THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. May you rest in eternal peace.

Major Robert Lee Baker, Served with the 19th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 315th Tactical Airlift Wing, 7th Air Force.

On November 27, 1970, a U.S. Air Force Fairchild C-123K Provider (#55-4574) from the 19th Tactical Airlift Squadron was enroute to Nha Trang from Tan Son Nhat when it went missing in central South Vietnam with 79 personnel on board (six U.S. and 73 Vietnamese). It was last heard from shortly after takeoff when there appeared to be no problems aboard. Search and rescue for the missing aircraft was hampered by bad weather. On December 7, 1970, the Provider was found in mountainous terrain approximately 17 miles southwest of Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa Province, RVN, where it had struck some trees on a ridge at an elevation of 4600 feet, some 500 feet below the top. A para-rescue team was inserted into the area but found no survivors. The lost Americans included aircraft commander 1LT Marvin S. Arthington, co-pilot 1LT Frederick M. Rader III, navigator MAJ Robert L. Baker, flight engineer TSGT William B. O’Kief, loadmaster A1C Allen J. Bodin, and combat photographer A1C Frederick R. Neef. Bodin was posthumously promoted to Sergeant. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and aviation-safety.net]

Robert "Bob" Baker was my father's best friend, I believe they went to navigator school together. Over this Memorial Weekend he has been strong on my mind. I love looking at the first 2 pictures here, my dad kept them close and talked of you often. Thank you for your sacrifice and I was blessed that my father retired and came home safely prior to your crash. Freedom is not free - thank you for the ultimate sacrifice.

Major Baker (Service Years 1956 - 1970, Primary AFSC/MOS
1585A-Navigator) flew aboard the C-123K (55-4574) with a loss of 6 crew and 73 ARVN passengers that crashed during poor weather. The C-123 was en route from Tan Son Nhut AB to Nha Trang AB when it struck trees on a ridge at an elevation of 4600 feet, some 500 feet below the top. The wreckage was found nine days after the accident.

INFO: https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=79530