BAUEMER, Paul Wilhelm.
(1896-1927). Leutnant. Victories = 43. Highest award = Pour le
Merité/Blue Max (November 1918. One of only five recipients of the Pour
le Merité and the Golden Military Merit Cross*). Nickname = The Iron
Eagle.
Only awarded to non-commissioned officers.
Already
a licensed pilot in 1914, he served in the infantry - 70th Infantry
Regiment - in France and in Russia, where he was severely wounded,
until transferring to the GAAS in 1917.
After serving in 'General Duties' for several months he was accepted for pilot training.
Graduating and completing training in fighters, Bauemer served with FA 7 and then Jastas 5 and 2 in France and Belgium.
His first confirmed victory was an observation balloon on 12th July 1917.
Commissioned as Leutnant in April 1918.
Wounded in a crash landing in May 1918, he was also forced to parachute (successfully) from his aircraft in September 1918.
His final success was a Bristol F 2B shot down on 9th October 1918.
Bauemer survived the Great War and like many of his colleagues died in a flying accident.
Confirmed victories.
| Observation balloon | 3 | |
| Aircraft Manufacturing Co | Airco DH 4 | 2 |
| Aircraft Manufacturing Co | Airco DH 9 | 4 |
| British & Colonial Aeroplane Co. Ltd | Bristol F 2B | 6 |
| Royal Airforce Factory | RAF RE 8 | 9 |
| Royal Airforce Factory | RAF SE 5a | 5 |
| Société S.P.A.D. | Spad ? | 2 |
| Sopwith Aviation Co | Sopwith Camel | 11 |
| Sopwith Aviation Co | Sopwith Snipe | 1 |
| Total | 43 |
