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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Sponsor

Honored by:
Ms. Amy Bauer

Enlisting in the Navy in 1936, Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Leo R. Bauer was initially assigned as a Seaman to NAS Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, with VP-6, a patrol squadron equipped with Douglas PD-1's, Martin PM-1's and later, Consolidated PBY-1 aircraft. Transferring to Norfolk, Virginia in 1939, he sailed on board the USS Langley (CV-1), the Navy's first aircraft carrier, to join VP-51, his next squadron. As an enlisted man he supported PBY flight operations from both NAS Norfolk and on board the seaplane tender USS Gannet, and from San Juan, Puerto Rico when the squadron conducted neutrality patrols after September 1939, Transferred In 1940, LCDR Bauer was assigned to the Overhaul and Repair Depot at NAS North Island, San Diego, California. Here as a First Class Metal Smith he worked on Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo bombers and Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers as well as Grumman F4F Wildcat and Brewster F2A Buffalo fighters.
With the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he responded to the Navy's call for enlisted men to train as pilots to relieve a critical shortage of officer aviators. At NAS Pensacola, Florida in early 1942, he soloed in the Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3 "Yellow Peril" and continued his advanced training in the North American NJ-1 the SNJ-3, the Chance Vought OS2U-3 and the Consolidated PBY-2. Upon earning his Wings of Gold in August 1942 he was designated a Naval Aviation Pilot First Class, joining an elite group of naval enlisted men to achieve this rating.

LCDR Bauer's first flying assignment was with VP-71 at NAS Kaneohe, Hawaii, where he flew anti-submarine patrols in the PBY-5A and participated in patrol deployments to Canton Island. One of these deployments was in support of the aerial search for Eddie Rickenbacker, after the aircraft transporting the WWI ace, had ditched in the Pacific in November 1942.

Transferred to newly formed VB-104 ("The Buccaneers") at Kaneohe in April 1943, and flying new Consolidated PB4Y-1 Liberator patrol bombers, LCDR Bauer deployed with the squadron to the Southwest Pacific in August 1943. While at Guadalcanal and Munda in the Solomon Islands, he flew numerous combat patrols and bombing missions that included air-to-air kills of two Japanese Betty bombers. During his deployment, VB-104 earned the Presidential Unit Citation and LCDR Bauer received a direct commission to Ensign and subsequently was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Returning to the States in March 1944 and assigned to Test Assessment Unit, NAS North Island, San Diego, he conducted post-overhaul test flights of PBY and PB4Y aircraft until the end of World War II. In late 1945 LCDR Bauer transitioned into the Douglas R4D transport, and over the next 15 years, was assigned to a variety of naval transport squadrons transporting supplies, men and equipment around the world. His assignments included VR-3 (Olathe, KS; Patuxent River, MD; Moffett Field. CA; McGuire AFB, NJ), VR-21 (Agana, Guam; Barber's Point, HI), VR-5 (Moffett Field, CA) and VR-6 (McGuire AFB, NJ). Besides the R4D, he flew the Douglas R5D and R6D as well as the Lockheed R6V. The R6V "Constitution" was unique since only two of these double deck 180-passenger transports were ever built. LCDR Bauer flew both of these aircraft into retirement at Litchfield Air Park, Arizona in 1953. He also participated in an Aero Medical research project, led by Captain Norman L. Barr, USN, which remotely measured aviator physiological responses and later was applied as a methodology for astronaut training

In 1958, the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) awarded him a Diamond Pin in recognition of 10,000 hours of accident free flying. After twenty-four years of distinguished and memorable naval aviation service, LCDR Bauer retired in 1960 with over 11,000 flight hours, including over 1400 hours flown in combat conditions in the Pacific.

Enlisting in the Navy in 1936, Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Leo R. Bauer served his first five years in aircraft support and maintenance positions. He had successive assignments with VP-6, NAS Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, VP-51, Norfolk, Virginia and the Overhaul and Repair Depot at NAS North Island, San Diego, California. During this time he had the opportunity to sail on board the USS Langley (CV-1), the Navy's first aircraft carrier, serve on board the seaplane tender USS Gannet, and support the conduct of neutrality patrols from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

With the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he responded to the Navy's call for enlisted men to train as pilots to relieve a critical shortage of officer aviators. At NAS Pensacola, Florida in early 1942, he soloed in the Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3 "Yellow Peril" and completed his training with a seaplane qualification in the Consolidated PBY-2. Upon earning his Wings of Gold in August 1942 he was designated a Naval Aviation Pilot First Class, joining an elite group of naval enlisted men to achieve this rating.

LCDR Bauer's first flying assignment was with VP-71 at NAS Kaneohe, Hawaii, where he flew anti-submarine patrols in the PBY-5A and participated in patrol deployments to Canton Island. One of these deployments was in support of the aerial search for Eddie Rickenbacker, after the aircraft transporting the WWI ace, had ditched in the Pacific in November 1942.

Transferred to VB-104 ("The Buccaneers") at Kaneohe in April 1943, and flying new Consolidated PB4Y-1 Liberator patrol bombers, LCDR Bauer deployed with the squadron to the Southwest Pacific in August 1943. While at Guadalcanal and Munda in the Solomon Islands, he flew numerous combat patrols and bombing missions that included air-to-air kills of two Japanese Betty bombers. During his deployment, VB-104 earned the presidential Unit Citation and LCDR Bauer received a direct commission to Ensign and subsequently was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Returning to the States in March 1944 and assigned to Test Assessment Unit, NAS North Island, San Diego, he conducted post-overhaul test flights of PBY and PB4Y aircraft until the end of World War II. In late 1945 LCDR Bauer transitioned into the Douglas R4D transport, and over the next 15 years, was assigned to a variety of naval transport squadrons transporting supplies, men and equipment around the world. Besides the R4D, he flew the Douglas R5D and R6D as well as the Lockheed R6V. The R6V "Constitution" was unique since only two of these double deck 180-passenger transports were ever built. LCDR Bauer flew both of these aircraft into retirement at Litchfield Air Park, Arizona in 1953. He also participated in an Aero Medical research project, led by Captain Norman L. Barr, USN, which remotely measured aviator physiological responses and later was applied as a methodology for astronaut training. His squadron assignments included VR-3 VR-5, VR-6 and VR-21.

In 1958, he was awarded a Diamond Pin by the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) in recognition of 10,000 hours of accident free flying. After twenty-four years of distinguished and memorable naval aviation service, LCDR Bauer retired in 1960 with over 11,000 flight hours, including over 1400 hours flown in combat conditions in the Pacific.