Heinrich Bär

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Heinz Bär
JV 44
Battles/wars
See battles

World War II

Awards
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
Other workTest pilot

Oscar-Heinrich "Pritzl" Bär (pronounced

jet fighter. Sources credit him with 220 – 96 on Eastern Theatre and 124 on Western Theatre – up to 222 aerial victories may also be possible.[2][3][4]

Bär, a native of

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
for 90 aerial victories in February 1942.

During the remainder of World War II, Bär was credited with 130 other aerial victories, an achievement which would normally have earned him the coveted

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds.[5]
After World War II, Bär continued his career as an aviator. He was killed in a flying accident on 28 April 1957 near Braunschweig.

Early life

Bär was born on 25 May 1913 in Sommerfeld near Leipzig in the Kingdom of Saxony, a federated state of the German Empire.[6] His parents were farmers, and in 1916, his father was killed in action on the Western Front of World War I. Bär attended the Volksschule, a combined primary and lower secondary school, in Sommerfeld. Initially, he planned on taking over the family farm in Engelsdorf and following graduation attended the agriculture school in Wurzen. Aged 15, he became a glider pilot, joining the glider club on the "Schwarzer Berg" (Black Mountain) at Taucha.[7] Bär then wanted to become a forester, for everything associated with wildlife and forests interested him. His first sight of a Junkers transport aircraft changed his mind and convinced him that he should become an aviator. As a teenager, he had ambitions to become an airline pilot with Deutsche Luft Hansa.[8] He acquired the nickname Pritzl because of his affection for Pritzl candy bars.[9]

The financial difficulties during the

Squadron Leader (Staffelkapitän) Douglas Pitcairn noticed Bär's flying talents and tried to convince Bär to become a fighter pilot. Initially Bär refused, but after he illegally conducted some aerobatics in the Ju 86 leading to an engine failure, he reluctantly accepted and became a fighter pilot.[11][12]

World War II

Stationed on the border with France, Bär achieved his first victory—a Curtiss P-36 Hawk—on 25 September 1939 during the Phoney War air skirmishes with the Armée de l'Air (French Air Force).[13] This earned him the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse) on 29 September 1939 which was presented to him by Hugo Sperrle.[10] During the Battle of France, he was credited with two more aerial victories before adding a further 10 during the Battle of Britain and was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz erster Klasse) on 6 July 1940.[10] During this time, he had several emergency landings in badly damaged aircraft and was shot down over the English Channel on 2 September 1940 by a Spitfire. Bär was summoned to appear before Hermann Göring and report on this battle.[Note 3] When Göring asked him what he was thinking about while in the water, Bär immediately replied, "Your speech, Herr Reichsmarschall, in which you said that England is no longer an island!", alluding to an address that Göring had made before the German fighter pilots.[14][6] Incidents like this are testimony to his often blatant disregard for higher authority. His outspokenness frequently landed him in trouble with Göring.[16] In early 1941, he was credited with an additional four aerial victories against the Royal Air Force (RAF), bringing his total to 17.[14]

Eastern Front

In June 1941, JG 51 was transferred east to take part in Operation Barbarossa with 1. Staffel. On the morning of 22 June, Bär and his wingman Oberfeldwebel Heinrich Höfemeier were escorting a damaged Heinkel He 111 over German lines when they made contact with 18 Tupolev SB bombers from the 39 SBAP (Skorostnoy Bombardirovohchnyy Aviatsionny Polk—high speed bomber aviation regiment) and 10 SAD (Smeshannaya Aviatsionnaya Diviziya—composite aviation regiment). The German pilots attacked; Höfemeier claimed four, Bär two—though the former was wounded in the arm. The Germans noted the vulnerability of the Soviet aircraft which lacked self-sealing fuel tanks and had a propensity to burst into flames. More JG 51 Bf 109s appeared and claimed six more. None of the 18 bombers returned home. Bär had achieved his 19th and 20th victories.[17]

JG 51 at the time was part of Fliegerkorps II, operating in the central sector of the Eastern Front. Bär claimed five aerial victories on 30 June 1941, bringing his total to 22.[18] On that day JG 51 was credited with 113 aerial victories in total, among them their 1,000th aerial victory—the first unit to reach this figure—and Oberst Werner Mölders, with 82 aerial victories, surpassed Manfred von Richthofen in number of victories.[19][20] The Geschwader recorded 24 separate engagements in a 14-hour period and lost five Bf 109s.[21] Bär's opponents included Ilyushin DB-3 bombers from the 42nd and 52nd DBA (Dal'me-Bombardirovochnaya Aviatsiya—long range aviation bomber regiment). Five Tupolev TB-3s from the 3rd TBAP were also claimed.[21]

