Robert Baird | |
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| Born | November 13, 1921 |
| Died | July 7, 1992(1992-07-07) (aged 70) |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Navy United States Marine Corps |
| Service years | 1942–1971 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Service number | 0-20565 |
| Unit | Marine Night Fighting Squadron 533 (VMF(N)-533) |
| Conflicts | World War IIKorean War Vietnam War |
| Awards | Navy Cross Silver Star Legion of Merit w/Combat "V" Distinguished Flying Cross |
Robert Baird (November 13, 1921 – July 7, 1992) was a highly decoratedUnited States Marine CorpsColonel. During World War II, he shot down a total of six Japanese planes and was awarded theNavy Cross, making him the only Marinenight fighterace of the war.
Robert Baird was born on November 13, 1921, inLos Angeles, California. He enlisted in theUnited States Navy on July 30, 1942. Entering the Aviation Cadet Program, he was designated aNaval aviator and received his commission as asecond lieutenant in the Marine Corps on March 1, 1943.[1]
Baird was assigned to Marine Night Fighter Squadron 532 (VMF(N)-532) atMarine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina in June 1943. He was with that squadron when it deployed to thePacific Theater in February 1944. Baird returned to the United States that November.[1]
Baird deployed to the Pacific for a second tour, joiningMarine Night Fighter Squadron 533 (VMF(N)-533). On May 7, 1945, the squadron flew its 15F6F Hellcats over 1,000 miles fromSaipan toOkinawa, the longest flight over water by a single-engine aircraft squadron during World War II. Arriving at Okinawa, Baird and the rest of his squadron landed at Yontan Field.[2] The squadron operated off ofIe Shima.[3]
On the night of June 9,Captain Baird used his radar to score his first victory, a Japanese reconnaissance plane. The night of June 16, Baird shot down two more enemy aircraft, including one bomber.[4]
On the night of June 22, which was officially the last day of thebattle of Okinawa, Captain Baird claimed two more victories, along with ace status. Baird would claim his sixth and final kill of the war on the night of July 13.[4]
Captain Baird became the first and only Marine night fighter ace of World War II. Additionally, he was the only Marine F6F Hellcat ace of the war.[3][5] Baird was awarded multiple medals for his skillful airmanship during this time, including the Navy Cross, theSilver Star, and theDistinguished Flying Cross.[4]
Baird returned to the United States in September 1945, where he was assigned to several different squadrons at Cherry Point for the next two years. After a few months atQuantico, Virginia, he was ordered toMarine Corps Air Station El Toro, California in November 1948.[1]
In October 1950, Baird deployed toKorea, where he served with several different night fighter squadrons until September 1951. After theKorean War, he was again assigned to several different units at Quantico, Cherry Point, and El Toro. In the late 1950s, Baird was stationed atNaval Air Station Atsugi, Japan, and thenMarine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay inHawaii until January 1961.[1]
From mid 1961 to mid 1965, Baird was assigned toHeadquarters Marine Corps inthe Pentagon. He then spent the next two years atNaval Air Station Alameda, California. In August 1967, he deployed toVietnam, where he served as the Chief of Staff for the1st Marine Aircraft Wing until September of the following year. He was awarded theLegion of Merit for his service in Vietnam.[1]
Baird retired from the Marine Corps with the rank of colonel on July 1, 1971. Robert Baird died on July 7, 1992, inSonoma County, California. He was buried inArlington National Cemetery.[1]
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Citation:
For extraordinary heroism as Pilot of a Fighter Plane in Marine Night Fighting Squadron FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Okinawa Shima, Ryukyu Group, on the nights of 9 June, 16 June and 13 July 1945. Courageous and aggressive while engaged in combat air patrol, CaptainRobert Baird skillfully employed his radar to make contact with an enemy reconnaissance plane on 9 June and, striking quickly and furiously at low altitude, destroyed the hostile aircraft. Again, while on combat air patrol on the night of 16 June, he intercepted an enemy bomber and, pressing home a determined run, shot down the hostile plane. Later, the same night by making excellent use of his radar, he established contact with another Japanese aircraft and destroyed it. Captain Baird's fourth kill during this period occurred on the night of 13 July when, after establishing radar contact with an enemy bomber, he fearlessly closed in and, firing bursts from all six guns, shot down the hostile aircraft. His courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.[6]