Baer, Paul Frank, Capt

Captain Baer served in the French Air Service/French Flying Corps 1917-1918 and then to the United States Air Service 103rd Aero Squadron, 3rd Pursuit Group. He shot down 9 German aircraft before he was shot down himself in May 1918. He was seriously injured and captured by the Germans. He flew the SPAD XIII . He later worked in Lunghwa, China for the China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC) where he was killed while flying an amphibious aircraft (Loening flying boat aircraft). Co-pilot and four passengers were also killed in the accident. Awarded the Army Distinguished Service Cross in 1918 and 1919, the French Legion d' Honneur and Croix de Guerre, WWI Victory Medal. On 8 Feb 1919, 103rd Aero Squadron authorized to wear the Fourragere in the colors of the French Croix-de-Guerre per General Orders 28, War Department. Posthumously, the Purple Heart and Prisoner of War Medal. Captain Baer was interred in Lindenwood Cemetery, Fort Wayne, Indiana. An account of his actions on one day in March 1918: "11 Mar 1918 103rd Squadron - While on voluntary patrol Lieutenant Paul F. Baer, single-handed attacked a patrol of seven enemy planes which had cut him off from his side of the lines, and destroyed one which fell near the French lines northeast of Rheims, France. This was the first victory over enemy an aircraft scored by any American squadron." (http://www.acepilots.com/wwi/us_1st_pursuit.html)
The former Baer Field, Fort Wayne, IN was named for him.

Notes/Links: http://www.americanfighteraces.org/wwlairservice_a-z.html http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/baer.php http://www.acepilots.com/wwi/us_1st_pursuit.html http://www.cnac.org/baer01.htm http://www.cnac.org/accident002.htm http://www.homeofheroes.com/wings/part1/1_introduction.html http://www.snyderstreasures.com/pages/usaviation.htm#wings (various pilot wings worn in WWI)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Wayne_Air_National_Guard_Station#Paul_Baer