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Albert  J.  Baumler  
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  Rank, Service
Major O-4,  U.S. Air Force
  Veteran of:
New Jersey National Guard 1932-1933
U.S. Army 1933-1935, 1936, 1946-1949
USAAC 1935-1936, 1938-1941
USAAF 1941-1946
U.S. Air Force 1949-1965
Spanish Civil War 1936-1937
World War II 1941-1945
Korean War 1952-1953
  Tribute:

Albert Baumler was born on April 17, 1914, in Bayonne, New Jersey. He enlisted in the New Jersey National Guard on August 11, 1932, and went on active duty in the Regular Army on September 19, 1933. Baumler was accepted into the Aviation Cadet Program of the Army Air Corps on June 27, 1935, and was discharged on December 15, 1936. He sailed to Spain in late December 1936, and flew fighters for the Spanish Air Force during the Spanish Civil War, and was credited with shooting down 4.5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat, with an additional 2 probables. He left Spain in August 1937 and returned to the Army Air Corps where he was commissioned a 2Lt and awarded his military pilot wings on September 17, 1938, and went on active duty on November 1, 1938. Baumler served as an instructor pilot for the next 3 years, and resigned his commission on November 25, 1941, to join the Flying Tigers in China. He was refused a travel permit by the State Department for his violation of travel laws to serve in the Spanish Air Force, so he returned to the Army Air Forces and was on his way to China to serve as a liaison to the Flying Tigers when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Baumler then served with the 45th Pursuit Squadron of the 15th Pursuit Group at Wheeler Field, Hawaii, until February 1942, when he completed his trip to China to serve with the Flying Tigers. The AVG was disbanded in July 1942, and Baumler joined the newly created 23rd Fighter Group. He became the Commanding Officer of the 74th Fighter Squadron in December 1942, and returned to the United States in February 1943, after being credited with shooting down an additional 5 enemy aircraft, for a two-war total of 9.5 with 2 probables. Baumler flew in flight test and as an instructor pilot until the end of the war. After the war, Baumler was relieved from active duty in November 1945, and then enlisted with the rank of MSgt in the Regular Army in February 1946. He was discharged from the Army on February 17, 1949, and enlisted in the Air Force on February 18, 1949, serving as an Air Traffic Controller for the rest of his career. Baumler served in the Korean War from August 1952 to August 1953. He was stationed at Perrin AFB, Texas, from December 1958 to May 1959, in England at RAF Bentwaters, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Lakenheath, from May 1959 to May 1961, and at Bergstrom AFB, Texas, from May 1961 to August 1961. His final assignment was with the 4780th Air Defense Wing at Perrin AFB, Texas, from August 1961 until his retirement from the Air Force on September 30, 1965. Baumler received a promotion to his highest grade of Major after he retired, on April 27, 1966. He died on August 2, 1973, and was buried at the Georgetown Cemetery, outside of Pottsboro, Texas.

His 2nd Distinguished Flying Cross Citation reads:

Albert J. Baumler, Major, (then First Lieutenant); Air Corps, United States Army. For extraordinary achievement while participating in over 50 combat missions from December 8, 1941 to December 8, 1942. Acting in the capacity of Fighter Pilot, Major Baumler displayed the highest type of aggressive spirit which resulted in much damage to enemy installations and equipment. In offensive sweeps from bases in China between the above dates he participated in combat missions which gained for him confirmation of the destruction of five Japanese aircraft. Major Baumler's willingness at all times to carry the fight to the enemy against heavy odds is in keeping with the finest combat traditions of the Army Air Forces.

  




 


 

 
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