Within two weeks of combat against the

Lieutenant Colonel) Stepan Suprun from the 401 IAP (Istrebitel'nyy Aviatsionyy Polk—fighter aviation regiment) and holder of the Hero of the Soviet Union.[24]

Squadron leader

On 20 July 1941, Bär was transferred to IV. Gruppe of JG 51 where he was appointed Staffelkapitän of 12. Staffel. He succeeded Hauptmann Karl-Gottfried Nordmann who had been placed in command of IV. Gruppe.[25] Bär accounted for a Petlyakov Pe-2 on 23 July. Three were lost from the 411 BAP (Bombardirovochnyy Aviatsionyy Polk—bomber aviation regiment) operating under the OSNAZ (Osoboye Naznachenie—Special purpose-unit or task force). German pilots submitted three claims.[26] On 9 August a SB bomber was claimed from a formation of eight belonging to the 57 BAP's 3rd Eskadrilya—five Soviet aircraft were shot down.[27] Bär had achieved his 55th victory.[27]

"A very good pilot in any of these aircraft was tough to handle, and if he had the tactical advantage, he had a good chance to win the fight. You see from my own eighteen experiences as someone else's victory, that they often did win."[28]

Heinrich Bär on the quality of Allied fighters.

On 14 August, he was awarded the

ace-in-a-day" by shooting down six Soviet aircraft.[23] On 31 August, Bär was shot down by an Ilyushin Il-2 some 50 kilometers (31 mi) behind Soviet lines, near Novgorod-Seversky. He suffered injuries to his back and feet while bailing out.[22] Bär evaded Soviet patrols which rushed to the crash site. Bär remained in hiding through to the following night. He turned his leather jacket inside-out and discarded his flying boots to present himself as a Russian peasant. Vanity prevented him from throwing away the Knight's Cross and Oak Leaves and he hid the items. Bär eventually made it to German lines but aggravated his injuries and spent two months in hospital.[29] During his convalescence, 12. Staffel was temporarily led by Leutnant Bernd Gallowitsch.[25]

Bär was promoted to

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern) on 16 February as his tally rose to 90. This achievement was mentioned in the daily Wehrmachtbericht propaganda bulletin on 12 February 1942, his first of three references during the course of the war. Three months later he was referenced again.[23]

On 11 May, Bär was transferred from IV./JG 51 on the Moscow front to take command of I. Gruppe of

LaGG-3s respectively, raising Bär's victory total to 93.[34] Mutual animosity between the two men, Gollob, a disciplinarian pro-Nazi, and Bär, an anti-authoritarian, ensured an intense rivalry.[34] On 19 May 1942, Bär claimed five further aerial victories—including a Polikarpov R-5 in the morning and four Polikarpov I-16s in one afternoon mission: his victory total now stood at 103.[35][33] He was the 9th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[36] That same day, Inspector of Fighters (General der Jagdflieger) Adolf Galland arrived to inspect Bär's I./JG 77 and JG 77 surpassed 2,000 victories.[37] This flying achievement earned Bär a second mention in the daily Wehrmachtbericht on 20 May 1942.[38]

Mediterranean theater

Tail of Bär's Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4 with the Stab I./JG 77

In June 1942, JG 77 was moved to the

Tunisian Campaign.[41]

On 1 January 1943 Bär submitted one of two claims against 12

B-25 Mitchell bombers and three P-40s on 14 January which do not appear to have been credited. Two claims for P-40s destroyed on 18 January were also not granted.[43]

On 25 January 1943, Bär claimed two

81st Fighter Group.[49]

On 4 February Bär led I. Gruppe into action against

31st Fighter Group.[51] After an uncredited claim on 24 February over a P-40 Bär accounted for five on two days later. German fighter units claimed 13 against an actual 14 (possible 15) and several more damaged. Seven of the British pilots were unhurt.[52] The following day he was credited with another P-40 in combat with 11 pilots from 4 Squadron SAAF. Records suggest he may have claimed three but was only credited with one.[53]

"He was honest through and through. Whatever he told you was the truth. He never tried to cover things up as some pilots did."[54]

Günther Rall, Chief of the Air Staff of the post-war German Air Force

Bär and his I. Gruppe of JG 77 operated from

Flying Officer Mahon from the South African unit was killed.[56]

