Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Father      and   Mother     (nee      )

1935 Eric left Goodwood Central School in 3rd year.

25/9/1935     joined Ordnance Branch - as Office Junior, Keswick Barracks, at Keswick, SA
until
2/4/1937

May 1937 to Oct 1939 - Junior Flight Engineer
                   with Guinea Airways Ltd, LAE, New Guinea  
                   2200 hours crew time on G31 three-engined Junkers Aircraft               

Described on enlising as 19 years old; married; 5' 10 1/2" tall; brown hair; green eyes;
fair complexion; Church of England, lived at 44 Addison Road, Black Forest, SA.

30/1/1940     Enlisted in Adelaide - in RAAF  -  rank A.C.1

31/7/1940     Completed Fitter 2E Course, Melbourne Technical College
                    posted to Laverton Aircraft Depot in Victoria.

1/4/1941       Promoted to Leading Aircraftsman (LAC) - RAAF - 108 Squadron

27/5/1941     Married:    Martha Harriet  (nee Carman)

June 1941     Posted to Middle East - RAAF - 456 and 462 Squadrons

1/11/1941     Promoted to Corporal - RAAF - 456 and 462 Squadrons

                    Served on "Special Liberator Flight RAF"
                    - supplying "Tito with Arms, Agents and Supplies".

1/11/1942     Promoted to Sergeant

14/1/1944     MENTION IN DESPATCHES  -  appeared in London Gazette

Feb. 1944      Posted to UK - 456 Night Fighter Squadron, Ford, Sussex, England
                    NCP 2 I/C Hanger Maintenance & Administration all Fitter 2E personnel.

Sept. 1944    Posted to Australia

Jan. 1945      Posted to No.6 Service Flying Training School (SFTS), Mallala, South Australia
                    NCP I/C Records Section
                    - Controlling Flying Programmes; Serviceability Board; Log Books and
                       Flying Data for approximately 180 Anson and Oxford Aircraft.

28/8/1945     Discharged - on completion of Long Service
                    character on discharge - "Exemplary".

MEDALS:
Mention in Despatches;  Africa Star Ribbon & clasp

Completed 'Marketing, Advertising and Commercial Corrspondence' courses,
Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme.

29/7/1946     joined Dunlop Rubber Aust Ltd, Flinders Street, Adelaide, SA
                    as a Representative, Tyre Division, Government Equipment Sales.
                    and a liaison with the Dept. of Supply, Salisbury.

Eric lived at 6 Eurilpa Avenue, Evanston Park, South Australia.

Employed as a Senior Representative of Dunlop Rubber Company for 8 years.

During his employment, Sergeant Baker (Eric), made multiple efforts to join the City of
Adelaide Squadron, but did not with to return to his prvious category as an Engine Fitter,
but unfortuantely at the time there were no other vacancies.

Intent on serving his country  he joined the Citizens Military Forces (CMF), served for
two years.

3/3/1952      Enlisted in the Australian Citizens Military Forces
                   HQ "A" Squadron, 3/9 SA Mounted Rifles (SAMR), Unley

24/4/1952    Promoted Temporary Corporal

1/7/1952      Promoted Troop Sergeant,  Sabre Troop

Reposted as Regimental Duty Sergeant on Squadron Headquarters, in charge of
Squadron records and orderly room administration.
(stated by Major T B Fischer - OC 'A' Squadron)

30/6/1954    Discharged (at own request)

He then applied to obtain a Commission on the General Reserve of the RAAF - 12/8/1954
R M Rechner stated "I have no hesitation in strongly recommending Sgt Eric Baker for a
Commission in the Administrative Branch".

13/8/1954     Martha and Eric were living (with 3 children)
                    at 48 Beauchamp Street, Kurralta Park, SA