Viktor Bauer

Viktor Bauer (15 September 1915 – 13 December 1969) was a former Luftwaffe fighter 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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Refn 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. 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.Template:Sfn

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 ().Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn He shot down another Hurricane near Cambrai on 18 May.Template:Sfn Bauer was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) on 1 June 1940 and was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class () on 18 November 1940.Template:Sfn He then fought in the Battle of Britain against the RAF, claiming a Supermarine Spitfire shot down on 1 November 1940.Template:Sfn Bauer was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class () on 18 November 1940,Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn and then transferred to Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3–3rd Fighter Wing) in November 1940.Template:Sfn

On 15 February 1941, III. Gruppe was withdrawn from the English Channel and relocated to Gütersloh Airfield for a period of rest and replenishment.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn

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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn

On 23 July 1941, Bauer claimed two Polikarpov I-153 biplane fighters shot down, taking his to total to 36 aerial victories.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn During his convalescence, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross () on 30 July 1941 for 34 aerial victories.Template:Sfn During his absence, Leutnant Helmut Mertens served as acting Staffelkapitän of 9. Staffel. Bauer returned to his unit in February 1942.Template:Sfn

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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn On 19 May, Bauer claimed a 429 Istrebitel'nyy Aviatsionyy Polk (429 IAP—429th Fighter Aviation Regiment) MiG-3.Template:Sfn On 22 June 1942, Bauer was awarded the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe ().Template:Sfn

On 5 July 1942 during the Battle of Voronezh, Bauer claimed four aerial victories, increasing his total to 74.Template:Sfn On 26 July, he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves () for 102 aerial victories. He was the 14th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.Template:Sfn Bauer and together with Oberleutnant Erwin Clausen were presented the Oak Leaves by Adolf Hitler at the Führerhauptquartier at Rastenburg.Template:Sfn

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.Template:Sfn On 1 September 1942, he was promoted to Hauptmann (captain).Template:Sfn

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.Template:Sfn

Later life

Bauer died on 13 December 1969 in Bad Homburg.Template:Sfn

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Bauer was credited with 106 aerial victories.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn

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 –Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn 10 May – 25 June 1940
1	—	15 May 1940	14:10	Hurricane	west of BrugesTemplate:Sfn	2./JG 77	2	1	18 May 1940	15:45	Hurricane	east of CambraiTemplate:Sfn	1./JG 77
– Claims with III./Jagdgeschwader 3 on the Channel Front –Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn June 1940 – February 1941
3	—	1 November 1940	17:30	Spitfire	south of Southend-on-SeaTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	4	2	5 February 1941	14:00	Hurricane	west of CalaisTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
– Claims with III./Jagdgeschwader 3 on the Eastern Front –Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn Operation Barbarossa – June – November 1941
5	3	25 June 1941	07:40	Potez-63?Template:Refn	northeast of BerestechkoTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	22	20	9 July 1941	06:05	DB-3	west of BerdychivTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
6	4	25 June 1941	07:45	Potez-63	northeast of BerestechkoTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	23	21	10 July 1941	17:00	I-15	south of MakarivTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
7♠	5	26 June 1941	11:20	SB-2	southwest of LutskTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	24	22	10 July 1941	17:10	DB-3	east of MakarivTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
8♠	6	26 June 1941	11:25	SB-2	southwest of LutskTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	25	23	11 July 1941	15:50	SB-3	southeast of MakarivTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
9♠	7	26 June 1941	13:45	SB-2	north of Volodymyr-VolynskyiTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	26		11 July 1941	15:51	SB-3	southeast of MakarivTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
10♠	8	26 June 1941	13:45	SB-2	north of Volodymyr-VolynskyiTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	27♠	24	12 July 1941	10:25	DB-3	southeast of KievTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
11♠	9	26 June 1941	16:25	DB-3	northeast of LutskTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	28♠	25	12 July 1941	10:27	DB-3	KievTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
12	10	27 June 1941	12:20	I-16	northwest of LembergTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	29♠	27	12 July 1941	10:30	DB-3	southeast MotyzhynTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
13	11	29 June 1941	14:40	V-11?Template:Refn	northwest of DubnoTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	30♠	28	12 July 1941	10:40	DB-3	southeast of MotyzhynTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
14	12	29 June 1941	14:43	V-11	northeast of RivneTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	31♠	29	12 July 1941	10:42	DB-3	southeast of MotyzhynTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
15	13	29 June 1941	14:50	V-11	northeast of RivneTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	32	30	13 July 1941	11:11	DB-3	north of FastivTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
16	14	29 June 1941	17:40	PZL P-37	southwest of OlevskTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	33	31	13 July 1941	11:15	DB-3	west of BijschowTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
17	15	30 June 1941	12:10	ZKB-19?Template:Refn	east of OstrohTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	34	32	13 July 1941	11:16	DB-3	southwest of KievTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
18	16	30 June 1941	12:13	ZKB-19	east of OstrohTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	35	33	16 July 1941	10:40	DB-3	east of PavolochTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
19	17	30 June 1941	15:05	DB-3	southwest of OstrohTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	36	34	23 July 1941	17:17	I-153	northwest of TarashchaTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
20	18	8 July 1941	17:15	SB-2	west of BerdychivTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	37	—	23 July 1941	17:30	I-153	northwest of TarashchaTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
21	19	8 July 1941	17:18	SB-2	west of BerdychivTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
– Claims with III./Jagdgeschwader 3 on the Eastern Front –Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn Winter War — February – April 1942
38	35	13 February 1942	12:50	Pe-2	east of Staraya RussaTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	45	42	22 March 1942	17:05	Il-2	east-northeast of Staraya RussaTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
39	36	15 February 1942	15:10	Pe-2	northwest of NovgorodTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	46	43	31 March 1942	14:35	I-61?Template:Refn	east of Staraya RussaTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
40	37	18 February 1942	16:00	I-61	southeast of Staraya RussaTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	47	44	31 March 1942	14:45	I-61	northeast of Staraya RussaTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
41	38	18 February 1942	16:10	I-61	southeast of Staraya RussaTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	48	45	1 April 1942	17:05	I-301?Template:Refn	southeast of RamushevoTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
42	39	19 February 1942	16:40	I-61	north of Staraya RussaTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	49	46	1 April 1942	17:12	Pe-2	north of ZaluchyeTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
43	40	22 March 1942	16:55	I-61	south of Staraya RussaTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	50	47	4 April 1942	14:30	I-61	north of SytschewoTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
44	41	22 March 1942	16:58	Il-2	east of Staraya RussaTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	51	48	4 April 1942	17:42	I-301	east of ParfinoTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
– Claims with III./Jagdgeschwader 3 on the Eastern Front –Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn May – August 1942
52	49	19 May 1942	10:00	I-61	southwest of Stary SaltovTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	79♠	77	7 July 1942	03:57	Il-2	northeast of VoronezhTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
