Paul Frank Baer
Encyclopedia
First Lieutenant Paul Frank Baer was an American World War flying ace
credited with nine confirmed and seven unconfirmed aerial victories. He scored the first aerial victory ever for American military aviation.
in 1917, being posted to Escadrille 80 from August 1917 to January 1918. He joined the Lafayette Escadrille
in February, just in time for its transition into the 103d Aero Squadron. He scored his first aerial victory for the 103d, on 11 March 1918; it was the first triumph of the U.S. Army Air Service. He continued to score; on 22 May, he brought down his ninth victim. However, he was shot down during this victory, and fell into German hands. He would remain a prisoner of war
until after the armistice. If his seven unconfirmed wins had been verified, he would have been one of the leading American aces.
Baer went on to forge a career in civil aviation. By 1927, he was a Department of Commerce aeronautics inspector in San Antonio, Texas. He then spent about a year flying as a commercial pilot in South America.
Baer died in an aircraft accident in Shanghai on 9 December 1930. He was taking off in a floatplane with a Russian woman as his passenger. Baer's plane struck the mast of a junk on the Yangtze River
and crashed. He was believed to have about 3,500 flight hours experience when he died.
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Paul Frank Baer, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism on March 11, 1918. First Lieutenant Baer attacked, alone, a group of seven enemy pursuit machines, destroying one, which fell near the French lines northeast of Reims, France. On March 16, 1918, he attacked two enemy two-seaters, one of which fell in flames in approximately the same region.
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) Oak Leaf Cluster
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Paul Frank Baer, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action. First Lieutenant Baer brought down enemy planes on April 5, 12, and 23, 1918, and on May 8, 1918. First Lieutenant Baer destroyed two German machines, and on May 21, 1918, he destroyed his eighth enemy plane.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with nine confirmed and seven unconfirmed aerial victories. He scored the first aerial victory ever for American military aviation.
Early life and characteristics
Paul Frank Baer quit selling Cadillacs to join the military. He was described as short, sturdy, pink-cheeked, square-featured, with brown hair and blue eyes.World War I service
Baer joined the Lafayette Flying CorpsLafayette Flying Corps
The Lafayette Flying Corps is a name used to describe the American volunteer pilots who flew for the French during World War I. It includes the pilots who flew with the bona fide Lafayette Escadrille squadron. The estimations of number of pilots range from 180 to over 300. The generally accepted...
in 1917, being posted to Escadrille 80 from August 1917 to January 1918. He joined the Lafayette Escadrille
Lafayette Escadrille
The Lafayette Escadrille , was an escadrille of the French Air Service, the Aéronautique militaire, during World War I composed largely of American volunteer pilots flying fighters.-History:Dr. Edmund L...
in February, just in time for its transition into the 103d Aero Squadron. He scored his first aerial victory for the 103d, on 11 March 1918; it was the first triumph of the U.S. Army Air Service. He continued to score; on 22 May, he brought down his ninth victim. However, he was shot down during this victory, and fell into German hands. He would remain a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
until after the armistice. If his seven unconfirmed wins had been verified, he would have been one of the leading American aces.
Postwar
Baer continued to fly postwar. In late 1919, he became a member of the American Flying Club and tried to raise a squadron of fifteen American aviation combat veterans to form a "Pulaski Squadron" to support the Polish drive for independence. Baer foresaw his role as commanding the unit with the rank of major. He claimed to have Paderewski's support for his efforts.Baer went on to forge a career in civil aviation. By 1927, he was a Department of Commerce aeronautics inspector in San Antonio, Texas. He then spent about a year flying as a commercial pilot in South America.
Baer died in an aircraft accident in Shanghai on 9 December 1930. He was taking off in a floatplane with a Russian woman as his passenger. Baer's plane struck the mast of a junk on the Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
and crashed. He was believed to have about 3,500 flight hours experience when he died.
Honors and awards
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Paul Frank Baer, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism on March 11, 1918. First Lieutenant Baer attacked, alone, a group of seven enemy pursuit machines, destroying one, which fell near the French lines northeast of Reims, France. On March 16, 1918, he attacked two enemy two-seaters, one of which fell in flames in approximately the same region.
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) Oak Leaf Cluster
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Paul Frank Baer, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action. First Lieutenant Baer brought down enemy planes on April 5, 12, and 23, 1918, and on May 8, 1918. First Lieutenant Baer destroyed two German machines, and on May 21, 1918, he destroyed his eighth enemy plane.
Reference
- American Aces of World War I. Norman Franks, Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84176-375-6, 9781841763750.