Harold W. Bauer -- Every time he went up, he shot down Zeros.
One of the finest fighter pilots the Marine Corps ever produced also had one of the shortest combat careers. Lt. Col. Harold W. Bauer, aka "The Coach" or "Indian Joe" also led a Marine Fighting Squadron (VMF-212) during the Guadalcanal campaign. Among his legendary achievements was the destruction of four Val dive bombers that were attacking the destroyer McFarland on October 16, 1942.Born in Woodruff, Kans., 20 November 1908, Harold William Bauer graduated from the Academy in 1930; was appointed Second Lieutenant, USMC; and designated a Naval Aviator in February 1936. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous courage as Commander of Marine Fighting Squadron 212 in the South Pacific between 10 May and 14 November 1942. Lieutenant Colonel Bauer was missing in action 14 November 1942 and officially declared dead 8 January 1946.
Citation : Medal of Honor
Lieutenant Colonel Harold W. Bauer, United States Marine Corps
For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous courage as Squadron Commander of Marine Fighting Squadron TWO TWELVE in the South Pacific Area during the period May 10 to November 14, 1942. Volunteering to pilot a fighter plane in defense of our positions on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, Lieutenant Colonel Bauer participated in two air battles against enemy bombers and fighters outnumbering our force more than two-to-one, boldly engaged the enemy and destroyed one Japanese bomber in the engagement of September 28 and shot down four enemy fighter planes in flames on October 3 leaving a fifth smoking badly. After successfully leading twenty-six planes in the over-water ferry flight of more than six hundred miles on Octorber 16, Lieutenant Colonel Bauer, while circling to land, sighted a squadron of enemy planes attacking the U.S.S. McFARLAND. Undaunted by the formidable opposition and with valor above and beyond the call of duty, he engaged the entire squadron and, although alone and his fuel supply nearly exhausted, fought his plane so brilliantly the four of the Japanese planes were destroyed before he was forced down by lack of fuel. His intrepid fighting spirit and distintive ability as leader and an airman, exemplified in his splendid record of combat achievement, were vital in the successful operations in the South Pacific Area.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
President of the United States
In addition to the Medal of Honor, Colonel Bauer's medals and decorations include: Letter of Commendation Ribbon, Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one battle star and the World War II Victory Medal.
THE USS BAUER -- DESTROYER ESCORT 1025
Displacement : 1280 tons ; Length : 314'6" ; Beam : . 36'9" ; Draft: 20' ; Speed : 25 knots ; Complement: 170 ; Class : Dealey
Bauer (DE-1025) was launched 4 June 1957 by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp., San Francisco, Calif.; sponsored by Mrs. H. W. Bauer, widow of Lieutenant Colonel Bauer; and commissioned 21 November 1957, Lieutenant Commander L. D. Cummins in command.
Marines named the airfield at Efate -- Bauer Field. It becomes Bauerfield International (VLI) of Port-Vila, Vanatu.
Links : Search for : "Harold W. Bauer" Guadalcanal , results in 54 websites.
The Leaders, Men who lead the Cactus Air Force in 1942
Harry F. Bauer -- Save that sailor.
. Harry Frederick Bauer was born 17 July 1904 at Camp Thomas Lytle, Ga., and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1927. During the early part of his career he served at shore stations, including a tour as instructor at the Naval Academy, and in Twiggs, Cuyama, and Tracy. Bauer was commissioned Lieutenant Commander 1 July 1941 and took command of fast transport Gregory 1 January 1942. While acting as combat transports for Marines off Guadalcanal during the night of 4-5 September 1942, Gregory and Little were surprised by three Japanese destroyers covering a small troop landing. Though vastly outgunned, the two transports fought valiantly before being sunk. Lt. Comdr. Bauer was badly wounded, and while being pulled clear by two of his crew ordered them to rescue another man crying out for assistance. Lt. Comdr. Bauer was lost, receiving the Silver Star posthumously for his gallantry.-
Dictionary of American Fighting Ships describing the dedication of USS Harry F. Bauer, DM-12
USS Harry F. Bauer, Destroyer Minelayer 12
Class :Robert H. Smith, Light Minelayer (ex Sumner-class Destroyer):
Displacement : 3,104 tons ; Length : 376' 6" ; Beam : 40' 10" ; Draft : 14'
Speed : 33 knots ; Complement : 363
Armament : 6 5"/38 DP, 2x4 40mm, 6 20mm, 100+ mines
Built at Bath Iron Works, and commissioned 22 September 1944
Louis H. Bauer -- Too young to promote, he still lead 36 Wildcats
and earned a Navy Cross.
Hometown Philadelphia - Naval Academy class 1935 - entered at
19 years - Pensacola 1938 - commanding officer of Fighting Squadron 6
during the Invasion of Solomons (Guadalcanal) through the Battle of Eastern Solomons.
Saratoga's Race to Pearl.
Admiral Nimitz, on May 30th, ordered Ramsey to proceed at once, however, and Sara was able to get underway for Pearl on June 1st. . . .. Four F4F-s, forty-three SBD-3s, and fourteen brand-new Grumman TBF torpedo bombers had been hoisted aboard Sara while she lay moored at North Island. Air Group Commander Harry Felt then flew aboard in his personal SBD-3, along with LT Lou Bauer's 14 Wildcats from VF-2, and LCDR Louis Kirn's 22 SBD-3s from VS-3.
Enterprise Air Group 5th Deployment : 15 July - 25 August 1942
Engagements: Occupation of Guadalcanal, Battle of the Eastern Solomons
LT Louis H. Bauer McClelland Barclay Conté crayon on paper, ca.1943 85-236-F |
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VF-6 36 F4F-4 Wildcats LT Louis H. Bauer |
Solomons - Aug 7th - First action
"Took off from carriers in the dark - our first mission was to get any Jap planes on the Airfield (now Henderson field) and to destroy any motor torpedo boats or naval vessels of any kind - second strafe any military installations you could find in the beach - guns - troops - and things like that- then we provided air coverage, an umbrella over the forces including the ships for the next three days. In the three days we shot down about 21 combinations of all sorts of planes. It was all formation flying except one incident. Pilot named Firebaugh - he chased a group of about 15 bombers - he had a total of six planes in his group who became separated in the chase - they were attacked by a large no. of zeros and became separated - Firebaugh was attacked by five and he shot three and he himself was shot down - His plane caught fire and he held his chute 'til he almost hit the water. Then swam 4 miles to shore. Fought in battle of southern Solomons Aug 24 - That was the day the, our carrier was attacked and in defending her we all shot down a total of about 41 - We lost three - one man in each ship - those boys died. Squadron score now 48. Took off about 4:15 AM. - land on carrier - gas up - flew all day right up to sunset. Weren't conscious of being tired - too excited - felt it a couple of days later. When they gassed ship we munched coffee and sandwiches in the "Ready room." Slept like top that nite - Had an early day next day. We lost two pilots who stayed out a little too late and couldn't get back to the ship and were lost in the dark. Did escort work for bombers for more than a month out of Guadalcanal."
USS Yorktown (CV-10) arrived in Far East waters March 3, 1960, to commence another tour with the U.S. Seventh Fleet, Yokosuka, Japan. Yorktown is commanded by Captain Louis H. Bauer, USN.
Rudolph Charles Bauer -- Old time aviator made Admiral
A native of Jersey City, New Jersey, Rudolph Bauer attended Fordham University and later was appointed to the United States Naval Academy, where he graduated in 1930.
In the early 1930s, he completed flight training at Pensacola, Florida, and served for 3 years as a pilot in bombing and scouting squadrons embarked in the USS Lexington. From 1937 to 1939, he was the senior aviator aboard the heavy cruiser USS Pensacola.
Bauer served aboard carriers USS Coral Sea and USS Kalinin Bay, participating in the WWII Marshall Islands, Saipan, Guam and Palau Islands campaigns, and in the battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines.
After the war, he served as the executive officer of the carrier Midway in 1945 and later was director of the armament test unit at the Patuxent River Naval Air Test Center in Southern Maryland.
During his military career was awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, eleven Air Medals and the Presidential Unit Citation.
Rear Admiral Rudolph Charles Bauer, 83, an aviator who served as a Navy dive bomber and test pilot during WWII and in Korea, died of cancer July 10, 1989 in Ft Pierce, Florida. with burial in Arlington National Cemetery.
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About this page: bauer - Several interesting sailors named Bauer
Created July 4, 2009
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