Bauer, Rudolph Charles, RADM

Rudolph Charles Bauer, 83, an aviator who served as a Navy dive bomber and test pilot during WWII and in Korea, died of cancer July 10, 1989 in Ft Pierce, Florida. 

Admiral Bauer served aboard carriers USS Coral Sea and USS Kalinin Bay, participating in the WWII Marshall Islands, Saipan, Guam and Palau Islands campaigns, and in the battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines. He also served as the executive officer of the carrier Midway in 1945 and later was director of the armament test unit at the Patuxent River Naval Air Test Center in Southern Maryland. 

In the early 1930s, he completed flight training at Pensacola, Florida, and served for 3 years as a pilot in bombing and scouting squadrons embarked in the USS Lexington. From 1937 to 1939, he was the senior aviator aboard the heavy cruiser USS Pensacola. 

During his military career was awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, several Air Medals and the Presidential Unit Citation.

A native of Jersey City, New Jersey, he attended Fordham University and later was appointed to the United States Naval Academy, where he graduated in 1930. 

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Margaret Ryan Bauer of Ft Pierce; 2 sons, a daughter, and 2 grandchildren. Services will be held at the Fort Myer Chapel, with burial in Arlington National Cemetery.

 

Other duty stations:
VT-1B     July 1922 - April 1935
VS-3B     April 1935 - July 1935
VP-4F and VP-6F     July 1935 - May 1937
VS-9S     May 1937 - May 1939
USS Anzio (CVE-57)     July 1943 - October 1943
FAW 6     August 1950 - October 1951