Matthew Noel
New Member
My grandfather Cmdr Jack Baker (CV-63, CVA-34 to name a few) passed away a few years ago. He was the type of vet that NEVER spoke about his exploits, including the SAR flights to find Jophn McCain, winning mutliple awards, plus medals for his extremely accurate CAS. I would like to meet some of his navy buddies to find out more about what he did form Korea to Vietnam as the only friends he stayed in touch with that I know today are admirals that live in D.C. - and it's hard to ask them too many questions. He served from '53 to '81, and flew everything - The SNJ (USAF version was the AT-6), T-28 (which he said he learned to hate becuase it couldnt be "trimmed" for some hands off time), AD Skyraider series (Which he LOVED), the SNB (Super Navy Bomber by Beechcraft (was really a genberal, all purpose aircraft), S-2F (a twin engine known as the Stoof - primarily used as an anti-sub machine) TA-1Q (the electronic warfare version of the Stoof)R-4D ( US Navy version of the Douglas DC-3 and USAF C-47 - Dubbed by the Navy as the Gooney Bird) and one of his favorte aircraft, the F-9F6 Panther, F-9F8 Cougar, TAF-9 (the twin seat version of the Cougar, The A-4 (Skyhawk series, gaining the name "Scooter" because of it's small size) ranging from the "C" models to the final Navy and "F"models. The Blue Angels "F" Model (Which he flew as Project Officer at Douglas Aircraft while they were being "Modified" from the standard A-4F to thge Jazzed up Blue's Airplanes NOTE: He did not "fly" w/ the Blue's per se, except as a hitchj hiker in their twin seatTA-4 plane while returning from a delivery of one of their "straight" airplanes to El Centro), and finally the to the Isreali's "A-4N" model (whoch along with the A-4M was one of the last A-4's built by Douglas. The A-7 (he didnt get a lot of time in this plane, jsut a few cross country flights), the A-3 (the USAF version is known as the B-66... at least that's what he thought, and in the typical Navy way, nicknamed the "Whale") and finally the military versions of the Douglas DC-9, which he flew final acceptance test flights on as a precedent to accepting them into the Navy, USAF and Isreal's military inventories. He also was at Moffatt field, near San Francisco, participated in photo coverage of test flights of the first vertical take off airplane, the Convair "Pogo". At the same time Ryan was trying to get their version going, but convair beat them to it. Unfortunately, it nevergot anyplace to speak of, but it paved the way for aircraft like the "Harrier". That is the quickest overview of this INCREADIBLE man's career, and would love to speak to ANYONE that knew him, or served at the same time. Hope some of this info helps anyone looking for it!