Heinz Bar German World War II flying ace Date of Birth: 21.03.1913 Country: Germany

1. Early Life and Interest in Aviation
2. Joining the German Military
3. World War II and Aerial Victories
4. Battle of Britain and Near-Fatal Incident
5. Achievements on the Eastern Front
6. Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
7. Further Aerial Dominance and Notable Engagements
8. Leadership Roles and Leaning on Experience
9. Transition to Jet Fighters and JV 44
10. Post-War Life and Tragic Death

Early Life and Interest in Aviation

Heinz Bär was born into a farming family in Sommerfeld, near Leipzig, Germany, on March 21, 1913. From a young age, he was fascinated by technology, particularly aviation. At the age of 15, in 1928, he began flying gliders.

Joining the German Military

In 1935, as Germany re-established its air force (Luftwaffe), Bär initially joined the Wehrmacht (armed forces) before transferring to the Luftwaffe in 1937. He hoped that the Luftwaffe would serve as a stepping stone towards a civilian aviation career. However, his path led him to become a military pilot.

World War II and Aerial Victories

Assigned to the 1./JG 135 as a Ju-52 transport pilot in September 1938, Bär later underwent fighter pilot training and joined JG 51 in early 1939. He began the war as a humble non-commissioned officer in one of its squadrons. His tally of aerial victories began on September 25, 1939, when he downed a French Curtiss Hawk 75A over the Franco-German border.

Bär quickly rose through the ranks, earning the Iron Cross 2nd Class on September 27, 1939, and the 1st Class on July 6, 1940. By the end of the French campaign, he had shot down three more enemy aircraft.

Battle of Britain and Near-Fatal Incident

Bär almost met his end during the Battle of Britain. An aggressive fighter by nature, he experienced firsthand the perils of aerial dogfights with Spitfires and Hurricanes. On several occasions, enemy fire forced him to belly-land his damaged Messerschmitt Bf 109E.

One fateful day, on September 2, while returning to base after sustaining combat damage, Bär's fighter was suddenly attacked from behind by a Spitfire. His aircraft crashed into the waters of the English Channel. Hermann Göring, who reportedly witnessed the incident, was said to have summoned the drenched pilot and angrily inquired about his reckless behavior. Bär's quick-witted response that he had been preoccupied with Göring's speech claiming that England was no longer an island earned him a mild punishment.

Achievements on the Eastern Front

By the end of 1940, Bär had become the leading non-commissioned officer ace. His subsequent victories over the English Channel pushed his tally to 17 before JG 51 was deployed to the Eastern Front for Operation Barbarossa.

On the Eastern Front, Bär's score of aerial victories rapidly escalated. On July 2, 1941, his 27th victory earned him the Knight's Cross and a promotion to Lieutenant. Over the following days, he downed several Soviet aircraft, including MiG-3s, DB-3s, and Il-2s.

Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords

On August 14, 1941, Bär had already achieved 60 aerial victories, warranting the award of the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross. By August 30, he had shot down six Soviet aircraft in a single day. On February 16, 1942, Bär became the recipient of the Swords to the Knight's Cross.

Further Aerial Dominance and Notable Engagements

Bär's 100th aerial victory came on May 19, 1942, making him the ninth Luftwaffe pilot to reach that milestone. During his tenure in the air war over the Mediterranean, he commanded I./JG 77 and encountered American "Flying Fortresses" while flying the Focke-Wulf FW 190. His 21 victories against these heavy bombers earned him recognition as an expert in dealing with them.

Leadership Roles and Leaning on Experience

In 1943, Bär became the commander of II./JG 1, taking part in the defense of the German airspace against Allied bombing raids. He led JG 3, with which he achieved his 200th aerial victory on April 22, 1944. In January 1945, he was appointed to the post of instructor at the jet aircraft training school in Lechfeld, where he flew the Heinkel He 162.

Transition to Jet Fighters and JV 44

After the war had turned against Germany, Bär assumed command of the JV 44 jet fighter unit after the wounding of Adolf Galland and the death of Günther Lützow. He remained the leading ace in jet aviation until 1953, with 16 aerial victories scored while flying the Me 262.

Post-War Life and Tragic Death

Bär ended the war with the rank of Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel). His wartime experience had been far from without its perils. On 18 occasions, enemy fighters had downed his aircraft. Bär ejected from his cockpit four times, while in the remaining instances, he performed forced landings. Despite facing enemy fire from Spitfires seven times, he survived the war. Tragically, in 1957, Bär perished in the crash of a light aircraft.