List of aerial victories claimed by Oskar-Heinrich Bär explained

See main article: Heinrich Bär.

Oskar-Heinrich Bär (25 May 1913 – 28 April 1957) was a German Luftwaffe flying ace who served throughout World War II in Europe. Bär flew more than one thousand combat missions, and fought in the Western, Eastern and Mediterranean theatres. On 18 occasions he survived being shot down, and according to records in the German Federal Archives, he claimed to have shot down 228 enemy aircraft and was credited with 208 aerial victories, 16 of which were in a Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter. Sources credit him with 220 – 96 on Eastern Theatre and 124 on Western Theatre – up to 222 aerial victories may also be possible.

List of aerial victories claimed

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Bär was credited with 221 aerial victories. Obermaier also lists him with 221 aerial victories. The highest figure is given by Aders and Held who list Bär with 222 aerial victory claims. According to Spick, as well as by Morgan and Weal, Bär was credited with 220 aerial victories. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 208 aerial victory claims, plus 20 further unconfirmed claims. This figure includes 95 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 113 on the Western Front, including 14 four-engined bombers and 15 victories with the Me 262 jet fighter.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 05 Ost S/FN". The Luftwaffe grid map (German: Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360sqmi. These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3x in size.

ClaimClaim#DateTimeTypeLocationClaimClaim#DateTimeTypeLocation
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –
1125 September 193912:30Curtiss P-36Weissenburg-Lauterburg201722 June 194109:45SB-2?vicinity of Starnice
2221 May 194016:20HurricaneSamer211825 June 194111:30SB-2vicinity of Terespol
3323 May 194011:10HurricaneBéthune221925 June 194111:33SB-2vicinity of Terespol
418 August 194019:45HurricaneThames Estuary23♠2030 June 194110:55DB-3vicinity of Histowka
5420 August 194016:10SpitfireThames Estuary24♠2130 June 194111:12DB-3vicinity of Histowka
6524 August 194014:13HurricaneMargate25♠2230 June 194119:20DB-3vicinity of Histowka
7629 August 194020:10SpitfireHawkinge26♠2330 June 194119:35DB-3vicinity of Histowka
872 September 194009:15SpitfireCanterbury27♠2430 June 194119:40DB-3vicinity of Histowka
988 September 194013:20Spitfire28251 July 194113:45I-16vicinity of Nowo Histowka
1099 September 194018:33Hurricane29262 July 194111:29I-16vicinity of Histowka
1115 September 1940Spitfire30273 July 194113:45V-11 (Il-2)vicinity of Babruysk
12108 November 194012:18HurricaneStrait of Dover31285 July 194111:27I-18 (MiG-1)vicinity of Babruysk
138 November 194015:05Hurricanenorth of Dungeness32295 July 194113:44DB-3vicinity of Babruysk
141116 April 194118:25Hurricane20km (10miles) west of Le Touquet33305 July 194113:45DB-3vicinity of Babruysk
151221 April 194120:07Hurricanenorthwest of Ashford34316 July 194120:15V-11?vicinity of Babruysk
16136 May 194114:10Spitfire20km (10miles) northwest of Calais35326 July 194120:20V-11vicinity of Babruysk
171411 May 194121:40Spitfire8km (05miles) east of Deal36338 July 194119:35SB-2vicinity of Babruysk
1822 June 194107:25I-18 (MiG-1)373411 July 194115:02DB-3vicinity of Babruysk
191522 June 194109:40SB-2vicinity of Starnice383511 July 194115:05DB-3vicinity of Babruysk
1622 June 194109:42SB-2vicinity of Starnice393611 July 194116:45DB-3
– 12. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –
403722 July 194110:50I-153vicinity of Dankowow666219 August 194119:15Pe-2
413822 July 194115:03I-153vicinity of Dankowow676319 August 194119:20Pe-2
423923 July 194112:57Pe-2vicinity of Dankowow686420 August 194108:55I-15
434023 July 194113:02Pe-2vicinity of Dankowow696520 August 194109:10I-16
