Konrad Bauer

Konrad Bauer (9 February 1919 – 17 June 1990) was a Luftwaffe fighter pilot during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Bauer claimed 57 aerial victories, 39 over the Western Front and 18 over the Eastern Front.

This article is about the fighter pilot. For the trombonist, see Conny Bauer. For the German type designer, see Konrad Friedrich Bauer.

Konrad Bauer
Nickname(s)"Pitt"
Born9 February 1919
Gelsenkirchen
Died17 June 1990(1990-06-17) (aged 71)
Gelsenkirchen
Allegiance Nazi Germany (to 1945)
 West Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Bundeswehrkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service?–1945
?–1960
RankOberfeldwebel (Wehrmacht)
Hauptmann (Bundeswehr)
UnitJG 51
JG 3
JG 300
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Bauer claimed his first of 18 victories over the Eastern Front on 20 March 1943. In 1944 he was transferred to the Western Front where he claimed another 39 victories. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 31 October 1944 after his 34th victory. After the war he joined the new Luftwaffe and retired as a Hauptmann in 1960.

With Jagdgeschwader 300

In June 1944, Bauer was posted to II. Sturmgruppe (2nd assault group) of Jagdgeschwader 300 "Wilde Sau" (JG 300—300th Fighter Wing).[1] On 9 August, Bauer made a forced landing in his Focke Wulf Fw 190 A at Griesheim Airfield following combat with Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers.[2] Bauer was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 31 October for 34 aerial victories.[1][3]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Bauer was credited with 57 aerial victories.[4] Obermaier also lists Bauer with 57 aerial victory claims, 39 over the Western Front, including 32 four-engine bombers, and 18 over the Eastern Front.[5] According to Weal, he was credited with 68 aerial victories.[1] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 38 aerial victory claims, plus further ten unconfirmed claims. The number of confirmed claims includes 16 on the Eastern Front and 22 on the Western Front, including 13 four-engine bombers.[6]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 35 Ost 25281". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[7]

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 ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 10. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" –[8]
Eastern Front — March – August 1943
1 20 March 1943 15:25 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 25281[9] 3?[Note 1] 2 August 1943 08:42 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 53681[10]
2 17 July 1943 08:11 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 63643[10]
vicinity of Lukowets
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" –[8]
Eastern Front — September – 31 December 1943
4 1 September 1943 18:12 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 25467[11]
20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Yelnya		 9♠ 15 December 1943 10:06 Boston PQ 25 Ost 93276[12]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Parichi
5 2 September 1943 11:10 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 25496, west of Yelnya[11]
20 km (12 mi) west of Yelnya		 10♠ 15 December 1943 10:07 Boston PQ 25 Ost 93425, southwest of Zhlobin[12]
20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Parichi
6 5 September 1943 11:23 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] southwest of Yelnya[13]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Yelnya		 11♠ 15 December 1943 10:09 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 25 Ost 93436[12]
20 km (12 mi) south of Zhlobin
7 29 November 1943 14:24 Pe-2 25 km (16 mi) east of Zhlobin[12] 12♠ 15 December 1943 10:09 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 03311[12]
20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Zhlobin
8♠ 15 December 1943 08:20 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 03176[12]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Zhlobin		 13♠ 15 December 1943 10:10 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 25 Ost 93299, 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Zhlobin[12]
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" –[14]
Eastern Front — January 1944
14 10 January 1944 11:15 Yak-7 20 km (12 mi) west-southwest of Talachyn 16 12 January 1944 12:05 Pe-2 40 km (25 mi) southeast of Parichi
15 10 January 1944 11:17 Il-2 40 km (25 mi) south-southeast of Parichi 17 12 January 1944 12:05 Pe-2 40 km (25 mi) north-northeast of Mazyr
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[8]
Defense of the Reich — April 1944
19 18 April 1944 14:50 B-17[15] Zehdenick 21?[Note 1] 24 May 1944
—
 B-17[16]
20?[Note 1] 24 May 1944
—
 B-17[16]
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 300 "Wilde Sau" –[6]
Defense of the Reich — June – August 1944
—
?[Note 3]		 13 June 1944
—
 B-24 vicinity of Munich 25 19 July 1944 09:35 P-51 Obergünzburg[18]
—
?[Note 3]		 13 June 1944
—
 B-24 vicinity of Munich 26 20 July 1944 11:05 B-17 Zwickau[18]
—
?[Note 3]		 20 June 1944
—
 B-24 27 20 July 1944 11:06 B-17 Zwickau[18]
—
?[Note 3]		 20 June 1944
—
 B-24 28 25 July 1944 11:08 B-24 Grein forest, west of Krems an der Donau[19]
Martinsburg/Spitz
—
?[Note 3]		 26 June 1944
—
 B-24 29 27 July 1944 10:00 B-24 Mór[20]
Székesfehérvár
—
?[Note 3]		 26 June 1944
—
 B-24 30 27 July 1944 10:00 B-24 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Mór[20]
Székesfehérvár
—
?[Note 3]		 29 June 1944
—
 B-17 vicinity of Naumburg 31 27 July 1944 10:01 B-24 Mór[20]
Székesfehérvár
—
?[Note 3]		 29 June 1944
—
 B-17 32 9 August 1944 10:45 B-17 Herrenberg, southwest of Stuttgart[21]
Wildberg
22 7 July 1944 09:36 B-24 Artern[22] 33 15 August 1944 11:45 B-17 Schwarzenborn, northeast of Bitburg[21]
vicinity of Kyllburg
23 7 July 1944 09:37 B-24 Artern[22] 34 22 August 1944 10:05 B-24 Celldömölk-Sümeg/Herend[23]
Nagykanizsa
24 7 July 1944 09:46 P-38 Wernigerode[22] 35 23 August 1944 12:18 P-51 Seeberg[24]
Hochschwab
—
?[Note 3]		 16 July 1944
—
 B-17 vicinity of Weilheim 36 23 August 1944 12:19 P-51 Seeberg[24]
Hochschwab
—
?[Note 3]		 16 July 1944
—
 B-17 vicinity of Weilheim 37 29 August 1944 10:45 B-17 Púchov[24]
Brno
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 300 "Wilde Sau" –[25]
Defense of the Reich — September 1944 – May 1945
38 9 February 1945
—
 B-24 Magdeburg[26] 39 2 April 1945 15:00–15:15 P-51 west of Halle[27]

