The Aerodrome Forum - View Single Post - American Pilots, Paul Baer & Lt. C.H. Wilcox

bombaimer · 25 January 2007, 10:09 AM

From America's First Eagles :
Lt. Baer in the period of ten weeks rose to be one of the greatest American Aces with a record of nine official victories to his credit.
He initially flew with the French and later transferred to the USAS.
Lt. Baer was one of the most skilled American pilots. On March 11 and 16 he brought down in the Rhiems sector the first two official German planes credited to our air services. In one instance he alone attacked seven enemy chase machines. He was awarded the DSC on April 12 in recognition of his splendid work. In the meantime, however he had almost duplicated the feat by shooting down two more German planes on April 6 and 12 in the Somme area. These with a victory of April 23 made him an ace. On May 8 he made six separate pursuit flights during the same day, shooting down two more of the enemy in combat over Mont Kemmel. Again on May 21 with a patrol of four from his squadron, he shot down a German. For each of these five victories he was given a bronze oak leaf to be worn with the DSC already awarded and also received the French Croix de Guerre. His period of usefullness was cut short on May 22, 1918 by his unfortunate capture, yet glorious under the unequal conditions of combat. On that day he and two other SPAD pilots set forth from their airdrome at Dunkirk for a patrol along the lines. They saw a formation of eight enemy below them and although outnumbered more than two to one they attacked the enemy. A furious fight ensued during which the superior strength of the Germans gave them the advantage over the almost recklessly bold Yankees, Baer after shooting down one of the enemy- his ninth- crashed inside the enemy lines when the controls of his plane were shot away in the fusilade of hostile fire.

25 January 2007, 10:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
bombaimer Observer Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 16	Lt Paul F. Baer From America's First Eagles : Lt. Baer in the period of ten weeks rose to be one of the greatest American Aces with a record of nine official victories to his credit. He initially flew with the French and later transferred to the USAS. Lt. Baer was one of the most skilled American pilots. On March 11 and 16 he brought down in the Rhiems sector the first two official German planes credited to our air services. In one instance he alone attacked seven enemy chase machines. He was awarded the DSC on April 12 in recognition of his splendid work. In the meantime, however he had almost duplicated the feat by shooting down two more German planes on April 6 and 12 in the Somme area. These with a victory of April 23 made him an ace. On May 8 he made six separate pursuit flights during the same day, shooting down two more of the enemy in combat over Mont Kemmel. Again on May 21 with a patrol of four from his squadron, he shot down a German. For each of these five victories he was given a bronze oak leaf to be worn with the DSC already awarded and also received the French Croix de Guerre. His period of usefullness was cut short on May 22, 1918 by his unfortunate capture, yet glorious under the unequal conditions of combat. On that day he and two other SPAD pilots set forth from their airdrome at Dunkirk for a patrol along the lines. They saw a formation of eight enemy below them and although outnumbered more than two to one they attacked the enemy. A furious fight ensued during which the superior strength of the Germans gave them the advantage over the almost recklessly bold Yankees, Baer after shooting down one of the enemy- his ninth- crashed inside the enemy lines when the controls of his plane were shot away in the fusilade of hostile fire.