Best Bomber Killing Aircraft...... (1 Viewer)

Konrad "Pitt" Bauer was born on 9 February 1919 at Gelsenkirchen. In March 1943, Bauer was serving with JG 51 based on the Eastern Front. Unteroffizier Bauer was assigned to 10./JG 51. He recorded his first victory on 20 March, when he shot down a Russian Pe-2 twin-engine bomber. By September 1943, Bauer was serving with the Geschwaderstab of JG 51. On 15 December 1943, he claimed six enemy aircraft, five of which he shot down in five minutes on one mission. He gained a total of 18 victories over the Eastern front. Bauer was transferred to 2./JG 3 "Udet", operating on Reichsverteidigung duties, in March 1944. He recorded his first victory over a four-engine bomber on 18 April, when he shot down a USAAF B-17. He shot down another two B-17s on 24 May. In June 1944, Bauer was transferred to 5.(Sturm)/JG 300. This unit was mostly equipped with Focke-Wulf 190 A-8/R2 or R8 with two 30mm cannon Mk 108 and two 20mm cannon MG 151/20 to combat the increasing number of USAAF four-engine bombers raiding Germany. With this unit he became one of the best Viermottöters recording 29 four-engine bombers shot down. On 7 July 1944, Bauer shot down two USAAF B-24 four-engine bombers and escorting USAAF P-38 twin-engine fighter in the Oschersleben area. On 11 September, after shooting down three USAAF P-51 fighters, he was himself shot down in Fw 190 A-8 (W.Nr. 681 469) "Red 21" and wounded losing two fingers from his right hand. Feldwebel Bauer was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 31 October 1944 for 34 victories, including 14 four-engine bombers. At the end of January 1945, Bauer returned as Staffelkapitän of 5./JG 300. Bauer was recommended for the Eichenlaub but never received the award.
"Pitt" Bauer flew 416 combat missions and shot down 57 enemy aircraft. He recorded 18 victories over the Eastern front. Of his 39 victories recorded over the Western front, 32 were four-engine bombers including some Herausschüsse and at least five P-51 fighters. He was shot down seven times.

Victories : 57
Awards : Ehrenpokal (31 March 1944)
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (10 July 1944)
Ritterkreuz (31 October 1944)
Units : JG 51, JG 3, JG 300

sorry for the huge image.....maybe this will be better ?

I doubt very much that Bauer had that many kills. Are you using Petr's site for your bio info ? quite a few errors on it.........

Bauer was out of service early in his career due to injuries from a P-51. He became Staffelkapitän of 5.Sturm/JG 300 in name only after Klaus Brettschneider was KIA in December 44. There are loads of pics of Bauer sitting on the wing or standing on the side of SturmFw's of JG 300 congratualting the pilots on victories

Gerhard Stamp was born June 3, 1920 in Bamberg and died on May 21, 1998. More than 400 combat missions or Feindflüge, davon 300 als Kampfflieger. 4 air victories, 3 at night and 1 US bomber by day.


The following from Obermaier; " Im November 1944 stellte er ein Sonderkommando Me 262 zur Erpobung der Bekampfung von Viermots durch Bombenwurf, Spezialmunition und mit Spezialgeraten auf.." . Assigned to set up a special Me 262 weapons test detachment. "…Das Ritterkreuz wurde ihm fur seine hervorragenden Erfolge als Kampfflieger bei 1./KLG 1 im Mittelmeerraum verliehen"……awarded the Knights Cross for his outstanding success as bomber pilot with 1./KLG 1 in the Mediterranean theatre.

I get most of my info from http://www.elknet.pl/acestory/aces.htm
or http://www.luftwaffe.cz/index.html

Well you probably have better soarces then I do, I have to get my info from books or off of the internet.

I see you "bagged the pic and the profile" from my web-site..........

Erich

I pretty much get all of my info from other peoples websites, since I dont have my own. Thanks though. You have great info.

Thats why people make websites.. For the sharing of information and the continuance of WWII avaition in history... Erich has some great stuff, as does Kacha...

Thanks go out to all the guys that spent those countless hours researching and typing...

And for the record, I am one of the Anti-Copyright people... If u dont want someone copying ur pics and info, either make em uncopyable, or dont post the info...

I agree the info that I have gotten from Erichs website are great. He has met and talked with a lot of pilots and the info that the pilots can give is just priceless.

I havent actually visited his website yet. It sounds good though, I might have to drop in.

u all honour me by your comments. go have fun and wish all the pages of the old site were back up but we will see after the JG 300 buchs are printed out this next early year.....

Horrido !

Really Awesome research Erich, and to meet and interview them is getting more precious by the day now....

Erich, That is similar to a project that I am just beginning. Since I volunteer with alot of the vets, I am starting to hear some of their stories, and they are fascinating and riveting. I am trying to get all their info together and put together a book. I want to get the stories from these guys before they are gone. I can read, write and present about the battles, airplanes and the like. But they lived it and can offer a perspective that I do not have.

Do you have any tips on how to get some of the quieter ones to open up? I know they need to be comfortable and be eased into it. But some just clam up at the first inkling that you want to hear a story.

Thanks,
Eric

evangilder said:

Since I volunteer with alot of the vets, I am starting to hear some of their stories, and they are fascinating and riveting.

Click to expand...

I'm only now beginning to really get the story of my grandfather, who flew bombing missions from about mid '42 onwards. First in Wellingtons, then in Lancasters.
It is indeed riveting, and I agree that this bit of history must not be lost!

Evan, I have found with the quieter ones, that by relating a relatives actions in WWII, they seem to open up some....

Ah, good idea, Les. I had an uncle in the Marine Corps who fought on Iwo and Peleliu, among others, including Saipan and Okinawa. He isn't around anymore, he died when I was three, but my other uncle was a Seabee and he has told some interesting stories as well. One of the things that I have told them that has helped is that the purpose of their stories is not to glorify them, but to hear their history so that others can learn about that time.

Pretty tough except to just sit and listen, or easily ask them "Could you please share some of your war time career with me ?" many do say no as they are bitter to the end. Sometimes with luck things do happen in a positive way, but the best thing I could say is just to sit and listen and build up a trusting relationship with them..............

good luck !

E ~

Yeah my Grandfather was very reluctant to tell me his stories from being in the German Army in WW2 because he always said I was too young. However my Grandmother has given me his war time diary to read and it is very exciting and interesting. I did not take it with me to Iraq out of fear that it would be damaged or destroyed but when I get home I am going to finish reading it.

As I am sitting here in my tent over in Tikrit, Iraq I just opened a Christmas card from a little girl back in the states and in the card there was a story. I know this has nothing to do with WW2 aviation but I wish to post this story in honor of all the soldiers no matter what country they come from who are away from there families during this holiday season.

A Soldiers Christmas Story

Twas the night before Christmas, He lived all alone, in a one bedroom house, made of plaster and stone. I had come down the chimney with presents to give, and too see who in this house did live. I looked all about a strange sight did I see, no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree. No stocking by the mantel, just boots filled with sand, on a wall hung pictures of far distant lands. With medals and badges, awards of all kinds, a sober thought came through my mind. For this house was different, it was dark and dreary, I found the home of a soldier, once I could see clearly. The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle, the room in disorder, not how I pictured a United States soldier. Was this the soldier of whom I had just read? Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed? I realized the families that I saw this night owed there lives to these soldiers willing to fight. Soon round the world, the children would play, and grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas day. The all enjoyed freedom each month of the year, because of these soldiers, like the one laying here. I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone, on a cold Christmas eve in a land far from home. The very thought brought a tear to my eye, I dropped to my knees and started to cry. The soldier awakend and I heard a rough voice, :Santa don't cry, this life is my choice; I fight for freedom, I do not ask for more, my life is my God, my Country, My Corps." The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep, I couldn't control it, I continued to weep. I kept watch for hours, so silent, so still, and we both shiverd from the cold nights chill. I didn't want to leave on that cold, dark, night, this guardian of honor so willing to fight. Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure, whispered, "Carry on Santa, its Christmas day, all is secure." One look at my watch, and I knew he was right. "Merry Christmas my friend, and to all a good night."