Over North Africa and the Mediterranean theater, Bär had increased his tally to 179, but, fighting a losing battle against ever-increasing Allied air superiority, Bär lost his fighting spirit, and suffered severe mental and physical exhaustion. After several arguments with

Jagdgruppe Süd.[57][58] On 6 August, Bär was officially relieved of command and temporarily succeeded by Oberleutnant Armin Köhler as commander of I. Gruppe of JG 77 before Hauptmann Lutz-Wilhelm Burckhardt was given command on 19 August.[59]

Defense of the Reich

Leo Schuhmacher is standing to his right.[60]

His combat skills were hard to overlook and hence Bär was transferred to II./

Wing Commander (Geschwaderkommodore) Colonel Walter Oesau welcomed him with a reminder that he had promised Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (OKL) Göring that Bär would not be given any command responsibilities. Although Bär accepted this with humor, he later commented to others that in the air he was the "Kommodore of his own crate".[57][62] On 19 February, Bär replaced Burkhardt, who was transferred, as commander of 6./JG 1.[63]

On 15 March 1944, Bär, now a Major and rehabilitated from the demotion, was given command of II./Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1). This was after the death of Hauptmann Hermann Segatz on 8 March 1944. JG 1 was tasked with Reichsverteidigung (

458th Bombardment Group passed overhead. Bär and his wingman quickly got into their aircraft and intercepted the B-24. The bomber's gunners had already bailed out of the aircraft, making it an easy aerial victory.[65] Bär returned to Störmede airfield to the congratulations of his men. This double century victory earned Bär his third and final reference in the Wehrmachtbericht on 24 April 1944. After Oesau's death on 11 May 1944, Bär was made acting Wing Commander of JG 1. In June, he was appointed Wing Commander of Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3) following the death of Friedrich-Karl Müller. By the end of 1944, Bär's score had risen to 203.[66]

Bär claimed his 204th and 205th victories against two

Flight Officer Ross Keller, was killed.[68] This version of events is contradicted by a witness, Pilot Officer 'Bill' Harle, who thought both aircraft were airborne.[69]

Combat in the Me 262

Messerschmitt Me 262 A-1a – EJG 2 – Major Heinz Bär

On 14 February, Bär was transferred to command the

Ergänzungs-Jagdgeschwader 2 (EJG 2).[16] In March, the unit was equipped with the Messerschmitt Me 262 fighter and sent into battle. Bär shot down 13 Allied aircraft, many of them heavy bombers like the B-17 and the B-24.[70] EJG 2 abandoned Lechfeld Airfield for the airfield was under constant attack and was now threatened by the United States Army.[70]

On 23 April, Bär transferred to the elite Jet Experten unit Jagdverband 44 (JV 44), led by Adolf Galland.[70] The following day Bär briefed JV 44 pilots in Galland's absence. The air defences had detected an incoming American formation and Bär instructed the jet pilots on the appropriate tactical approach to take when the interception was made. Klaus Neumann, Walter Krupinski and Günther Lützow flew on the mission. Lutzöw was posted missing in action and remains missing to date.[71]

On 26 April, he assumed command of the unit after Galland was wounded. Bär possibly flew his first operational sortie with JV 44 on 27 April 1945. Flying the Me 262 A-1/U5, a six

Lieutenant Colonel (Oberstleutnant).[Note 4][74]

During the final days of the Second World War in Europe,

Major General (Generalmajor) Dietrich Peltz, commander of IX. Fliegerkorps, and Colonel Hajo Herrmann, commander of 9. Flieger-Division (J), unexpectedly emerged at the control room in Maxglan on 2 May 1945. A heated and violent dispute erupted between Bär, Peltz and Herrmann, witnessed by Walter Krupinski. He later recalled that Bär responded with "Yes, sir, but we are under the command of Generalleutnant Galland, and I will only follow orders of Generalleutnant Galland!"—a final act of disobedience that Krupinski believed could have led to Bär being shot for insubordination.[76]

In the early morning hours of 4 May 1945, Bär gathered the pilots of JV 44 for a final briefing. Bär ordered the remaining Me 262 destroyed before going into captivity and interrogation by US intelligence officers of the 1st Tactical Air Force's Air Prisoner of War Interrogation Unit, based at Heidelberg.[77]

After the war

Bär did not return to his home in Sommerfeld after World War II. He settled in

LF-1 Zaunkönig, Bär put the aircraft into a flat spin, the final manoeuvre in the test process. The aircraft spun down to 50 meters (160 ft); unable to regain control, Bär was killed in the resulting crash at Braunschweig-Waggum.[78]

In fringe culture

The

Nazi propaganda.[80]

