Edward David Baker (1896-1918)

The only child of Simon Strouss Baker and Grace Little Baker, Edward David Baker was born on Oct. 15, 1896 in Washington County. His father was a noted educator who later became president of Washington & Jefferson College in 1921. The family was relatively well-to-do: Both the 1900 and 1910 Censuses report the family had a live-in servant. By 1910, the family had moved to Brown Street in Pittsburgh, after formerly living in Chartiers Township in Washington County. They later located to 1232 N. Highland Ave.
On Mar. 23, 1918, Baker was called into active service as a 1st Lieutenant with the 96th Aero Squadron. The 96th was a designated day bombardment squadron that executed long-range and tactical bombing attacks in support of Army offensive operations. As a pilot, Edward also served as an instructor at the Flight Instruction Center in Foggia, Italy.
Baker piloted several missions in his Breguet 14, a French biplane bomber. Operations he participated in include the Battle of Saint-Mihiel, a major offensive that attempted to break through the German lines and retake the fortified city of Metz. The battle took place from Sept. 12-15, 1918 and involved both American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) and French troops under the command of General John J. Pershing. Baker also flew bombing missions at Meuse-Argonne, specifically in the Toule sector of northeastern France.
Baker was killed on Oct. 24, 1918, when the airplane he was flying apparently experienced a malfunction and crashed at the Rumont airdrome near Verdun. He is buried at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. There is also a memorial stone at Washington Cemetery, Washington County, where his parents are buried.