58 SOW pilot nominated for Daedalian Award

  • Published
  • By Stefan Bocchino
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Kirtland Air Force Base, NM --  Maj. Franklin Baker, 550th Special Operations Squadron instructor pilot, is the Air Education and Training Command nominee for the 2011 Daedalian Exceptional Pilot Award.

The award is presented annually to a pilot selected by the Air Force, based on exceptional deeds performed to assure mission success, acts of valor as an aviator, or an extraordinary display of courage or leadership in the air in support of air operations, according to the Daedalian website.

"It is an incredible honor and I'm truly humbled," said Baker. "It's all the more special to be nominated for this award based upon events which happened while under AETC, which were by far the furthest forward and potentially most hazardous assignment I've ever had. I genuinely hope that this helps bring some much-needed attention to the incredible work AETC folks are doing every day supporting combat operations around the world."

According to his nomination, during the award period, Baker distinguished himself through exceptional airmanship as an An-32 instructor pilot embedded as a combat air advisor with the Afghan Air Force, deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He commanded 350 sorties transporting 8,850 Afghan National Army soldiers and their equipment to battle Taliban insurgents.

He also spent seven days stranded near the Iranian border with his Afghan crew, developing an action plan to prevent capture by insurgents until they were able to return to friendly forces.

"It's a testament to his hard work and dedication to the mission," said Lt. Col. Matt Magness, 550 SOS commander. "He was crucial in standing up the Afghan Air Force during the past year and brought a tremendous amount of talent from AETC to the mission. When he returned from OEF last August, he jumped right back into training special operations and rescue students, picking up where he left off. He is the type of pilot who wears his heart on his sleeve and truly loves being an instructor and flying in the Air Force. I cannot think of anyone more deserving."

The Order of the Daedalians started in 1921 to honor American pilots from World War I.

Membership criteria has changed over the years, allowing in all those who have held ratings as military pilots, including the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II.