News Release

FORT WAYNE — A Fort Wayne man will be inducted into the Indiana Military Veterans Hall of Fame Tuesday, Nov. 12.

Paul F. Baer

Born on Jan. 29, 1894, in Fort Wayne, Paul Frank Baer is credited as being the first U.S. Military Fighter Ace during the World War I. According to Veteran Tributes, he served with both U.S. and French militaries. He was taken as a prisoner of war by Germany on May 22, 1918. He was released in November of that year.

Baer is credited with taking down nine enemy aircrafts during the war and receiving two Distinguished Service Crosses.

Baer was killed in a flying accident in Shanghai, China, on December 9, 1930.

The full list of Indiana Military Veterans Hall of Fame 2024 Inductees:

• Paul Frank Baer (deceased), Fort Wayne.
• Aletha Calloway, Indianapolis.
• Donald Ray Canaday, Fishers.
• Paul Michael Cauley, Indianapolis.
• Thomas Gantz Cassady (deceased), Owen County.
• Gerald L. Clewlow, Evansville.
• Norris Furman Dendy (deceased), Indianapolis.
• Andrew Jacobs JR (deceased), Indianapolis.
• Lester H. Keller, Jasper/Shoals.
• Arno Childs Land (deceased), Windfall.
• Ralph Hayward Richards, Indianapolis/Fishers.
• Maurice Edwin Shearer (deceased), Indianapolis.
• Philip Max Spreuer (deceased), Lagrange.
• Michael Ray Tomes, Greenwood.
• James Milton Thompson, Carmel.

The 2024 Induction Ceremony will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at Primo South Banquet and Conference Center, 2615 National Ave., Indianapolis. The social hour begins at 5 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m., followed by the ceremony at 7 p.m. To get tickets to the induction ceremony, click here.