In September 1917, Baker followed his ambition of joining the Australian Flying Corps and applied for a transfer to become an air mechanic when the opportunity arose.
His application proved successful, though he was instead selected to become a pilot and was posted for flight training.
Embarking for the United Kingdom the following month, he was posted to No.
5 Training Squadron as a cadet pilot for his initial aviation instruction.
On 27 March, Baker graduated as a pilot in the Australian Flying Corps and was commissioned as a second lieutenant; he had completed his first solo flight earlier that month.
In May, he was posted for a course at No.
2 School of Aerial Fighting and Gunnery.

Baker proceeded overseas to France on 15 June 1918 and, on arrival the following day, was posted to No.
 4 Squadron AFC piloting Sopwith Camels.
On 23 June, he flew his first operational sortie over the German lines; he was promoted to lieutenant four days later.
On 31 July, Baker was among a formation of seven Camels tasked with carrying out a patrol over German-held territory.
The group crossed over into German lines near Nieppe Forrest, and flew towards Estaires.
The Camels soon intercepted a formation of seven Fokker D.VIIs, and the entire patrol immediately dived at the German aircraft.
In the ensuing melee, Baker managed to force one of the aircraft down to the ground, thus scoring his first aerial victory.

Throughout August 1918, No.
4 Squadron "maintained a high operational tempo" as the Allies launched a new offensive on the Western Front.
On 7 August, Baker and two others took off from their squadron aerodrome at Reclinghem; all three machines were carrying a heavy load of bombs.
Airborne over Pont-du-Hem, the trio released their bombs over German billets in the area, before spotting two Albatros D.Vs.
The three Australians closed in on the two aircraft.
Baker engaged an Albatros, his fire severing the left wing of the aircraft, effectively destroying the machine.
Nine days later, a formation of 65 aircraft was assembled from No.
 88 Squadron RAF, No.
 92 Squadron RAF, No.
 2 Squadron AFC and Baker's No.
4 Squadron AFC to execute a mass raid on the German aerodrome at Haubourdin.
The fleet of aircraft was equipped with a range of incendiary and explosive bombs, in addition to machine gun ammunition.
Led by Captain Harry Cobby, the aircraft from No.
 4 Squadron were the first to sweep down and assault the target.
At one point, Baker pursued a staff car until the vehicle ran up an embankment and flipped over.
He later reported that "No one left the car".
The raid, which was the largest aerial attack by Allied forces to that date, was highly successful; British estimates concluded that 37 German aeroplanes had been destroyed.

On 19 August, Baker led a patrol of six aircraft over Lys.
Five days later, he shot down a German balloon while on a lone mission in poor weather, scoring his third aerial victory.
At dawn on 30 August, Baker took off on a sortie with Lieutenants Roy King and Oscar Ramsay.
Over Laventie, the trio encountered three DFW C.Vs; Baker and King each disposed of one of the aircraft.
Baker was granted two weeks' leave to the United Kingdom in early September.
Towards the end of that month, No.
 4 Squadron relocated to Serny and was soon after re-equipped with the Sopwith Snipe.
By the time of the conversion, Baker had achieved flying ace status on the Sopwith Camel, having been credited with shooting down six German aircraft by early October.

Baker was promoted to temporary captain and made a flight commander in No.
 4 Squadron on 24 October.
Two days later, Baker and Lieutenant Thomas Barkell led a formation of nine Snipes.
As the patrol drew near Tournai in the afternoon, they intercepted a group of 15 Fokker D.VIIs.
The Snipes swept towards the German aircraft, and Baker attempted to engage the formation leader, but the machine guns on his Snipe jammed.
He brought in his aircraft for a second attempt, and managed to shoot the Fokker down out of control.
In all, the Australians destroyed five of the Fokkers before the engag
In September 1917, Baker followed his ambition of joining the Australian Flying Corps and applied for a transfer to become an air mechanic when the opportunity arose. His application proved successful, though he was instead selected to become a pilot and was posted for flight training. Embarking for the United Kingdom the following month, he was posted to No. 5 Training Squadron as a cadet pilot for his initial aviation instruction. On 27 March, Baker graduated as a pilot in the Australian Flying Corps and was commissioned as a second lieutenant; he had completed his first solo flight earlier that month. In May, he was posted for a course at No. 2 School of Aerial Fighting and Gunnery.
Baker proceeded overseas to France on 15 June 1918 and, on arrival the following day, was posted to No. 4 Squadron AFC piloting Sopwith Camels. On 23 June, he flew his first operational sortie over the German lines; he was promoted to lieutenant four days later. On 31 July, Baker was among a formation of seven Camels tasked with carrying out a patrol over German-held territory. The group crossed over into German lines near Nieppe Forrest, and flew towards Estaires. The Camels soon intercepted a formation of seven Fokker D.VIIs, and the entire patrol immediately dived at the German aircraft. In the ensuing melee, Baker managed to force one of the aircraft down to the ground, thus scoring his first aerial victory.
Throughout August 1918, No. 4 Squadron "maintained a high operational tempo" as the Allies launched a new offensive on the Western Front. On 7 August, Baker and two others took off from their squadron aerodrome at Reclinghem; all three machines were carrying a heavy load of bombs. Airborne over Pont-du-Hem, the trio released their bombs over German billets in the area, before spotting two Albatros D.Vs. The three Australians closed in on the two aircraft. Baker engaged an Albatros, his fire severing the left wing of the aircraft, effectively destroying the machine. Nine days later, a formation of 65 aircraft was assembled from No. 88 Squadron RAF, No. 92 Squadron RAF, No. 2 Squadron AFC and Baker's No. 4 Squadron AFC to execute a mass raid on the German aerodrome at Haubourdin. The fleet of aircraft was equipped with a range of incendiary and explosive bombs, in addition to machine gun ammunition. Led by Captain Harry Cobby, the aircraft from No. 4 Squadron were the first to sweep down and assault the target. At one point, Baker pursued a staff car until the vehicle ran up an embankment and flipped over. He later reported that "No one left the car". The raid, which was the largest aerial attack by Allied forces to that date, was highly successful; British estimates concluded that 37 German aeroplanes had been destroyed.
On 19 August, Baker led a patrol of six aircraft over Lys. Five days later, he shot down a German balloon while on a lone mission in poor weather, scoring his third aerial victory. At dawn on 30 August, Baker took off on a sortie with Lieutenants Roy King and Oscar Ramsay. Over Laventie, the trio encountered three DFW C.Vs; Baker and King each disposed of one of the aircraft. Baker was granted two weeks' leave to the United Kingdom in early September. Towards the end of that month, No. 4 Squadron relocated to Serny and was soon after re-equipped with the Sopwith Snipe. By the time of the conversion, Baker had achieved flying ace status on the Sopwith Camel, having been credited with shooting down six German aircraft by early October.
Baker was promoted to temporary captain and made a flight commander in No. 4 Squadron on 24 October. Two days later, Baker and Lieutenant Thomas Barkell led a formation of nine Snipes. As the patrol drew near Tournai in the afternoon, they intercepted a group of 15 Fokker D.VIIs. The Snipes swept towards the German aircraft, and Baker attempted to engage the formation leader, but the machine guns on his Snipe jammed. He brought in his aircraft for a second attempt, and managed to shoot the Fokker down out of control. In all, the Australians destroyed five of the Fokkers before the engag
Thomas Baker (aviator)