444123 July 194113:10R-3?706622 August 194110:25I-15
454224 July 194106:15I-18 (MiG-1)716728 August 194118:12Pe-2southeast of Novgorod
464326 July 194104:25R-3?726828 August 194118:15Pe-2southeast of Novgorod
474428 July 194107:45DB-373♠6930 August 194112:00I-61 (MiG-3)
484529 July 194104:12SB-374♠7030 August 194112:02DB-3
494629 July 194118:10Pe-275♠7130 August 194112:03DB-3
5029 July 1941DB-376♠7230 August 194112:08I-61 (MiG-3)
51472 August 194117:40Pe-277♠7330 August 194118:05SB-3
52483 August 194113:55R-3?78♠7430 August 194118:06SB-3
53499 August 194113:30DB-3797531 August 194111:20Pe-2
54509 August 194113:34DB-3807631 August 194111:25Pe-2
55519 August 194119:00SB-2817728 November 194113:40SB-3
565210 August 194110:40I-61 (MiG-1)82782 December 194108:45I-61 (MiG-1)
575310 August 194110:55I-1583792 December 194109:00I-61 (MiG-1)
585411 August 194114:25I-1684802 December 194110:15Pe-2
595512 August 194107:55SB-385812 December 194112:07?I-61 (MiG-1)
605612 August 194108:30SB-2?86825 December 194112:05I-61 (MiG-1)
615713 August 194111:30I-18 (MiG-1)87837 December 194111:30Pe-2
625814 August 194118:55I-18 (MiG-1)88847 December 194113:57Pe-2
635915 August 194116:30I-61 (MiG-1)8911 February 1942Pe-2
646018 August 194116:55I-159011 February 1942Pe-2
656119 August 194117:15I-169122 February 1942I-61 (MiG-3)10km (10miles) south of Mologino
Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 77 –
928516 May 194210:35LaGG-313513110 December 194215:10P-40northwest of El Agheila
938616 May 194210:40LaGG-313613210 December 194215:15P-40northwest of El Agheila
948717 May 194213:05I-1613713311 December 194215:32P-40east of Ras Umm er Garanigh
958817 May 194213:35I-1613813414 December 194211:20P-40west of El Agheila
969217 May 194213:40I-1613913514 December 194211:25P-40west of El Agheila
979318 May 194212:10LaGG-3140♠13614 January 194308:39?P-40
989418 May 194216:05LaGG-3141♠13714 January 194310:43B-25north of Tamet
99♠9519 May 194209:42R-5142♠13814 January 194310:44B-25north of Tamet
100♠9619 May 194216:42I-16143♠13914 January 194314:32Spitfire
101♠9719 May 194216:45I-16144♠14014 January 194314:37Spitfire
102♠9819 May 194216:46I-1614514122 January 1943?15:15P-38vicinity of Tripolitania
103♠9919 May 194216:50I-1614614222 January 1943?15:16P-38vicinity of Tripolitania
1041005 June 194209:32DB-314714323 January 194311:40P-40
10510113 June 194212:35I-1614814425 January 194312:35P-40
13 June 1942unknown14914525 January 194312:38P-40
10610214 June 194218:58I-1615014627 January 194314:48P-40vicinity of Djebel Cheraline
10710314 June 194219:00I-1615114727 January 194315:01P-40vicinity of Djebel Cheraline
10810417 June 194217:35MBR-215214827 January 194315:05P-40vicinity of Djebel Cheraline
10910519 June 194204:17I-161531494 February 194314:40B-17
11010621 June 194218:35I-161544 February 1943P-39?
11110721 June 194218:41I-1615515015 February 194307:45Spitfirevicinity of Thélepte
11210827 June 194206:35I-1615615115 February 194307:46Spitfirevicinity of Thelepte
11310927 June 194206:43I-16157♠15226 February 194310:55Spitfirevicinity of Gabès
11 October 1942Spitfire158♠15326 February 194314:05P-40vicinity of Gabès
11411013 October 194207:58Spitfirenorth of Malta159♠15426 February 194314:15P-40vicinity of Gabès
11511113 October 194208:14Spitfire10km (10miles) north of Marsa Scirocco160♠15526 February 194317:03P-40vicinity of Gabès
11611214 October 194217:59Spitfire30km (20miles) northwest of St. Paul's Bay161♠15626 February 194317:08P-40vicinity of Gabès
11711317 October 194213:32Spitfiresoutheast of La Valletta, Malta16215727 February 194310:50Beaufighter
1181142 November 194214:50Spitfiresouthwest of El Alamein1631581 March 194314:58?Spitfire
119♠1153 November 194212:08P-40southeast of El Alamein1641593 March 194307:40P-40
120♠1163 November 194212:10P-40southeast of El Alamein1651603 March 194307:45P-40
121♠1173 November 194215:55P-40northwest of Quotafiya1661615 March 194307:58P-40
