Allan Baer was born on January 29, 1929, in Detroit, Michigan. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on July 2, 1948, and was trained as a Radio Operator. Baer entered the Aviation Cadet Program in February 1950, and was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his Pilot Wings at Vance AFB, Oklahoma, on February 10, 1951. He flew B-29 Superfortress and B-47 Stratojet bombers with Strategic Air Command throughout most of the 1950's and then served with Air Force Systems Command at Hanscom Field, Massachusetts, from January 1962 to February 1965. Baer attended Armed Forces Staff College from February to July 1965, and then served with Air Force Systems Command at Los Angeles AFS, California, until September 1966. Maj Baer began flying combat missions in Southeast Asia as a Forward Air Controller with the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron at Nha Trang AB in the Republic of Vietnam in September 1966, and he served two back to back tours before returning to the United States in April 1968. He then served with Air Force Systems Command at Andrews AFB, Maryland, from May 1968 to July 1969, and then at Fuchu AS, Japan, from July 1969 to May 1974. Col Baer's final assignment was with Air Force Systems Command at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, where he retired from the Air Force on August 31, 1976.

His Air Force Cross Citation reads:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, awards the Air Force Cross to Lieutenant Colonel Allan R. Baer for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as a Forward Air Controller at Nha Trang, Republic of Vietnam, from 30 January 1968 to 1 February 1968. During that period, Colonel Baer was virtually a one-man command post for the battle of Nha Trang, directing and conducting close air support missions night and day, resulting in the neutralization of over three hundred of the hostile attacking force. On no less than eleven separate occasions, Colonel Baer's aerial skill and courage in the face of intense unfriendly ground fire were the decisive factors in the defeat of the hostile forces. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness, Colonel Baer reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.