Herbert Bauer (pilot)

For other people of the same name, see Herbert Bauer.

Herbert Bauer
Born	16 April 1919 Innsbruck, Austria
Died	Buenos Aires, Argentina
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1939–1945
Rank	Major
Unit	StG 2 SG 103 SG 2
Commands held	I./Schlachtgeschwader 2 II./SG 103
Battles/wars	World War II Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok–Minsk Battle of Smolensk (1941) Siege of Leningrad Belgorod-Khar'kov Offensive Operation
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Other work	Advisor to Argentine Air Force

Herbert Bauer (16 April 1919 – 24 March 1997) was a highly decorated Major in the Luftwaffe during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Herbert Bauer is credited with flying 1071 missions during the war. After the war Herbert Bauer acted as an advisor to the Argentine Air Force.

Awards and decorations

• Flugzeugführerabzeichen
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant "1000"
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (20 July 1941)
  • 1st Class (30 October 1941)
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black
  • in Silver
  • in Gold
• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (8 December 1941)
• German Cross in Gold on 27 March 1942 as Leutnant in the 1./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 31 December 1943 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 3./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"
  • 618th Oak Leaves on 30 September 1944 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"

External links

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939–1945