Albert Baumler

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Albert John "Ajax" Baumler (April 17, 1914 - August 2, 1973) was an American fighter ace during the Spanish Civil War and World War II.

He was born in Bayonne, New Jersey. In 1935-1936 he did primary pilot training at Randolph Field and was commissioned in the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC).

After the start of the Spanish Civil War, Baumler resigned his commission and offered his services to a Republican side. He went to Spain and served there from December 27, 1936, on a contract that promised him a salary of $1,500 a month plus $1,000 for each aircraft he shot down. In February 1937 he was assigned to the Escuadrilla Kosakov fighter unit under Russian command, flying a biplane Polikarpov I-15 "Chato". In 1937, he flew many combat missions against the Fascists, generally dueling against German and Italian aircraft. On March 16, he was credited with his first victory, over an Italian Fiat CR.32 fighter, in a team with A. Zaitsev. On March 20 he was credited with another CR.32, 10 km southeast of Brihuega, as his first individual kill. On April 17 he claimed a German Heinkel He 51 fighter from the Legion Condor over Teruel, and with a second He-51 credited as probably shot down.

In late May 1937, Baumler was assigned to the 1st Escuadrilla de Moscas unit, commanded by the Russian Ivan Lakyeyev, flying a faster Polikarpov I-16 "Mosca" fighter. On June 2 he claimed another CR.32in Segovia area, and on June 14 another over Huesca. On July 8 he probably shot down his last CR.32. He flew his last missions on July 15, then he returned to the United States in August.

In total, he was credited with shooting down four enemy planes individually and the fifth as a team victory (sometimes counted as 0.5), and with two probables.

In 1938, Baumler rejoined the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant, but in 1941 he resigned his commission again to join the American Volunteer Group "Flying Tigers" then training in Burma. He was however refused a passport due to his Spanish combat. He returned to the U.S. Army, and in December was assigned to the U.S. Military Mission in China, probably with the expectation that he would serve as AMISSCA's liaison to the AVG, which was in need of experienced staff officers. He flew east on a Pan Am Clipper flying boat that was carrying tires and spare parts for the AVG fighter planes. The cargo was dumped, and Baumler and the aircraft returned, after it was strafed at Wake Island on the morning of December 7.

In February 1942 Baumler served in the 45th Pursuit Squadron, and in May he was sent to China as a U.S. Army captain to be attached to the American Volunteer Group. Flying with the AVG, he was credited with two aerial victories, on June 3 and June 22, though these cannot be confirmed in AVG records, and the first is probably erroneous.

From July 4, 1942 he served in the successor of the Flying Tigers, the 75th Fighter Squadron of the 23rd Fighter Group as a pilot and as squadron adjutant under Major David Hill. Flying P-40E fighters, he was credited with four or five further Japanese aircraft from July to September 1942, his last victories. From December 11, 1942 to February 18, 1943, he commanded the 74th FS. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal, and was promoted to major. He seems to have been the first American pilot credited with destroying aircraft of all three Axis Powers.

After the war, Baumler continued served in the air force, retiring in 1965. He died on August 2, 1973 in Denison, Texas.