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Spitfire Biography

FLTLT Norman Keith Baker 410205

MiD, Croix de Guerre (French)

Norfolk, England. 1944-11-29. Portrait of 410205 Flight Lieutenant N. K. Baker, Westmere, Vic, one of the flight leaders at Spitfire No. 453 Squadron RAAF, based at RAF Station Swannington, which has been engaged in the attacks on V2 sites.
Squadron/s453 SQN
Rank On Discharge/Death Flight Lieutenant (FLTLT)
Contributing Author/sVince Conant
The Soitfire Association 2016

Norman was born on the 2nd of September 1920 in Melbourne.

Service Number: 410205

Rank: Flight Lieutenant

Unit: 453 Squadron

Service: Royal Australian Air Force

Conflict / Operation: Second World War, 1939-1945

Award: French Croix de Guerre

Date of Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: 16 March 1950

Location in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: Page 607, position 4



SUSSEX, ENGLAND. 1944-05-25. LETTERS WRITTEN BY PERSONNEL OF SPITFIRE NO. 453 SQUADRON RAAF OF THE SECOND TACTICAL AIR FORCE, BASED AT RAF STATION FORD, ARE CENSORED BEFORE LEAVING THE AIRFIELD. LEFT TO RIGHT: 410250 FLYING OFFICER (FO) D. S. MURRAY, BRUNSWICK, VIC; 286340 FO K. K. LAWRENCE, ADELAIDE, SA; 410205 FO N. K. BAKER, WESTMERE, VIC, AT WORK. IN THE BACKGROUND IS 406586 FO M. WEST, GNOWANGERUP, WA.
SUSSEX, ENGLAND. 1944-05-25. 410205 FLYING OFFICER N. K. BAKER, WESTMERE, VIC, AT A SPITFIRE NO. 453 SQUADRON RAAF OF THE 2ND TACTICAL AIR FORCE, BASED AT RAF STATION FORD
NORMANDY, FRANCE. C. 1944-07. PILOTS OF NO. 453 (SPITFIRE) SQUADRON RAAF AS THEY STOP TO POST LETTERS ON THEIR WAY TO THE BEACH-HEAD AIRSTRIP, AN ADVANCED LANDING GROUND, B.11, FROM WHERE THEY OPERATE OVER NORMANDY BATTLEFIELDS. SHOWN: 410250 FLYING OFFICER (FO) D. S. MURRAY, MELBOURNE, VIC (LEFT) AND 410205 FO N. K. BAKER, WESTMERE, VIC.
THREE FORMER PILOTS of the RAAF were invested with the Croix de Guerre with Gold Star, on Saturday, in recognition of their services in military operations for the liberation of France. The pilots so honoured were: Flight-Lieutenants R.H. Sutton (Portland) and N. K.Baker (Westmere), and Flying-Officer A. W.Kendall (Brighton), who appear in that order (from left to right) in the accompanying photograph, which also shows M. Pierre Auge, Minister for France in Australia, making the investiture at a reception given by M. Roger. M. Auge had come from Sydney for the purpose. Flight-Lieutenant Baker, now a city accountant, and Flight-Lieutenant Sutton, who is a chemist, were former Spitfire pilots serving with 453 Squadron and 451 Squadron respectively. Flying-Officer Kendall, formerly a Halifax bomber pilot with 624 Squadron is a bank officer.
The Croix de Guerre

Learn more about the squadron/s in which Norman served.

453 SQN

No. 453 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force was formed at Bankstown in New South Wales on 23 May 1941. Formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme, the squadron w...

(Read more about 453 SQN)
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