Viktor Bauer was born on 19 September 1915 at Löcknitz in the Randow region of Vorpommern. He joined the
Luftwaffe in 1936 with the rank of Fahnenjunker. Following the completion of his fighter pilot training, he
was posted to I./JG 2. On 1 March 1940, Leutnant Bauer was serving with 2./JG 77. Bauer participated in the
French campaign with the unit and was to gain his first aerial victory over Belgium on 15 May, when he shot
down a RAF Hurricane fighter near Brügge. He gained one further victory during the French campaign serving
with 1./JG 77, when he shot down another Hurricane near Cambrai on 18 May. Bauer served in the Battle of
Britain. By November 1940, he was serving with 9./JG 3. He gained one victory during the aerial battles over
England to raise his victory total to three. On 5 February 1941, he claimed his 4th victory, a RAF
Hurricane, over the Channel. This would prove to be last victory gained over the Western front. Shortly
before the invasion of Russia began, Bauer was appointed Staffelkapitän of 9./JG 3. In June 1941, he claimed
15 Russian aircraft shot down, including five Russian SB-2 twin-engine bombers claimed on 26 June for his
7th through 11th victories. He claimed 17 victories in July, including five Russian DB-3 twin-engine bombers
on 12 July (26-30). Oberleutnant Bauer was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 30 July for 36 victories. On 23 July,
Bauer was badly wounded in aerial combat with Russian bombers but was able to make an emergency landing in
his Bf 109 F-2 (W.Nr. 8987). He was to spend many months in hospital finally returning to combat duty in
February 1942.
Bauer recorded his 40th victory on 18 February followed by his 50th on 4 April. On 22 May, he
claimed four Russian I-61 fighters shot down (57–60). He claimed a further four victories on 30 June
(66-69). Bauer was spectacularly successful in July 1942 recording 33 victories during the month. Five times
he shot down four enemy aircraft in a day and twice recorded five victories in a day. On 25 July, he claimed
four victories (99-102). He was awarded the Eichenlaub (Nr 107) the next day. On 9 August, he claimed his
106th victory but one day later his Bf 109 F-4 (W.Nr. 13 241) was damaged by enemy fire and Bauer wounded.
He successfully carried out an emergency landing. Following his recovery, Bauer was transferred as a
Staffelkapitän to Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost. On 1 July 1943, Major Bauer was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of
Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost, a position he was to hold until 4 November 1944. On 1 December 1944, Oberst Bauer
was appointed Kommodore of EJG 1. Bauer served in this role until the end of the war. Bauer died on 13
December 1969 at Bad Homburg.
Viktor Bauer was credited with 106 victories in approximately 400 missions. He recorded 102 of his victories
over the Eastern front, including 27 Il-2 Sturmoviks.
Bauer completed his flight training on 1 March 1938. He was also promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant)
and transferred to Kampfgeschwader 138 (KG 138—138th Bomber Wing).
On 1 May 1938, he attended a Jagdfliegerschule (fighter pilot school).
Following the completion of his fighter pilot training, on 1 July 1938, Bauer was assigned to the VI. Gruppe
(4th group) of Jagdgeschwader 132 "Richthofen" (JG 132—132nd Fighter Wing) as a fighter pilot.
On 9 March 1939, he was posted to I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 331 (JG 331—331st Fighter Wing) and then to I.
Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing) on 31 July 1939.
Nazi Germany
Luftwaffe
Knight's Cross of
the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Oberst
