Viktor Bauer (15 September 1915 – 13 December 1969) was a former Luftwaffefighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.[1] Bauer is credited with 106 aerial victories, achieved in over 400 combat missions, all but four claimed on the Eastern Front. He was "ace-in-a-day" four times, shooting down five or more aircraft on a single day.
Early life and career
Bauer was born on 19 September 1915 in Löcknitz, the son of a landowner.[2] He joined the military service on 1 April 1935, initially serving in Infanterie-Regiment 1 (1st Infantry Regiment). He served in the Reichsarbeitsdienst (Reich Labour Service) from 1 January 1936 until 31 March 1936.[3] He transferred to the Luftwaffe of the Nazi Germany on 6 April 1936 as a Fahnenjunker (cadet). Bauer completed his flight training on 1 March 1938.[Note 1] That day, he was also promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) and transferred to Kampfgeschwader 138 (KG 138–138th Bomber Wing). On 1 May 1938, he attended a Jagdfliegerschule (fighter pilot school). On 1 July 1938, Bauer was assigned to the VI. Gruppe (4th group) of Jagdgeschwader 132 "Richthofen" (JG 132–132nd Fighter Wing) as a fighter pilot.[Note 2] On 9 March 1939, he was posted to I. Gruppe (1st group) of Jagdgeschwader 331 (JG 331–331st Fighter Wing) and to I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77–77th Fighter Wing) on 31 July 1939.[2]
World War II
World War II in Europe had begun on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. On 1 November, he received the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse).[2] On 1 March 1940, he was transferred to the 2. Staffel of JG 77. Bauer claimed his first aerial victory on 15 May 1940 west of Bruges, a Royal Air Force (RAF) Hawker Hurricane.[5] He shot down another Hurricane near Cambrai on 18 May.[6]
Bauer was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) on 1 June 1940 and was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse) on 18 November 1940.[2] He then fought in the Battle of Britain against the RAF, claiming a Supermarine Spitfire shot down on 1 November 1940.[7] Bauer was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse) on 18 November 1940,[2][8] and then transferred to Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3–3rd Fighter Wing) in November 1940.[8]
On 15 February 1941, III. Gruppe was withdrawn from the English Channel and relocated to Gütersloh Airfield for a period of rest and replenishment.[9] Bauer and other pilots of III. Gruppe spent a couple of days of R&R skiing in the Kleinwalsertal before returning for active service on 17 March. On 17 April, the Gruppe received the then new Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-2, training on this type until they relocated to Lillers, France on 3 May.[10] On 10 June 1941, Bauer was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 9. Staffel (9th squadron) of JG 3, succeeding Oberleutnant Max Jaczak who killed in a flying accident the day before.[11]
Eastern Front
The Wehrmacht launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, on 22 June 1941. III. Gruppe supported Army Group South in its strategic goal towards the heavily populated and agricultural heartland of Ukraine, taking Kiev before continuing eastward over the steppes of southern USSR to the Volga with the aim of controlling the oil-rich Caucasus.[12] In June 1941, Bauer claimed 15 Soviet aircraft shot down, including five SB-2 twin-engine bombers claimed on 26 June alone. He then claimed 17 victories in July, including five Russian DB-3 twin-engine bombers on 12 July.[13]
On 23 July 1941, Bauer claimed two Polikarpov I-153 biplane fighters shot down, taking his to total to 36 aerial victories.[14] That afternoon, his Bf 109 F-2 (Werknummer 8987—factory number) sustained heavy damage in combat with a flight of Ilyushin DB-3 bombers at the Dnieper. Bauer attempted a forced landing at Bila Tserkva, the aircraft somersaulted, resulting in heavy injuries to Bauer.[15] During his convalescence, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernes Kreuzes) on 30 July 1941 for 34 aerial victories.[16] During his absence, LeutnantHelmut Mertens served as acting Staffelkapitän of 9. Staffel. Bauer returned to his unit in February 1942.[17]
At the time of his return to front line service, III. Gruppe of JG 3 had been redeployed to an area of operations north of Lake Ilmen in support of the airlift resupplying German forces in the Demyansk Pocket. There, on 18 February 1942, Bauer claimed two Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 fighter aircraft, taking his total to 40 aerial victories.[18] In combat with 6 Udarnaya Aviatsionnaya Gruppa (6 UAG—6th Soviet Strike Aviation Group) on 4 April, he claimed his 50th aerial victory, a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 fighter.[19] On 19 May, Bauer claimed a 429 Istrebitel'nyy Aviatsionyy Polk (429 IAP—429th Fighter Aviation Regiment) MiG-3.[20] On 22 June 1942, Bauer was awarded the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe).[21]
On 9 August, he claimed his 106th victory. On 10 August 1942, Bauer force landed his Bf 109 F-4 (Werknummer 13241—factory number) at Nowy-Kalach. His aircraft had been damaged by enemy return fire and Bauer was again wounded, forcing him to surrender command of 9. Staffel to Leutnant Rolf Diergardt.[24] On 1 September 1942, he was promoted to Hauptmann (captain).[25]
