Lieudell Ernest Bauer was born on January 18, 1920, in Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, Ohio. He was the son of Wilbur Rudolph Bauer and Jeannette Althea Slattery Bauer. He was married to Christine R. Hodges Bauer. He enlisted in the service on May 8, 1943. He served in the 561st Bomber Squadron, 388th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Bombardier of B-17G #42-37867 nicknamed 'Berlin Ambassador' during World War II.

On January 11, 1944, the B-17 Flying Fortress Berlin Ambassador, assigned to the 561st Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group, departed England as part of an Eighth Air Force mission targeting the heavily defended industrial city of Braunschweig, Germany. As the formation entered enemy airspace, it came under intense attack from German fighters, and the Berlin Ambassador sustained severe damage that compromised its structure and critical systems. Unable to maintain formation and struggling to stay aloft, the crippled bomber attempted to withdraw, but the damage proved fatal. While crossing the Netherlands near Berkum, close to Zwolle, the aircraft became uncontrollable, forcing the crew to bail out as it descended. Moments later, the B-17 crashed near Berkum, bringing its final mission to an end. Of the ten-man crew, four were killed in the crash, five were captured and became prisoners of war, and one evaded capture temporarily before later being captured.

2Lt Bauer survived the crash despite a leg wound and was quickly aided by Dutch civilians and resistance members who hid and transported him through a network of safe houses across the Netherlands and Belgium. For several weeks, he successfully evaded capture while being moved between locations by the underground, alongside other Allied airmen attempting to escape. However, his evasion came to an end when German authorities raided a resistance safe house in Brussels, leading to his capture and eventual imprisonment at Stalag Luft III in Sagan, Silesia, Germany. He was discharged from the service on March 29, 1946. He died on December 24, 1960, and is now buried in the Graceland Cemetery, Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.verliesregister.studiegroepluchtoorlog.nl
Source of photo: www.teunispats.nl