According to political scientist Fabian Virchow [de], the series fits "the idea of men focused on the deed and shaping the course of history in the interest of the 'national' or 'völkisch' community", an idea which is to be found on the far right. At the same time, Virchow argues, the characterizations point to a concept of masculinity whose very one-sided characteristics could be described by qualities such as "hardness", "sacrificial will", "heroism in the face of death", "bravery", "resilience", "dash" or "stamina".[81]

Summary of career

Bär, call sign "Bussard 1", flew more than 1,000 combat missions. His 220 confirmed aerial victories place him eighth on the overall list of aces. His claim of 124 aerial victories over Western-flown aircraft is second only to Hans-Joachim Marseille's total of 158; almost all of the latter's victories occurred in Africa. He achieved four victories during the Battle of France, 13 during the Battle of Britain, and 61 over Libya and Tunisia. On the Eastern Front he had claimed 96 aerial victories. At least 75 of his victories had been claimed against British- and American-flown aircraft over Europe, 16 of these while flying the Me 262 jet fighter. Also among these 75 aerial victories are 21 US heavy bombers and one Mosquito. Bär crash-landed or bailed out 18 times and was wounded three times in combat.[78][82]

Aerial victory claims

Main article: List of aerial victories claimed by Oskar-Heinrich Bär

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Bär was credited with 221 aerial victories.[3] Obermaier also lists him with 221 aerial victories.[83] The highest figure is given by Aders and Held who list Bär with 222 aerial victory claims.[4] According to Spick, as well as by Morgan and Weal, Bär was credited with 220 aerial victories.[84][85] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 208 aerial victory claims, plus 20 further unconfirmed claims. This figure includes 95 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 113 on the Western Front, including 14 four-engined bombers and 15 victories with the Me 262 jet fighter.[86]

Awards

Three times Bär was recommended for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. All three commendations were denied by Hermann Göring. Bär shot down a further 130 enemy aircraft after he had received the Swords.[46]

Dates of rank

4 April 1934: Gefreiter[10]
1 October 1939: Feldwebel[10]
1 August 1940: Leutnant (Second Lieutenant), with a rank age dated 1 May 1940[10]
14 August 1941: Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant), with a rank age dated 1 August 1941[96]
1 December 1941: Hauptmann (Captain), with a rank age dated 1 September 1941[97]
1 March 1943: Major (Major), with a rank age dated 1 September 1942[98]
1 January 1945: Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel)[47]

Notes

  1. ^ Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations. For pilots destined to fly multi-engine aircraft, the training was completed with the Luftwaffe Advanced Pilot's Certificate (Erweiterter Luftwaffen-Flugzeugführerschein), also known as C-Certificate.
  2. ^ For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see Organisation of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
  3. ^ Sources are inconclusive with respect to whether Göring had witnessed the incident personally or whether it was reported to him on 8 September 1940 by Werner Mölders.[14][15]
  4. ^ For a list of Luftwaffe Jet aces see List of German World War II jet aces
  5. ^ a b According to Scherzer as Leutnant of the Reserves.[88]
  6. ^ According to Scherzer as Hauptmann of the Reserves.[88]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Spick 1996, pp. 3–4.
  2. ^ Sims 1967, pp. 173, 275.
  3. ^ a b Zabecki 2019, p. 328.
  4. ^ a b Aders & Held 1993, p. 255.
  5. ^ Toliver & Constable 1998, p. 360.
  6. ^ a b c Fredriksen 2001, p. 35.
  7. ^ Stockert 2012, p. 182.
  8. ^ a b Toliver & Constable 1998, p. 358.
  9. ^ Bergström & Mikhailov 2000, p. 86.
  10. ^ a b c d e f Stockert 2012, p. 183.
  11. ^ Aders & Held 1993, pp. 29–30.
  12. ^ Toliver & Constable 1998, p. 359.
  13. ^ Aders & Held 1993, p. 47.
  14. ^ a b c Spick 1996, p. 219.
  15. ^ Aders & Held 1993, p. 68.
  16. ^ a b Forsyth, Scutts & Creek 1999, pp. 46–47.
  17. ^ Bergström 2007a, p. 19.
  18. ^ Bergström & Mikhailov 2000, p. 61.
  19. ^ Aders & Held 1993, p. 90.
  20. ^ Weal 2001, p. 22.
  21. ^ a b Bergström 2007a, p. 27.
  22. ^ a b Stockert 2012, pp. 184–185.
  23. ^ a b c d Bergström & Pegg 2003, p. 317.
  24. ^ Bergström 2007a, p. 46.
  25. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 329.
  26. ^ Bergström 2007a, p. 48.
  27. ^ a b Bergström 2007a, p. 55.
  28. ^ Fredriksen 2001, p. 36.
  29. ^ Bergström 2007a, p. 68.
  30. ^ a b Weal 2006, p. 67.
  31. ^ Bergström 2007a, p. 116.
  32. ^ Bergström 2007b, p. 17.
  33. ^ a b c d Bergström 2007b, p. 35.
  34. ^ a b Bergström & Mikhailov 2001, p. 159.
  35. ^ Bergström & Pegg 2003, p. 348.
  36. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
  37. ^ Bergström & Mikhailov 2001, p. 160.
  38. ^ Stockert 2012, p. 186.
  39. ^ Shores, Cull & Malizia 1991, p. 380.
  40. ^ Shores, Cull & Malizia 1991, p. 593.
  41. ^ Shores, Ring & Hess 1975, p. 121.
  42. ^ Shores, Ring & Hess 1975, p. 127.
  43. ^ Shores, Ring & Hess 1975, pp. 151, 158.
  44. ^ a b Prien 1995, p. 2425.
  45. ^ Shores, Ring & Hess 1975, p. 149.
  46. ^ a b Berger 1999, pp. 15, 409.
  47. ^ a b Stockert 2012, p. 191.
  48. ^ Heaton & Lewis 2014, p. 38.
  49. ^ Shores, Ring & Hess 1975, p. 179.
  50. ^ Shores, Ring & Hess 1975, p. 193.
  51. ^ Shores, Ring & Hess 1975, p. 205.
  52. ^ Shores, Ring & Hess 1975, pp. 218, 224.
  53. ^ Shores, Ring & Hess 1975, p. 226.
  54. ^ MacLean 2007, p. 6.
  55. ^ Shores, Ring & Hess 1975, p. 231.
  56. ^ Shores, Ring & Hess 1975, p. 237.
  57. ^ a b Caldwell & Muller 2007, p. 153.
  58. ^ Shores, Massimello & Guest 2014, p. 684.
  59. ^ Prien et al. 2011, p. 380.
  60. ^ a b Weal 1996, p. 55.
  61. ^ Prien & Rodeike 1994, pp. 567–570.
  62. ^ A Fighter Group in Normandy.
  63. ^ Prien & Rodeike 1996, pp. 726.
  64. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 688.
  65. ^ Caldwell & Muller 2007, pp. 184–185.
  66. ^ Caldwell & Muller 2007, pp. 170–202.
  67. ^ Girbig 1997, p. 172.
  68. ^ Franks 2000, p. 131.
  69. ^ Manrho & Pütz 2004, pp. 76–77.
  70. ^ a b c Forsyth, Scutts & Creek 1999, pp. 141–142.
  71. ^ Forsyth, Scutts & Creek 1999, p. 148.
  72. ^ Forsyth 2008, p. 93.
  73. ^ Forsyth 2008, p. 94.
  74. ^ a b Caldwell & Muller 2007, pp. 284–285.
  75. ^ Forsyth 2008, pp. 111–112.
  76. ^ Forsyth 2008, pp. 115–116.
  77. ^ Forsyth 2008, pp. 119–120.
  78. ^ a b Berger 1999, p. 14.
  79. ^ Virchow 2006, p. 395.
  80. ^ Virchow 2006, p. 347.
  81. ^ Virchow 2006, p. 394.
  82. ^ Spick 1996, pp. 220, 227.
  83. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 30.
  84. ^ Spick 1996, p. 227.
  85. ^ Morgan & Weal 1998, p. 88.
  86. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 34–39.
  87. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 23.
  88. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 199.
  89. ^ Berger 1999, p. 13.
  90. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 44.
  91. ^ a b MacLean 2007, p. 222.
  92. ^ a b Thomas 1997, p. 17.
  93. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 120.
  94. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 55.
  95. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 39.
  96. ^ Stockert 2012, p. 184.
  97. ^ Stockert 2012, p. 185.
  98. ^ Stockert 2012, p. 188.

Bibliography

Military offices
Preceded by Commander of Jagdgeschwader 1 Oesau
12 May 1944 – 20 May 1944 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of Jagdgeschwader 3 Udet
1 June 1944 – 13 February 1945 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Generalleutnant Adolf Galland
 Commander of Jagdverband 44
26 April 1945 – 8 May 1945 		Succeeded by
none
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Heinrich_Bär&oldid=1217918533"