He was on aerial patrol May 22, 1918 on the Flanders Front when he was shot down, falling 15,000. Wounded, he was taken prisoner by the Germans. He remained a POW until after the armistice ending the war. In February 1919, he returned to his hometown and received a hero's welcome. His post-war service included a position as a test pilot for an aeronautical lab, and inspector for the Department of Commerce, later he flew to South America and assisted in establishing an air mail service. He died at age 36 when his aircraft crashed during takeoff from Shanghai, China.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross with Oak Leaf cluster, General Orders No 128, War Dept. 1908 for his actions of March 11 & 16, 1918, the Legion of Honor, Chevalier (France) by presidential decree April 9, 1918, and the Croix de Guerre with seven palms (France). The Paul Baer Municipal Airport, Fort Wayne, Indiana was named for him.
He was on aerial patrol May 22, 1918 on the Flanders Front when he was shot down, falling 15,000. Wounded, he was taken prisoner by the Germans. He remained a POW until after the armistice ending the war. In February 1919, he returned to his hometown and received a hero's welcome. His post-war service included a position as a test pilot for an aeronautical lab, and inspector for the Department of Commerce, later he flew to South America and assisted in establishing an air mail service. He died at age 36 when his aircraft crashed during takeoff from Shanghai, China.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross with Oak Leaf cluster, General Orders No 128, War Dept. 1908 for his actions of March 11 & 16, 1918, the Legion of Honor, Chevalier (France) by presidential decree April 9, 1918, and the Croix de Guerre with seven palms (France). The Paul Baer Municipal Airport, Fort Wayne, Indiana was named for him.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Inscription
PAUL F. BAER
103rd Aero Squadron
BORN
JAN. 29, 1894
DIED IN
SHANGHAI, CHINA
DEC. 9, 1930
Family Members
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