Viktor Bauer
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Viktor Bauer
Born (1915-09-15)15 September 1915
Löcknitz, Germany
Died 13 December 1969(1969-12-13) (aged 54)
Bad Homburg, Germany
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service 1935–1945
Rank Oberst
Unit JG 2 and JG 77
Commands held 9./JG 3
Battles/wars

World War II
Awards Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub

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.[1] Bauer is credited with 106 aerial victories, achieved in over 400 combat missions, all but four claimed on the Eastern front.

Contents

Military career [link]

Viktor Bauer was born on 19 September 1915 in Löcknitz. 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. He joined the Luftwaffe on 1 April 1936 as a Fähnrich (officer canditate).[2] His first operational deployment was with I./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2) where he was promoted to Leutnant.[Notes 1] On 1 March 1940 he was transferred to the 2./Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77). Bauer claimed his first aerial victory on 15 May 1940 west of Bruges.

In December 1940 he is again transferred, this time to lead 9./JG 3 in the Battle of Britain. In preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, he and his unit are transferred to what would become the Eastern front.

Severely wounded on 23 July 1941 he returns to combat duty in February 1942. The Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän is honored with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 July 1941 after claiming his 34th aerial victory. One year later on 26 July 1942 he receives the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves for 102 aerial victories.

Later promoted to Hauptmann and followed by his promotion to Major in early August 1943, Bauer is put in command of Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost in southern France on 9 August 1942. Promoted to Oberstleutnant, and Geschwaderkommodore he led Ergänzungs-Jagdgeschwader 1 (EJG 1) until the end of hostilities in May 1945. Oberst Bauer was taken prisoner of war and released in July 1945.

Viktor Bauer died on 13 December 1969 in Bad Homburg.

Awards [link]

Notes [link]

  1. ^ For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see Luftwaffe Organization
  2. ^ According to Scherzer as Oberleutnant and pilot in the III./JG 3[6]

References [link]

Citations
  1. ^ Spick 1996, pp. 3–4.
  2. ^ MacLean 2007, p. 47.
  3. ^ a b MacLean 2007, p. 45.
  4. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 52.
  5. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 124.
  6. ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 206.
  7. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 60.
Bibliography
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
  • MacLean, French L. (2007). Luftwaffe Efficiency & Promotion Reports — For the Knight's Cross Winners. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Military History. ISBN 978-0-7643-2657-8.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939–1945 (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 3-87341-065-6.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 0-8041-1696-2.

External links [link]

Portal icon Military of Germany portal

https://wn.com/Viktor_Bauer

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