Kapitanleuntant Faber

[Adam Thompson]

Can anybody supply any info in this guy, beyond that he was a former staff oficer and Flottenabtielung Referent f?r Seeflugwesen in the post-war Navy? I've been unable to find any bio info on him - including his first name. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated

Adam

[Guest Rick Research]

Walther Faber: born 30 August 1888 St. Leonhardt in Brunswick, died 18 December 1945 at Schloss Eichhof near Coburg.

Served in the navy 1 April 1906 to 31 March 1940, then inexplicably to zur Verf?gung status but kept right on in the same job until final release 8 April 1945.

Final rank was charakterisiert Konteradmiral zur See ausser Dienst 31.3.40.

A pioneer naval aviator, but with a quite lackluster career as far as awards went--

Flight training 1.4.-31.5.13

Marine Flieger Abteilung 1.6.13-15.12.15

Seeflieger Station List/Sylt 16.12.15-13.9.16

I. Seeflieger Abteilung 14.9.-2.12.16

Staff of Commander of Naval Aviation as Adjutant and Training Referent 29.8.17-28.2.19

Reichsmarine Amt as Dezernat for Aviation Branch 1.3.-14.7.19

Admiralty, ditto 15.7.19-14.9.20

The rest of his service was non flight related.

He served continuosly as a Group Leader in the OKM War Science Department 29.8.38-8.4.45

During WW1 he received both classes of the Iron Cross and Brunswick's Ernst August Cross 2nd Class. Aside from that, only a badge as a naval aviator, which would have been the "Commemorative" version after the war because of his long years flying duty.

His full biography is in the Biblio Verlag series "Die Admirale..." (He looked remarkably like the 1970s American television anchorman David Brinckley). Awards from the various Navy Rank Lists.

[Adam Thompson]

Thanks, Rick.

very much appreciated! Unfortunately I don't have access to the source you site I don't suppose there is much on Faber's successesor, Lahrs? I know he left the Reichsmarine in September 1930 to take up a post in a civilian firm, but his aviation record before that (ie, before Gruppe BSx) I am unaware of. Any chance on a brief sketch on him? No need for such a detailed response this time round - am just curios

regards

Adam Thompson

[Guest Rick Research]

The Hildebrand cousins' "Deutschlands Admirale 1848-1945" in three volumes and a small 4th volume for Beamten which were published by Biblio Verlag in the 1980s are still, barely, available at most German dealers' websites in unopened shrink wrap, and are about ?80 each, I think.

There was no German Imperial or Reichsmarine officer named "Lahrs."

[Adam Thompson]

Thanks for the heads up on the sources.

Also, my bad, I'm not sure where my head was earlier... it was Rudolf Lahs who left the navy in Sept. 1929 to become head of the RDLI. According to Hooton, Phoenix Triumphant, p.59 the guy took over Gruppe BSx with the rank of Kapitan zur See in 1925

regards

Adam

[Guest Rick Research]

Ah yes. Rudolf Lahs born 3.1.1880 Marburg/Lahn, died 16.11.1954 Neu-Egling, Bavaria. Navy 10.4.1899-31.3.1929 with charakter as Konteradmiral zS aD.

Very odd since he was NEVER a flyer. He was a torpedoboat officer, the torpedo officer on larger vessels, naval liaison with Wehrkreis VI 1920-23, recruit battalion commander 1923-25, made a research foray to Africa 1925-27, then was (merely for months each) in the Naval Command for Sea Transport and Civil Defense matters,

He did indeed head up the Reichsverband de deutschen Luftfahrtindustrie 1 April 1929 to May 1945...

for absolutely no "reason" whatsoever that I can see, since he had neither aviation nor industrial/production experience. He was... a torpedo specialist!!!

[Adam Thompson]

Thanks Rick

very much appreciated!

Adam