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Joseph T. “Tommy,” “Tom” Baker

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Joseph T. "Tommy," "Tom" Baker

This March 23, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 1, column 6:

    TWO MORE LOCAL BOYS MISSING OVER GERMANY

    S/SGT. JOSEPH T. BAKER AND S/SGT. ROBERT STUMP LOST OVER GERMANY

    Two more local boys, S/Sgt. Joseph T. Baker of Cedar Lake, brother of Jim Baker, Lowell, and S/Sgt. Robert Stump, formerly of Shelby, fiance of Miss June Carroll of Lowell, were reported by the war department as missing in action over Germany.
    S/Sgt. Baker, top turret gunner on a Flying Fortress, who was reported missing since February 20th, enlisted in the air corps about 14 months ago, while living at Cedar Lake. A son of Mr. and Mrs. Wash Baker, he attended Lowell grade school and Crown high. Following graduation from high school he took a course in machine lathes at Hammond Tech and prior to his enlistment was working at Pullman Standard, Hammond.
    S/Sgt. Robert Stump, 20, son of Edgar Stump, reported missing since February 25th, formerly lived at Thayer. Following graduation from Mt. Ayr high school in 1942, he was employed at the Manufacturers' Specialty Co. here for a few months and enlisted in the air corps Dec. 9, 1942.
    A tail gunner on a Flying Fortress, Stump had been on eight missions over occupied France and Germany previous to the one on which he was reported lost. He had been in England several months.
    Both these young men are well known here and it is hoped by their many friends that they are among the many air force men now in the hands of the Germans after successfully baling out of their crippled planes.
This April 13, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 1, column 1:

    Staff Sgt. J.T. Baker Prisoner of Germans

    Mrs. Wash Baker, Cedar Lake, formerly of Lowell, received the good news from the War Department last week that her son, Staff Sgt. Joseph (Tommy) Baker, previously reported missing in action over Germany, had managed to bail out and is now a prisoner of war. Baker, a top turret gunner and 1st engineer on a bomber, had been missing since February 20th.
    No further word of the three other local boys, Sgt. Dale Schilling, S/Sgt. Robert Stump and T/Sgt. Mervin Barkey, all bomber gunners, has been heard. These three boys were also reported missing the same week in February.
This May 4, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:
    The following letter was received by a sister of S/Sgt. Joseph (Tommy) Baker, who is now a prisoner of war in Germany:
      Dear Sis:
      I wrote to you because I don't know if Mom has moved yet. I am a prisoner of war in Germany and I am O.K. Tell Mom I am safe and won't fly any more, so she won't have to worry. I'll write as often as I can. Will send my permanent address later. God bless you all. Tell Elaine.

              Tommy Baker
    This letter was mailed on the 29th of February and received here on May 1st. Baker, who was first reported missing in action February 20th, was a top turret gunner and 1st engineer on a U.S. bomber.
This Lowell Tribune article was found in the January 18, 1945, issue (page 7, column 3-4):
    The following, written on a post card size form furnished by the German government for prisoners of war, was received by Jim Baker of Lowell, from his brother, S/Sgt. Joseph (Tommy) Baker, who has been a prisoner of the Germans the past 11 months. Tommy, a top turret gunner on a U.S. bomber, was captured when he was forced to bail out of his crippled plane while on a bombing mission over Germany.
    Sept. 19, 1944
    Sorry for not writing more often but I can't write many cards and letters. Received a letter from Beulah and Elaine and was I happy! I'm still O.K. and feeling fine. Tell everyone I said "Hello." How is your son by now? God bless you all.
    Tommy
The following May 31, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:
    S/Sgt. Joseph T. Baker, a bomber engineer-gunner who has been a prisoner of the Germans for the past 15 months, wrote his parents, the Washington Bakers of Gary, that he is in Boston enroute home. He is a brother of Jim Baker, Lowell.
Last updated on October 3, 2005.

Go to Joseph T. "Tom" Baker, "Pioneer History Index," for further information.

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