122♠1183 November 194215:59?P-40northwest of Quotafiya1671625 March 194308:20?Spitfire
123♠1193 November 194216:12P-40northwest of El Alamein1681636 March 194309:26?Spitfire
1241205 November 194213:40P-40vicinity of Fuka1691646 March 194309:28?Spitfire
1251215 November 194213:50P-40vicinity of Fuka1701657 March 194312:27P-40vicinity of Medenine
1261229 November 194214:50P-40east of Sollum17116610 March 194316:33P-40vicinity of Medenine
12712310 November 194214:34P-40east of Sollum13 March 1944P-40
12812410 November 194214:38P-40east of Sollum17216723 March 194310:43B-25
12912511 November 194209:30P-40southeast of Gambut23 March 1943P-39
13012611 November 194209:38P-40southeast of Gambut17316824 March 194310:10P-40northwest of Fatnassa
1311277 December 194214:50P-40west of El Agheila17416924 March 194310:12P-40northwest of Fatnassa
1321287 December 194214:52P-40west of El Agheila17517025 March 194312:09Boston
1331298 December 194210:40P-4017617116 April 194315:50Spitfirenorthwest of Cap Bon
1341308 December 194210:55P-4017717229 April 194317:25SpitfireRas Mostafa
Stab of Jagdgruppe Süd
1781732 December 194313:04P-38southeast of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer1791742 December 194313:06B-17southeast of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 1 –
18017510 February 194411:13B-17PQ 05 Ost S/FN, vicinity of Zwolle189*18025 February 194413:30B-17PQ 05 Ost S/US, vicinity of Heilbronn
18110 February 194411:18P-47PQ 05 Ost S/FO, east of Zwolle25 February 194413:43B-17PQ 04 Ost N/AT-8/9, vicinity of Stuttgart
18217621 February 194413:58B-17PQ 05 Ost S/GT/GU, 12- west of Hanover190*18125 February 194414:45B-17PQ 05 Ost S/US-1/5, vicinity of Heilbronn
18317721 February 194414:03P-51PQ 05 Ost S/GT-5, 5km (03miles) north of Stadthagen19125 February 194414:55B-24PQ 05 Ost S/UR-2/3, vicinity of Germersheim
18417821 February 194415:25B-17PQ 05 Ost S/GT-5, north-northwest of Rheine1921823 March 194411:40P-51PQ 05 Ost S/EU-3/6, vicinity of Verden
18522 February 194412:51B-17PQ 05 Ost S/KO, northwest of Bottrop1931836 March 194412:00B-17PQ 05 Ost S/FR-4, east of Lingen
18622 February 194414:18B-17PQ 05 Ost S/HO-1/4, north of Grevenbroich1941846 March 194412:10B-17PQ 05 Ost S/FS-4/5, southwest of Verden
18717924 February 194412:30B-24PQ 05 Ost S/GR-8, vicinity of Osnabrück1956 March 194414:45B-17PQ 05 Ost S/GO/GN, vicinity of Deventer
18824 February 194412:34B-24PQ 05 Ost S/GS-9, east of Osnabrück
Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 1 –
19618529 March 194413:25P-51PQ 15 Ost S/HB-9, south of Söllingen20018822 April 194420:08B-24PQ 05 Ost S/JQ, vicinity of Ahlen
19718629 March 194413:35P-51PQ 15 Ost S/JB-9, west of Halberstadt20118929 April 194410:56P-47PQ 15 Ost S/HB, northwest of Halberstadt
1981878 April 194413:50B-24PQ 15 Ost S/EB/FB, southwest of Salzwedel20219029 April 194410:59B-24PQ 15 Ost S/GB, east-southeast of Braunschweig
19911 April 194410:59B-17PQ 15 Ost S/FB-7, 10km (10miles) northeast of Fallersleben
Stab of Jagdgeschwader 3 –
2031917 August 194414:40P-51PQ 04 Ost N/CD-2/5
southeast of Chartres
2051931 January 194519:25TyphoonEindhoven air base
2041921 January 194509:23TyphoonEindhoven air base
Stab III. Gruppe of Ergänzungsjagdgeschwader 2 –
20619419 March 194512:00+P-51vicinity of Dresden2141999 April 194510:05B-269km (06miles) southwest of Amberg
20719521 March 1945B-242152009 April 194510:??B-26vicinity of Amberg
20819624 March 1945B-24vicinity of Stuttgart21620112 April 1945?B-26
20919724 March 1945P-51vicinity of Stuttgart21720218 April 1945P-47
21027 March 1945P-47vicinity of Lechfeld21820318 April 1945P-47
21127 March 1945P-47vicinity of Lechfeld21920419 April 1945P-51
21227 March 1945P-47vicinity of Lechfeld22020519 April 1945P-51
2131984 April 194515:00+P-51
Jagdverband 44 –
22120627 April 1945P-4722320828 April 1945?P-47vicinity of Bad Aibling
22220727 April 1945P-47

References

Bibliography