J W Baker

Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Air Chief Marshal Sir John Baker (03125)

Sir John Wakeling Baker

John Wakling b: 23 Oct 1897 r: 17 Dec 1956 d: 10 Mar 1978

GCB - 1 Jan 1954, KCB - 1 Jan 1949 (CB - 11 Jun 1942), MC - 26 Jul 1918, DFC - 20 Nov 1925, MiD - 14 Jun 1945.

(Army):- (T) 2 Lt: 19 Dec 1916, (T) Lt: 19 Aug 1917.

(RAF):- (T) Lt: 1 Apr 1918, Fg Off: 1 Aug 1919 [1 Apr 1918], Flt Lt: 1 Jan 1924, Sqn Ldr: 1 Feb 1932, Wg Cdr: 1 Apr 1937, Act Gp Capt: 10 Jan 1940, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Mar 1940, Act A/Cdre: 17 Feb 1941, Gp Capt (WS): 17 Aug 1941, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Dec 1941, Act AVM: 7 Feb 1943, (T) AVM: 1 Dec 1943, A/Cdre (WS): 7 Feb 1944, A/Cdre: 1 Dec 1944, AVM: 1 Apr 1946, Act AM: 1 Nov 1948, AM: 1 Jan 1949, ACM: 2 Jan 1952.

Sir John Wakeling Baker

by Bassano Ltd
bromide print, May 1942
NPG x85322

xx xxx xxxx: Member, Eastbourne College OTC (until Aug 1915, leaving as CSM)

xx Feb 1916: Attended Royal Military Academy, Woolwich

19 Dec 1916: Officer, Royal Garrison Artillery.

xx xxx 1917: Gunnery Liaison Officer, No 34 Sqn RFC.

11 Jul 1917: Observer on Probation, No 4 Sqn RFC.

28 Jul 1917: Transferred to the strength of the RFC

29 Jul 1917: Posted to Home Establishment

11 Aug 1917: Attended Air Observers' Course, Reading

13 Sep 1917: Attended Observers' Course, Wireless and Observer School

25 Oct 1917: Observer, No 4 Sqn RFC.

23 Dec 1917: Flying Officer (Observer), RFC (Seniority from 25 Oct 1917)

14 May 1918: Posted to Home Establishment

15 Jun 1918: U/T Pilot, No 1 School of Military Aeronautics

3 Aug 1918: U/T Pilot, No 37 TDS

21 Oct 1918: U/T Pilot, SW Area Flying Instructors' School, Gosport

31 Oct 1918: Qualified as a pilot

1 - 14 Nov 1918: Attended Flying Instructors' Course (Categorised 'B1')

16 Nov 1918: Flying Instructor, No 37 TDS

23 Feb 1919: Pilot, No 8 Sqn.

17 Jul 1919: Pilot, No 7 Sqn

1 Aug 1919: Relinquished his Commission in the Regular Army

1 Aug 1919: Awarded Permanent Commission as a Lieutenant

27 Aug 1919: Sick

1 Oct 1919: Pilot, No 12 Sqn (Germany)

22 Apr 1921: Supernumerary (Non-Effective - Sick), RAF Depot

25 May 1921: Attended, School of Army Co-operation.

23 Nov 1923: Pilot, No 28 Sqn.

21 Jan 1924: Flight Commander, No 60 Sqn.(‘Pink’s War)

5 Feb - 18 Mar 1925: Attended Instrument Flying Course

5 Apr 1928: Supernumerary, Non-effective (sick), RAF Depot.

24 Jul 1928: Admin Staff, HQ ADGB.

4 Jul 1929: Awarded the category 'B' for previous service as a Flying Instructor.

20 Jan 1930: Attended RAF Staff College

1 Apr 1930: Supernumerary, Non-effective (sick), RAF Depot.

25 Aug 1930: Flight Commander, No 54 Sqn

25 Aug 1930: Attached RAF Depot (sick?)

20 Dec 1930: Flight Commander, No 54 Sqn

19 Jan 1931: Attended RAF Staff College

19 Dec 1931: Supernumerary, No 1 Air Defence Group, whilst attached to the Deputy Directorate of Staff Duties for temporary duties

