a rescue mission of a bailed-out helldiver pilot, Somerville (2nd right), saving Somerville from certain death in Kagoshima Bay, near the Island of Kyushu, Japan during World War II. A dogfight ensued with fighter pilots Baker, Moeller and Kilnger of the VF-6 shooting down at least five Japanese "zero" fighter planes during the dogfight and successfully rescued Somerville from the Kagoshima Bay. Roland H. Baker encountered anti-aircraft fire from shore batteries around the bay during most of the two hours he was so damaged by anti-aircraft fire that he could not land aboard his carrier but had to make a crash water landing. "The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Ensign Roland H. Baker, Jr. … His skill and courage were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service." Somerville later became a judge and thanked Roland H. Baker for saving his life. Roland H. Baker was the youngest U.S. Navy fighter pilot to serve in World War II.
On September 2, 1945 at 9:04 A.M. Roland Baker and the VF-6 fighting squadron flew overhead while U.S. General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Commander in the Southwest Pacific and Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, Japanese foreign minister Mamoru Shigemitsu and and General Yoshijirō Umezu "By Command and on behalf of the Emperor of Japan and the Japanese Government" signed the instrument of surrender on the deck of the U.S.S. Missouri.
Col Roland Henry Baker, Jr (10 Oct 1923 Chelsea, Suffolk, Mass - 12 Jun 1994 Nashville, Davidson, Tenn) was my father.
Roland Henry Baker, Jr's father was Captain Roland Henry Baker, Sr (1 May 1897 West Newton, Middlesex, Mass - 27 Jan 1985 Elkins, Merrimack, N.H.) a veteran of World War I and son of Frederic Warren Kidder Baker (1872 – 1941) and Ada Foss (one of the Heavenly Twins, singer, born 1876 and daughter of author and adventurer James Henry Foss).
Roland Henry Baker, Jr's mother was Ethel Gertrude Lenfest (30 Sep 1898 Chelsea, Suffolk, Mass - 2 Feb 1995 in Nashville, Davidson, Tenn) daughter of Charles Grant Lenfest (21 Dec 1868 Cambridge, Mass - 26 Jan 1927 Boston, Mass) and Maria Adela Sampson (3 Oct 1867 Boston, Suffolk, Mass - 14 Aug 1949 Belmont, Middlesex, Mass).
Roland Henry Baker, Jr married first Cornelia "Connie" Keyworth (10 Feb 1932 Boston, Suffolk, Mass – 14 Jan 2013 Raleigh, Wake, N.C.) the daughter of Edward Connell Keyworth (1901 – 1978) and Lenore D Hewett (1902 – 1987) and had two daughters with Connie: Kathryn Ann "Kathy" Baker and Carey Lee Baker.
Roland Henry Baker, Jr married second Joan Leonard Chadbourne of Providence, R.I., a school teacher and daughter of Joseph Humphrey Chadbourne, Jr (1900 – 1975) and Barbara Anita Bullard (1906 – 1998). Roland and Joan had one son Roland Henry Baker III of Santa Barbara, California. Roland Henry Baker, Jr adopted Joan's three daughters from a previous marriage: Sivea, Gwyn and Meg Cattelll.
Roland Henry Baker, Jr married third Emily Kay Carter, a singer, no children with Emily.
His Baker ancestors originally came from Sissinghurst, Kent, England. During the great migration 400 years ago his forefather Thomas Baker was a founding member of the Roxbury Colony in the early 1600's. In the late 1700's during an ill fated Navel campaign against the British his father a ship's surgeon, Lemuel Baker, left Roxbury and was shipwrecked in Steuben, Washington, Maine where the family remained for generations. The Bakers of Steuben, Maine made regular voyages back to the first Church of Roxbury for baptisms, marriages and deaths. The first Church of Roxbury remained the cornerstone of the family for generations.
His American Baker pedigree is Col Roland Henry Baker, Jr 10 (1923-1994), Captain Roland Henry Baker, Sr 9 (1897 – 1985), Frederic Warren Kidder Baker 8 (1872 – 1941), John H Baker 7 (1822 – 1873), Eli Forbes Baker 6 (1790 – 1855), Lemuel Baker 5 (1742 –), Capt John Baker 4 (1705 – 1781), Thomas Baker 3 (1676 – 1761), John Baker 2 (1644 – 1732), Thomas Baker 1 (1608 – 1683), Sir Thomas Baker (1557 - 1625), Sir Richard Baker (1527 - 1594), Sir John Baker (1488 – 1558), Member of Parliament and Exchequer of England of Sissinghurst, Kent, England according to noted genealogist and expert on the Roxbury Colony Bakers, Guy Elis Baker of Albany, New York.
Nearly 20 years after World War II Baker retired from the U.S. Navy after serving as a fighter pilot in the Korean War. He continued his flying career untimately flying private jets including Lear Jets, Goldstreams and Sabreliner Alphas. He briefly took up car racing. On the afternoon of 12 Jun 1994 Roland H. Baker was killed while riding a Vincent Black Shadow on the country roads of Davidson County, Tennessee.
