Tirpitz...arado float plane photo album

[Simon O.]

The star patch on his arm is that of the Sea cadet career path and worn by officer candidates. He didn't join as an EM, this is just the German system for officer training.

[Gary B]

Hi,

Thanks for the clarification ref the Star patch.

Gary B

[Norm F]

Regarding the badges on the closeup of his officer's uniform:
It does look like an Observer's badge as described here:
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/war_...rver_badge.htm
The clasp looks like a Reconaissance/Air Sea Rescue clasp with the big central eagle head as described here:
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/war_...ing_clasps.htm

Definitely an Oberleutnant as seen both by the shoulder boards and the collar tabs on the closeup. All very interesting with the crossover of services from KM to Luftwaffe!

Best regards,
---Norm

[Maurice]

Should this be of any help, there is a book on the Bordflieger. It mentions that on june 1944, Tirpitz had 2./196 on board with seven planes. Crews:

Lt. Weber & Uffz.Köser
Oblt. Elbert & Ofw. Rossmeissel
Lt.Bache & Ofw. Osterburg
Lt.Telle & Ofw. Zeissler
Oblt. Pahlow & Ofw. Meissner
Lt.Baehr & Ofw. Osterburg
Fw.Meissner & ObGefr. Döhnert

Regards,

Maurice

[Eric JB]

..a birthday card...thanks for the translation ...I will add some more photos this evening . There are a couple of photos of U-boat 23...but how likely is it that a Luftwaffe observer would have done any service on U-boats ?
many thanks
jim

For example :

Heinz von Davidson, Bordfliegerstaffel 1./196, Hipper, Tirpitz, Lützow., 1.WO U 135, CO U 281.

Paul Just, Beobachter 1./Küstenfliegergruppe 306 & 806, 1.WO U 156, CO 151, CO U 546.

and there were more of them that made such a career move.

yours friendly

Eric-Jan

[hornetsfan]

Blimey ,you chaps have been busy ! well done ! .....simon I googled Wilhelm Rosenbaum and he certainly seems a good lead ...how sure are you that this is our man ? I would really like to have his identity 100% confirmed ...and then it would be great to have the details of his service ...is this possible ? These albums come alive when more quality background information is available ....any further thoughts why he should be posing with 3 u-boat commanders in the POW photo ?

[hornetsfan]

Eric , you seem to suggest that it is quite possible that our man could have served in surface ships ,u-boats and as luftwaffe observer ..sounds like he had quite a war ...and to add to this he appears to be army uniform ....am I right in believing naval officers all went through basic infantry training ?
many thanks
jim

[Eric JB]

Maybe the only reason is that they were in the same POW camp at one time.

[hornetsfan]

pictured as a young manscan0795.jpg

[hornetsfan]

[ATTACH]1396758[/ATTACH]

[Norm F]

...and to add to this he appears to be army uniform ....am I right in believing naval officers all went through basic infantry training ?
many thanks
jim

No Army, just Naval and Luftwaffe. But yes he would have done basic training (Grundausbildung) so you probably have some photos in your album with the Feldgrau uniform on training exercises.

Cheers.
---Norm

By the way, nice photo there of him in the group of Fähnrich zur Zee (Officer candidates at the Feldwebel rank).

[hornetsfan]

[ATTACH]1396796[/ATTACH]

[hornetsfan]

Ascan0889.jpg photo of the ship

[Trance_Eyes]

Great stuff guys.. the knowledge base on the WAF makes these a very interesting read!!

Cheers

[relichelmet]

Am I the only one who cant see the pictures?