1 Jan 1932: Air Staff, Deputy Directorate of Staff Duties.

12 Jan 1935: Supernumerary, No 33 Sqn. (Harts)

14 - 25 Jan 1935: Attended Refresher Flying Course, CFS

26 Jan 1935: Officer Commanding, No 33 Sqn. (Harts – UK/Egypt)

5 Feb - 18 Mar 1935: Attended Instrument Flying Course, CFS

5 - 24 Dec 1935: Admitted to the Military Hospital, Cairo

29 Apr 1936: Supernumerary, No 33 Sqn

1 May 1936: Supernumerary, RAF Depot (Leave)

16 Jun 1936: Supernumerary, HQ Training Command

10 Jul 1936: Air Staff, HQ Training Command

18 Jan 1938: Supernumerary, No 1 RAF Depot whilst attending Imperial Defence College

5 - 17 Sep 1938: Attended Refresher Flying Course, CFS

29 Sep - 4 Oct 1938: Attached to Directorate of Intelligence

17 Dec 1938: Supernumerary, No 1 RAF Depot on completion of course at Imperial Defence College

1 Jan 1939: Directing Staff, RAF Staff College

25 Aug 1939: Air Staff, Directorate of Plans.

4 - 9 Sep 1939: Attended Refresher Flying Course, CFS

1 Jan 1940: Deputy Director of Plans

17 Feb 1941: Director of Bomber Operations.

7 Feb 1943: SASO, HQ Air Forces in India

16 Nov 1943: SASO, HQ Air Command South-East Asia

20 Oct 1944: Supernumerary, No 1 Personnel Holding Unit (Deplaned - 21 Oct 1944, Leave until 12 Nov 1944)

1 Dec 1944: Supernumerary, HQ Fighter Command

1 Jan 1945: AOC, No 12 Group.

4 Feb - 9 Mar 1946: Temporary duty in AMP's Department

5 May 1946: Supernumerary, No 12 Group

11 Jun 1946: Supernumerary, Air Ministry Unit, pending posting as DGP 1

24 Jun 1946: Director-General of Personnel 1

26 Jul 1948: Supernumerary N/E sick, Air Ministry Unit

1 Nov 1948: AOC in C, HQ Coastal Command.

1 Jan 1950: Supernumerary, HQ Coastal Command.

23 Jan 1950: C in C, Middle East Air Force.

7 Feb 1952: Supernumerary, Air Ministry Unit (Deplaned - 9 Feb 1952, Leave 11 Feb - 6 Mar 1952)

7 Mar 1952: Attached, Department of CAS for temporary duty

17 Mar 1952: Deputy-Chief of the Air Staff/Additional Member of the Air Council.

1 Nov 1952: Vice-Chief of the Air Staff/Additional Member of the Air Council.

29 Nov 1952: Appointed Air ADC to The Queen.

9 Nov 1953: Controller of Aircraft, Ministry of Supply/Additional Member of the Air Council.

23 Oct 1955: Due to retire on this date but his service was extended under para 6 of QR 2900

19 Nov 1956: Supernumerary, Air Ministry Unit (Terminal leave until 16 Dec 1956)

Born in Winnipeg, Canada, he was educated at Eastbourne College before entering the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich.

He gained RAeC Certificate No 4200 on 20 September 1916. Whilst serving with No 12 Squadron in 1921 at Bickendorf, he was involved in two flying accidents within six months, the first in Bristol F2B, F4661 B6 on 9 August, following an uncontrolled sideslip over the airfield. The second incident occurred on 12 December when he was flying H1568 C6, but further detailed were not recorded.

In 1928, he conducted trials with oxygen equipment. He was a representative of the RAF at the funeral of King George VI.

Personal Spitfire XXI of AVM J W Baker, whilst AOC, No 12 Group, Fighter Command

Citation for the award of the Military Cross

Lt. John Wakeling Baker, R.G.A. and R.A.F.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in carrying out low-flying reconnaissances and contact patrols under heavy machine-gun, rifle and anti-aircraft fire, when he remained in the air for long hours, often under abnormally bad weather conditions and often in darkness or thick mist. On one occasion he fired into enemy troops and transport, causing great confusion, and remained over their lines taking notes until quite dark, when he returned with his machine riddled with bullets. On every flight he obtained most important information, which was dropped at headquarters, and throughout the period his work has been magnificent.

(London Gazette - 26 July 1918)

Citation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross

In recognition of gallant and distinguished service carried out by the Royal Air Force in Waziristan, March 9, 1925 to May 1, 1925.

(London Gazette - 20 November 1925)

Recommendation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross

This officer showed devotion to duty throughout the operations and set a high example to all ranks. He performed 69 hours of war flying as a pilot, which included 35 raids.

This entry was last updated on 27/07/25

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