Robert V. “Boris” Baird
Preferred Name: Borris
Nickname/Call Sign: Borris
Date of Birth: 12-10-1932
Highest Military Grade Held: Lt. Col
Hometown: Tucson, AZ
Biography
Robert V. “Boris” Baird was our friend, colleague and fellow fighter pilot. He attended our Friday lunches regularly.
Unfortunately, as we collectively agreed to write our Friday Pilots book, Boris was suffering from terminal cancer. As a tribute to Boris we included a story previously written by him about his first mission in the Vietnam war.
On 30 Apr 1968, while at George AFB, instructor pilot Maj Robert V. “Boris” Baird, ejected successfully from F- 105D 61-0083 when it developed a flight control problem after takeoff.
He was flying an F-105 Thunderchief on a low-level “flak suppression” mission, something we quickly learned was a terrible idea. Boris was shot down, finding himself on foot in North Vietnam. He was successfully rescued late in day and returned to complete his 100 mission tour.
Years later, some of Boris’ friends who participated in his rescue joined him to recall and celebrate his “first combat“ mission.
After retirement, Boris went on to become an aerobatic pilot. He was an fisherman and wild game trophy hunter.
He became manger of the U.S. Aerobatic team in the 1990s.
Boris was full of life. We miss him but are confident he is smiling down upon us, reading the Friday Pilots book and performing loops and chandelles in Heaven.
Robert V “Boris” Baird 81, passed away Tuesday, April 15, 2014 in Tucson, AZ. Boris was born December 10, 1932 to Vernen and Dorothy Baird in Wichita, KS. He graduated from Wichita North High and Wichita University.
In 1955 he was commissioned a 2nd Lt in the US Air Force. Boris spent 24 ½ years in the Air Force as a Fighter Pilot, attaining the rank of Lt. Col. After retiring from the Air Force in Tucson, he continued his love of flying by joining the US Aerobatic Team.
Boris also loved hunting big game in North America and Africa, and pheasant and quail in the Midwest United States. Boris was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Mary Lois and his brother, John.
A Memorial will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 5, 2014 at Canyon Del Oro Baptist Church, 9200 N. Oracle Rd., Tucson, AZ. Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES, Avalon Chapel. – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tucson/obituary.aspx?pid=171447939#sthash.PSGbdlE1.dpuf
- Biography
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Biography
Robert V. “Boris” Baird was our friend, colleague and fellow fighter pilot. He attended our Friday lunches regularly.
Unfortunately, as we collectively agreed to write our Friday Pilots book, Boris was suffering from terminal cancer. As a tribute to Boris we included a story previously written by him about his first mission in the Vietnam war.
On 30 Apr 1968, while at George AFB, instructor pilot Maj Robert V. “Boris” Baird, ejected successfully from F- 105D 61-0083 when it developed a flight control problem after takeoff.
He was flying an F-105 Thunderchief on a low-level “flak suppression” mission, something we quickly learned was a terrible idea. Boris was shot down, finding himself on foot in North Vietnam. He was successfully rescued late in day and returned to complete his 100 mission tour.
Years later, some of Boris’ friends who participated in his rescue joined him to recall and celebrate his “first combat“ mission.
After retirement, Boris went on to become an aerobatic pilot. He was an fisherman and wild game trophy hunter.
He became manger of the U.S. Aerobatic team in the 1990s.
Boris was full of life. We miss him but are confident he is smiling down upon us, reading the Friday Pilots book and performing loops and chandelles in Heaven.
- Headed West
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Robert V “Boris” Baird 81, passed away Tuesday, April 15, 2014 in Tucson, AZ. Boris was born December 10, 1932 to Vernen and Dorothy Baird in Wichita, KS. He graduated from Wichita North High and Wichita University.
In 1955 he was commissioned a 2nd Lt in the US Air Force. Boris spent 24 ½ years in the Air Force as a Fighter Pilot, attaining the rank of Lt. Col. After retiring from the Air Force in Tucson, he continued his love of flying by joining the US Aerobatic Team.
Boris also loved hunting big game in North America and Africa, and pheasant and quail in the Midwest United States. Boris was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Mary Lois and his brother, John.
A Memorial will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 5, 2014 at Canyon Del Oro Baptist Church, 9200 N. Oracle Rd., Tucson, AZ. Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES, Avalon Chapel. – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tucson/obituary.aspx?pid=171447939#sthash.PSGbdlE1.dpuf
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