of Marine Fighting Squadron TWO TWELVE in the South Pacific Area during the period May 10 to November 14, 1942. Volunteering to pilot a fighter plane in defense of our positions on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, Lieutenant Colonel Bauer participated in two air battles against enemy bombers and fighters outnumbering our force more than two-to-one, boldly engaged the enemy and destroyed one Japanese bomber in the engagement of September 28 and shot down four enemy fighter planes in flames on October 3 leaving a fifth smoking badly. After successfully leading twenty-six planes in the over-water ferry flight of more than six hundred miles on October 16, Lieutenant Colonel Bauer, while circling to land, sighted a squadron of enemy planes attacking the . Undaunted by the formidable opposition and with valor above and beyond the call of duty, he engaged the entire squadron and, although alone and his fuel supply nearly exhausted, fought his plane so brilliantly that four of the Japanese planes were destroyed before he was forced down by lack of fuel. His intrepid fighting spirit and distinctive ability as leader and an airman, exemplified in his splendid record of combat achievement, were vital in the successful operations in the South Pacific Area. /S/FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT See also List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II Notes References External links 1908 births 1942 deaths United States Marine Corps personnel killed in World War II American World War II flying aces American people of German-Russian descent Aviators from Kansas People from Phillips County, Kansas People from North Platte, Nebraska United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients United States Marine Corps colonels United States Marine Corps pilots of World War II United States Naval Academy alumni World War II recipients of the Medal of Honor Quantico Marines Devil Dogs football players Quantico Marines Devil Dogs football coaches Aviators killed by being shot down Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents