| Karl Baur | |
| Birth Date: | November 13, 1911 |
| Birth Place: | Laichingen, Württemberg, Germany |
| Death Date: | October 12, 1963 (aged 51) |
| Death Place: | Arlington, Texas, United States of America |
| Nationality: | German |
| Ethnicity: | German |
| Religion: | Protestant --> |
| Known For: |
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Karl Baur (November 13, 1911 - October 12, 1963) was a German test pilot, flight instructor and engineer. His friends referred to him truly as "A Pilot's Pilot".[1]
Karl Baur was born November 13, 1911, in Laichingen, Württemberg, Germany. In 1927 heattended a summer camp for young boys interested in aviation, and it was here that Baurdeveloped his desire to fly. He became involved in the world of glider flying during the1930s, where with the F1 Fledermaus glider he completed the necessary distance, height,and acrobatic flying requirements to earn an International Silver C Badge in 1934. (Only19 of these were awarded at that year, and Baur was one of 15 Germans who received thebadge.) Baur also worked with powered aircraft and earned a private pilot license in1931.[2]
In 1935 Baur accepted an opportunity to go to Japan and serve as instructor at aJapanese glider school. He also did some acrobatic flying at various points around Japan, as well as a flight over the erupting volcano Mount Asama from a distance of 50 meters.
Upon his return to Germany in 1936, Baur completed his master's degree in Aeronautical Engineering (Dipl. Ing.)and went to work for the German Aviation Research Institute testing aircraft designs andinstructing German pilots. Baur was called to military duty and attempted to join the Luftwaffe in 1938, butbecause of problems with his eyesight he could not pass the physical to be certified as amilitary pilot. He stayed with the German Aviation Research Institute until 1939, whenhe received an offer to become the Chief Test Pilot for the Messerschmitt Company.
At Messerschmitt he test piloted such famous aircraft as the Bf 109, the Me 262 jet fighter,and the Me 163 rocket plane. Here is a partial list of aircraft he flew:
On April 29, 1945, the Allies captured the German city ofAugsburg, where Baur was working on Messerschmitt aircraft. Baur and his crew wererequired by the American forces to repair the Me 262s that had been damaged andinstruct some American pilots in their operation. Along with other German experts in thefield of aeronautics and rocketry, Baur was sent to the United States in fall of 1945. Hespent several months in the United States demonstrating the Me 262 providing technicalhelp to American test pilots, and explaining about the aeronautic work he had done inGermany. In December 1945 Baur was able to return to Germany and reunite with hisfamily.
Baur worked several odd jobs after the war, including serving an interpreter to thecommander of an American Army Air Force Base in Germany, and as a salesrepresentative for a company that manufactured car batteries. Baur accepted a job as anengineer at the Chance Vought Aircraft Corporation in Dallas, Texas, in August 1954.Baur worked for Chance Vought until his death on October 12, 1963. His widow, Isolde Baur lived inthe Dallas-Fort Worth area until her death on June 5, 2006.
. Isolde Baur . A Pilot's Pilot, Karl Baur, Chief Test Pilot for Messerschmitt . 2000 . . Canada . 0-921991-47-9 . 44725335 . 00690892 .