Strana 46
Fw 190A-8, W.Nr. 73372?, II./JG 300, Bayreuth-Bindlach, Germany, Spring 1945
Fw 190A-8, W.Nr. 171641, Fw. Konrad Bauer, 5./JG 300, Erfurt-Bindersleben,
Germany, August 1944
This aircraft served with Jagdgruppe 10. The
task of the unit was to test new tactics and
weapons to be used against Allied four-engined
heavy bombers. The JGr.10 aircraft sported the
rendition of a red and yellow snake on both
sides of the fuselage. At the end of the war
this aircraft was reassigned to II./JG 300 and
received relevant markings, such as theblue-
white-blue fuselage band identifying JG 300
within the Defense of the Reich system. This
band partially obscured the small code I1, which
belonged to JGr.10. On the port side, this allowed
the letter I to remain visible, and the number
1 on the starboard. This aircraft was dismantled
and its remains found in May 1945 at Bayreuth-
Bindlach air base, which served as a repair and
conversion depot from 1944.
Konrad Bauer was born on February 9, 1919,
in Gelsenkirchen. He joined the Luftwaffe in
1943, and after completing his training, he
was assigned in March 1943 to 10./JG 51, which
was fighting on the Eastern Front. With JG 51,
he scored a total of eighteen aerial victories.
In March 1944, he was transferred to
2./JG 3, and then in June to 5./JG 300,
commanded by Lt. Bretschneider. With this unit,
Fw. “Pitta” Bauer’s star rose, and he became one
of the greatest aces in shooting down American
four-engine bombers. On September 11, 1944,
Fw. Bauer was shot down in combat with
Mustangs, wounded (among other injuries, two
fingers on his right hand were blown off), he
landed near Nordhausen, survived a subsequent
Mustang attack, and, after six weeks of
convalescence, reported back to his unit.
He no longer flew operational missions, after
Bretschneider’s death, he assumed command
of 5./JG 300, with which he remained until the
end of the war. In total, he shot down 68 enemy
aircraft, including 32 four-engine bombers, and
was awarded the Knight’s Cross on October 31,
1944, for his achievements. He himself was shot
down seven times. After the formation of the
Bundesluftwaffe, he continued to serve in the
air force and retired in December 1960 with the
rank of Hauptmann. He died on October 26, 1990,
in his hometown of Gelsenkirchen.
KITS 08/2026
INFO Eduard46
August 2026