Thomas Baker (aviator)

Thomas Charles Richmond Baker
Thomas Baker as a cadet pilot c.1917
Born	(1897-05-02)2 May 1897 Smithfield, South Australia
Died	4 November 1918(1918-11-04) (aged 21) near Leuze, France
Buried	Escanaffles Communal Cemetery
Allegiance	Australia
Service / branch	Australian Army Australian Flying Corps
Years of service	1914–1918
Rank	Captain
Unit	16th Battery, 6th Field Artillery Brigade (1915–17) No. 4 Squadron AFC (1918)
Battles / wars	First World War Western Front Battle of the Somme Battle of Messines Hundred Days Offensive †
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross Military Medal & Bar

Thomas Charles Richmond Baker, DFC, MM & Bar (2 May 1897 – 4 November 1918) was an Australian soldier, aviator, and flying ace of the First World War. Born in Smithfield, South Australia, he was an active sportsman in his youth and developed a keen interest in aviation. He was employed as a clerk with the Bank of New South Wales, before he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in July 1915, for service in World War I. Posted to an artillery unit on the Western Front, he was awarded the Military Medal for carrying out numerous repairs on a communications line while subject to severe artillery fire. In June 1917, Baker was awarded a bar to his decoration for his part in quelling a fire in one of the artillery gun pits that was endangering approximately 300 rounds of shrapnel and high explosive.

In September 1917, Baker applied for a position as a mechanic in the Australian Flying Corps. He was instead selected for flight training, and was posted to courses in the United Kingdom. He graduated as a pilot and was commissioned a second lieutenant in March 1918. Posted for active duty in France that June, Baker joined the ranks of No. 4 Squadron AFC. Over the next four months, he rose to the rank of captain and was credited with bringing down 12 German aircraft. He was shot down and killed on 4 November 1918. In February 1919, he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.