Awards

Notes
  1. This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[8]
  2. The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  3. This unconfirmed claim is not listed by Lorant and Goyat.[17]
  4. According to Obermaier on 31 March 1944.[5]

References

Citations
  1. Weal 2005, p. 98.
  2. Lorant & Goyat 2005, p. 359.
  3. Forsyth 2011, p. 82.
  4. Zabecki 2014, p. 1618.
  5. Obermaier 1989, p. 85.
  6. Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 59–60.
  7. Planquadrat.
  8. Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 59.
  9. Prien et al. 2012b, p. 147.
  10. Prien et al. 2012b, p. 151.
  11. Prien et al. 2012a, p. 426.
  12. Prien et al. 2012a, p. 428.
  13. Prien et al. 2012a, p. 427.
  14. Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 1033–1034.
  15. Prien & Stemmer 2002, p. 445.
  16. Prien & Stemmer 2002, p. 446.
  17. Lorant & Goyat 2005, pp. 373–377.
  18. Lorant & Goyat 2005, p. 378.
  19. Lorant & Goyat 2005, p. 379.
  20. Lorant & Goyat 2005, p. 380.
  21. Lorant & Goyat 2005, p. 381.
  22. Lorant & Goyat 2005, p. 376.
  23. Lorant & Goyat 2005, p. 382.
  24. Lorant & Goyat 2005, p. 383.
  25. Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 60.
  26. Lorant & Goyat 2007, p. 356.
  27. Lorant & Goyat 2007, p. 357.
  28. Patzwall 2008, p. 46.
  29. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 27.
  30. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 124.
  31. Scherzer 2007, p. 205.

Bibliography
  • Bergström, Christer. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  • 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. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Forsyth, Robert (2011). Luftwaffe Viermot Aces 1942–45. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 101. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-438-3.
  • Lorant, Jean Yves; Goyat, Richard (2005). Jagdgeschwader 300 "Wilde Sau" - Volume One: June 1943 – September 1944. Hamilton, MT: Eagle Edition. ISBN 978-0-9761034-0-0.
  • Lorant, Jean Yves; Goyat, Richard (2007). Jagdgeschwader 300 "Wilde Sau" - Volume Two: September 1944 – May 1945. Hamilton, MT: Eagle Edition. ISBN 978-9761034-2-71.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2014). Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims – Volume 1 A–F. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-18-9.
  • 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. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • 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. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard (2002). Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" in WWII: Stab and I./JG 3 in Action with the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7643-1681-4.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012a). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/I—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/I—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-02-4.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012b). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/II—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/II—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-05-5.
  • 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 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Weal, John (2005). Luftwaffe Sturmgruppen. Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 20. London, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-908-0.
  • Zabecki, David T., ed. (2014). Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-59884-981-3.
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