53	50	20 May 1942	04:35	I-61	east of TernowajaTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	80♠	78	9 July 1942	11:20	Il-2	north of VoronezhTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
54	51	20 May 1942	04:38	I-61	east of TernowajaTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	81♠	79	9 July 1942	11:23	Il-2	north of VoronezhTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
55	52	20 May 1942	04:49	Il-2	west of WesselojeTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	82♠	80	9 July 1942	11:25	Il-2	north of VoronezhTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
56	53	20 May 1942	11:56	Il-2	northeast of KharkivTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	83♠	81	9 July 1942	19:38	MiG-1	north of VoronezhTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
57	54	21 May 1942	07:40	I-61	east of TernowajaTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	84♠	82	9 July 1942	19:55	MiG-1	north-northeast of VoronezhTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
58	55	22 May 1942	09:35	I-61	south of Stary SaltovTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	85	83	10 July 1942	04:02	MiG-1	northwest of VoronezhTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
59	56	22 May 1942	09:38	I-61	southeast of Stary SaltovTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	86	84	10 July 1942	04:02	MiG-1	northwest of VoronezhTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
60	57	22 May 1942	09:41	I-61Template:Refn	north of Stary SaltovTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	87	85	10 July 1942	04:06	MiG-1	north-northeast of VoronezhTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
61	58	22 May 1942	09:45	I-61	east of Stary SaltovTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	88	86	16 July 1942	18:15	P-40	southwest of TischkinaTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
	—	23 May 1942	05:25	Il-2		9./JG 3	89	87	16 July 1942	18:16	P-40	west of TischkinaTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
62	59	23 May 1942	05:35	Il-2	north of TernowajaTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	90	88	16 July 1942	18:18	P-40	southwest of DubowyTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
63	60	26 May 1942	18:55	MiG-1	southeast of BalaklejaTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	91	89	16 July 1942	18:40	Il-2	east-southeast of ArinowkaTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
64	61	27 May 1942	06:22	R-10?Template:Refn	south of BalaklejaTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	92	90	22 July 1942	05:55	P-40	southwest of SemikarakoeskajaTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
65	62	26 June 1942	04:37	Pe-2	southeast of ShchigryTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	93	91	22 July 1942	05:57	LaGG-3	east of SjusjaskijTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
—	63	29 June 1942	06:53	MiG-1	south of Kshen	9./JG 3	94	92	22 July 1942	06:00	Il-2	south of SjusjaskijTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
66	64	30 June 1942	06:51	Il-2	south of KshenTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	95	93	24 July 1942	10:51	Il-2	southeast of PopowTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
67	65	30 June 1942	06:52	MiG-1	south of KshenTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	96	94	24 July 1942	10:52	Il-2	southeast of PopowTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
68	66	30 June 1942	06:53	MiG-1	south of KshenTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	97	95	24 July 1942	10:55	Il-2	west of KalachTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
69	67	30 June 1942	06:56	Il-2	east of KshenTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	98	96	24 July 1942	10:56	MiG-1	west of KalachTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
70	68	1 July 1942	19:10	Il-2	north of KshenTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	99	97	25 July 1942	10:50	Hurricane	east of KalachTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
71	69	5 July 1942	03:16	MiG-1	southwest of VoronezhTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	100	98	25 July 1942	10:52	Hurricane	southeast of KalachTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
72	70	5 July 1942	03:17	Il-2	south-southeast of VoronezhTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	101	99	25 July 1942	10:54	Il-2	southeast of KalachTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
73	71	5 July 1942	03:19	Il-2	southeast of VoronezhTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	102	100	25 July 1942	10:55	Il-2	southeast of KalachTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
74	72	5 July 1942	03:22	Pe-2	west of VoronezhTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	103	101	9 August 1942	06:02	Su-2	southeast of KalachTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
75♠	73	7 July 1942	03:01	MiG-1	southeast of VoronezhTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	104	102	9 August 1942	06:04?Template:Refn	LaGG-3	east of KalachTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
76♠	74	7 July 1942	03:02	MiG-1	south of Nowo UschmanTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	105	103	9 August 1942	06:07	LaGG-3	east of KalachTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
77♠	75	7 July 1942	03:41	Il-2	south of MaslowkaTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3	106	104	9 August 1942	06:10	Su-2	northwest of StalingradTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3
78♠	76	7 July 1942	03:55	Il-2	northwest of VoronezhTemplate:Sfn	9./JG 3

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (1 November 1939)Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn
  • 1st Class (18 November 1940)Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn
• Honorary Cup of the Luftwaffe on 22 June 1942 as Oberleutnant and pilotTemplate:Sfn
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 30 July 1941 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 3Template:SfnTemplate:Refn
  • 107th Oak Leaves on 26 July 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet"Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn