Harold Bauer Biography | Air Force Hero

Lieutenant Colonel Harold William Bauer

Born: November 20, 1908
Died: November 14, 1942
Place of Birth: Woodruff, Kansas

Major Notes:

Harold Bauer came from a family of three sons and two daughters.
His parents were of German-Russian background and had both emigrated to America as children.
They were not well off and yet were determined each of the children would be educated.
Each brother and sister worked to help the younger ones receive an education and all eventually graduated from university or naval academy.
At USNA, Bauer excelled more as a football player than an academic although he did well as a student.
After graduation in 1930, Bauer switched to the Marine Corps to further promote his football talents.
He seemed to excel athletically and did well in football, basketball, lacrosse, golf and even dancing.
On a 1932 golf tour, he met and then married a very beautiful Harriette Hemman and they became a very popular couple.
In 1934, Bauer wanted to enter aviation and he qualified for training at the Pensacola Naval Air Station Training Center.
Throughout the 30's, he furthered his training with various air craft including the Grumman F4F Wildcat.
Bauer became a Fighter Squadron Officer in 1940 and earned a reputation as a superior flight instructor.
Immediately after the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor in 1941, Bauer was promoted to a Squadron Commander aboard the ship "Saratoga."
The ship was assigned to go to Wake and Midway on the Pacific Ocean and do duty against the Japanese.
It became part of his work to scout out and build new airplane runways in various Pacific locations.
Bauer perfected various airplane combat maneuvering tactics and taught other pilots how to safeguard their planes from the enemy.
He and his squadron helped take and protect the island of Guadalcanal because of its strategic importance.
Throughout 1942, Bauer was involved in various missions on the ground and several dogfights in the air over the Pacific.
Bauer was sometime referred to as "Indian Joe" and "The Chief" out of respect for him as a leader.
In November of that year, after taking on a Japanese squadron virtually by himself, he was reported shot down and missing in action.
Harold Bauer was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in May, 1946.
Another high honor occurred when, in 1957, the escort ship USS BAUER was commissioned for duty.

For detailed research and more information, check out any of the following: American Aces of WWII Home of Heroes Nebraska State Historical Society Dave's Warbirds Medal of Honor Citation Diary of Harold W. Bauer Guadalcanal History Quiz

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Major Notes:

Harold Bauer came from a family of three sons and two daughters.

His parents were of German-Russian background and had both emigrated to America as children.

They were not well off and yet were determined each of the children would be educated.

Each brother and sister worked to help the younger ones receive an education and all eventually graduated from university or naval academy.

At USNA, Bauer excelled more as a football player than an academic although he did well as a student.

After graduation in 1930, Bauer switched to the Marine Corps to further promote his football talents.

He seemed to excel athletically and did well in football, basketball, lacrosse, golf and even dancing.

On a 1932 golf tour, he met and then married a very beautiful Harriette Hemman and they became a very popular couple.

In 1934, Bauer wanted to enter aviation and he qualified for training at the Pensacola Naval Air Station Training Center.

Throughout the 30's, he furthered his training with various air craft including the Grumman F4F Wildcat.

Bauer became a Fighter Squadron Officer in 1940 and earned a reputation as a superior flight instructor.

Immediately after the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor in 1941, Bauer was promoted to a Squadron Commander aboard the ship "Saratoga."

The ship was assigned to go to Wake and Midway on the Pacific Ocean and do duty against the Japanese.

It became part of his work to scout out and build new airplane runways in various Pacific locations.

Bauer perfected various airplane combat maneuvering tactics and taught other pilots how to safeguard their planes from the enemy.

He and his squadron helped take and protect the island of Guadalcanal because of its strategic importance.

Throughout 1942, Bauer was involved in various missions on the ground and several dogfights in the air over the Pacific.

Bauer was sometime referred to as "Indian Joe" and "The Chief" out of respect for him as a leader.

In November of that year, after taking on a Japanese squadron virtually by himself, he was reported shot down and missing in action.

Harold Bauer was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in May, 1946.

Another high honor occurred when, in 1957, the escort ship USS BAUER was commissioned for duty.