The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Robert Morris Baker (MCSN: 0-9016), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as wing man and section of leader of Marine Fighting Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE (VMF-121), attached to Marine Aircraft Group TWENTY-ONE, on the Russell Island Base, during the period 16 June to 22 July 1943. Captain Baker flew on fifteen missions for a total of 61.5 hours. On 30 June he participated in a mission to intercept a large flight of enemy bombers, escorted by fighters, and prevented them from bombing our initial landing force on Rendova Island. In the successful defense of this area against tremendous odds, approximately forty enemy to eight of our own, he shot down three Zeros. On 2 July, over the same area, he was a member of an eight plane flight on patrol. Again a superior number of the enemy was intercepted and defeated and he added two more Zeros to his score making a total of five Zeros and one possible in all. His aggressive spirit and utter disregard for his own personal safety have characterized his performance of duty.