From Roland Baker, Jr back to Capt John Baker in the founding colony at Roxbury the Bakers have served in The American War of Independence, King Philips War, The War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, World War II and the Korean War and many other wars with distinction, honor, valor and most of all loyalty to their fellow solders and they have taken this spirit into civic minded responsibilities.
Military Information: LT, US NAVY
On September 2, 1945 at 9:04 A.M. Roland Baker and the VF-6 fighting squadron flew overhead while U.S. General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Commander in the Southwest Pacific and Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, Japanese foreign minister Mamoru Shigemitsu and and General Yoshijirō Umezu "By Command and on behalf of the Emperor of Japan and the Japanese Government" signed the instrument of surrender on the deck of the U.S.S. Missouri.
Col Roland Henry Baker, Jr (10 Oct 1923 Chelsea, Suffolk, Mass - 12 Jun 1994 Nashville, Davidson, Tenn) was my father.
Roland Henry Baker, Jr's father was Captain Roland Henry Baker, Sr (1 May 1897 West Newton, Middlesex, Mass - 27 Jan 1985 Elkins, Merrimack, N.H.) a veteran of World War I and son of Frederic Warren Kidder Baker (1872 – 1941) and Ada Foss (one of the Heavenly Twins, singer, born 1876 and daughter of author and adventurer James Henry Foss).
Roland Henry Baker, Jr's mother was Ethel Gertrude Lenfest (30 Sep 1898 Chelsea, Suffolk, Mass - 2 Feb 1995 in Nashville, Davidson, Tenn) daughter of Charles Grant Lenfest (21 Dec 1868 Cambridge, Mass - 26 Jan 1927 Boston, Mass) and Maria Adela Sampson (3 Oct 1867 Boston, Suffolk, Mass - 14 Aug 1949 Belmont, Middlesex, Mass).
Roland Henry Baker, Jr married first Cornelia "Connie" Keyworth (10 Feb 1932 Boston, Suffolk, Mass – 14 Jan 2013 Raleigh, Wake, N.C.) the daughter of Edward Connell Keyworth (1901 – 1978) and Lenore D Hewett (1902 – 1987) and had two daughters with Connie: Kathryn Ann "Kathy" Baker and Carey Lee Baker.
Roland Henry Baker, Jr married second Joan Leonard Chadbourne of Providence, R.I., a school teacher and daughter of Joseph Humphrey Chadbourne, Jr (1900 – 1975) and Barbara Anita Bullard (1906 – 1998). Roland and Joan had one son Roland Henry Baker III of Santa Barbara, California. Roland Henry Baker, Jr adopted Joan's three daughters from a previous marriage: Sivea, Gwyn and Meg Cattelll.
Roland Henry Baker, Jr married third Emily Kay Carter, a singer, no children with Emily.
His Baker ancestors originally came from Sissinghurst, Kent, England. During the great migration 400 years ago his forefather Thomas Baker was a founding member of the Roxbury Colony in the early 1600's. In the late 1700's during an ill fated Navel campaign against the British his father a ship's surgeon, Lemuel Baker, left Roxbury and was shipwrecked in Steuben, Washington, Maine where the family remained for generations. The Bakers of Steuben, Maine made regular voyages back to the first Church of Roxbury for baptisms, marriages and deaths. The first Church of Roxbury remained the cornerstone of the family for generations.
His American Baker pedigree is Col Roland Henry Baker, Jr 10 (1923-1994), Captain Roland Henry Baker, Sr 9 (1897 – 1985), Frederic Warren Kidder Baker 8 (1872 – 1941), John H Baker 7 (1822 – 1873), Eli Forbes Baker 6 (1790 – 1855), Lemuel Baker 5 (1742 –), Capt John Baker 4 (1705 – 1781), Thomas Baker 3 (1676 – 1761), John Baker 2 (1644 – 1732), Thomas Baker 1 (1608 – 1683), Sir Thomas Baker (1557 - 1625), Sir Richard Baker (1527 - 1594), Sir John Baker (1488 – 1558), Member of Parliament and Exchequer of England of Sissinghurst, Kent, England according to noted genealogist and expert on the Roxbury Colony Bakers, Guy Elis Baker of Albany, New York.
Nearly 20 years after World War II Baker retired from the U.S. Navy after serving as a fighter pilot in the Korean War. He continued his flying career untimately flying private jets including Lear Jets, Goldstreams and Sabreliner Alphas. He briefly took up car racing. On the afternoon of 12 Jun 1994 Roland H. Baker was killed while riding a Vincent Black Shadow on the country roads of Davidson County, Tennessee.
From Roland Baker, Jr back to Capt John Baker in the founding colony at Roxbury the Bakers have served in The American War of Independence, King Philips War, The War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, World War II and the Korean War and many other wars with distinction, honor, valor and most of all loyalty to their fellow solders and they have taken this spirit into civic minded responsibilities.
Military Information: LT, US NAVY
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