Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
BAKER, Leslie Harrell - Date of
birth
25 June 1924 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Robeson County, North Carolina -
Hometown
Red Springs, Robeson County, North Carolina
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
34670946 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Top Turret Gunner -
Unit
4th Bombardment Squadron,
34th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
28 September 1944 - Place of
death
Aachen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 19 | 4 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Martin A. Baker (father)
Edna M. (Glover) Baker (mother)
Eupha M. Baker (sister)
Ruby D. Baker (sister)
Helen L. Baker (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-8303 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil plant
MACR: 9368
More information
Leslie H. Baker attended Red Springs High School for two years and was a machine operator at Mid-State Cloth Mills.He enlisted at Fort Bragg, North Carolina on 30 March 1943.
The airplane sustained a direct flak hit between #2 engine and the fuselage, immediately bursting into flames which enveloped the entire plane. Probably gas tank were hit. The plane peeled out of the formation, saving other aircraft in the formation, and went into a spin. The aircraft exploded after about three turns at about 12,000 feet.
Two crew members survived and were taken prisoner, seven men were killed.
Sgt Baker is remembered at Alloway Cemetery in Red Springs, Robeson County, North Carolina with a memorial marker.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Family Tree
Photo source: FOHF, Red Springs Museum - courtesy of Kim Ammons, www.findagrave.com - gleebigg