Training commands
On recovery, Bauer was put in command of Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost (Supplementary Fighter Group, East) in southern France on 9 August 1943. In this command position, he was promoted to Major (major) on 1 May 1944. Promoted to Oberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel) and later to Oberst (colonel), Bauer was appointed Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of Ergänzungs-Jagdgeschwader 1 (EJG 1–1st Supplementary Fighter Wing) until the end of hostilities in May 1945. He was taken prisoner of war and released in July 1945.[25]
According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Bauer was credited with 106 aerial victories.[26] Spick also lists Bauer with 106 aerial victories with one unconfirmed victory in over 400 combat missions, all but four claimed on the Eastern Front.[27] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 104 aerial victory claims, plus four further unconfirmed claim. This number omits claim number 26 which is numerically missing in their analysis.[28]
Chronicle of aerial victories
This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Bauer an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.
This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Bauer did not receive credit.
This and the ! (exclamation mark) indicates those aerial victories listed by Prien and Rodeike.
This and the # (hash mark) indicates those aerial victories listed by Mathews and Foreman.
This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim!
Claim#
Date
Time
Type
Location
Unit
Claim!
Claim#
Date
Time
Type
Location
Unit
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 77 during the Battle of France –[29][30] 10 May – 25 June 1940
107th Oak Leaves on 26 July 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet"[59][60]
Notes
^Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.[4]
Bergström, Christer[in Swedish]; Mikhailov, Andrey (2001). Black Cross / Red Star Air War Over the Eastern Front, Volume 2, Resurgence January–June 1942. Pacifica, California: Pacifica Military History. ISBN978-0-935553-51-2.
Bergström, Christer[in Swedish]; Dikov, Andrey; Antipov, Vlad; Sundin, Claes (2006). Black Cross / Red Star Air War Over the Eastern Front, Volume 3, Everything for Stalingrad. Hamilton MT: Eagle Editions. ISBN978-0-9761034-4-8.
Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer[in German] (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN978-3-7909-0284-6.
MacLean, French L (2007). Luftwaffe Efficiency & Promotion Reports: For the Knight's Cross Winners. Vol. One. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN978-0-7643-2657-8.
Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2014). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 1 A–F. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN978-1-906592-18-9.
Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN978-3-87341-065-7.
Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN978-3-931533-08-3.
Prien, Jochen (1992). Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 1—1934–1941 [History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 1—1934–1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN978-3-923457-19-9.
Prien, Jochen (1995). Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 4—1944–1945 [History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 4—1944–1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN978-3-923457-29-8.
Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard (1996). Messerschmitt Bf 109 im Einsatz bei der III./Jagdgeschwader 3 in 1940 – 1945 [Messerschmitt Bf 109 in Action with the III./Jagdgeschwader 3 in 1940 – 1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN978-3-923457-33-5.
Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2001). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 3—Einsatz in Dänemark und Norwegen 9.4. bis 30.11.1940—Der Feldzug im Westen 10.5. bis 25.6.1940 [Fighter Pilot Association of the German Luftwaffe 1934 to 1945 Part 3—Assignments in Denmark and Norway 9 April to 30 November 1940—The campaign in the West 10 May to 25 June 1940] (in German). Struve-Druck. ISBN978-3-923457-61-8.
Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/I—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/I—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN978-3-923457-63-2.
Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/I—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/I—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN978-3-923457-69-4.
Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2005). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/I—Winterkampf im Osten—6.12.1941 bis 30.4.1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/I—Winter War in the East—6 December 1941 to 30 April 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN978-3-923457-76-2.
Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/II—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN978-3-923457-77-9.
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1 Oak Leaves with JG 300. 2 Oak Leaves with JG 27. 3 Swords and Diamonds with JG 77. 4 Knight's Cross with JG 51. 5 Knight's Cross and Oak Leaves with JG 27. 6 Knight's Cross with JG 53.