James "Jim" Baker

Left Formation February 7, 2023

From the 95th BG Memorials Foundation Facebook page:

With the heaviest of hearts, the Memorials Foundation and the Heritage Association report that Jim Baker of Brandenton, FL, left formation on 7 February 2023 at the age of 101. Jim was a 412th tail gunner and former POW. He was also the last known airman alive from the 95th’s original cadre. Paul Dillon shared the devastating news after hearing from Jim’s son John. Jim passed away peacefully at his home. Folded wings.

Wrote Paul Dillon, “James ‘Jim’ Baker, 412th Squadron, tail gunner on John Adams’ ‘Miss Flower II’ (the first ‘Miss Flower’ was destroyed in the Alconbury explosion) shot down on the October 10, 1943, Munster raid and a Prisoner of War for a year and eight months in Stalag 17B, Barracks 34B, passed away at his home in Bradenton, Florida Tuesday, February 7th at the seasoned age of 101. He is believed to have been the last surviving Prisoner of War (‘Kriegie’) of Stalag 17B... they are all gone now… they were mighty, mighty men indeed.”

Paul’s father, 335th ball turret gunner Red Dillon went down with Eldon Broman’s “Fritz Blitz” crew on the same mission as Jim, who was flying his 23rd mission on 10 October 1943. The pair spent the remainder of the war together as POWs. As Paul penned, “He was my dad’s ‘combine-mate’ in Barracks 34B. Dad saw him bail out when they were shot down. John Adams was leading the low squadron. Eldon in ‘Fritz Blitz’ was out on the coffin corner and when John began going down Eldon thought they were turning and stayed with him. When Jim bailed out of the tail he passed between ‘Fritz Blitz’s’ number two engine and dad in the ball turret… and they wound up in the same Stalag 17B barracks together… what are the chances? Must have been one hell of a day.”

Jim lived a long and rich life after his release from Stalag 17B. Our deepest sympathies to Jim’s son John, the rest of the family, Paul and Bunny Dillon, and all who knew this valiant and irreplaceable Veteran whose passing marks the sunset of living memory of the early 95th Bomb Group.