We continue with this data on the U-Boat Skippers who were once fliers.

Manfred Kinzel

born 27 March 1915 at Waldheim and was in Naval Class 1935.
Seconded to Luftwaffe October 1937 to August 1941.
U-Boat training September to December 1941;
3 rd U-Bootflottille December 1941 to February 1942;
II. W. O. on U-404 February to May 1942;
U-Boat Commander’s Course, 24 th U-Bootflottille in May and June 1942;
Baubelehrung June 1942;
Promoted to Kapitänleutnant 1 August 1942’
Commander U-338 from 25 June 1942 to 20 Sept. 1943; Was lost with his boat 20 September 1943 SW of Iceland.

Leonhard Klingspor

born 19 February 1918 at Saarbrücken and was in Naval Class 1937a.
W.O. on the U-Boat depot ship ERWIN WASNER March to June 1942;
U-Boat sea training aboard U-84 June and August 1942;
W.O. 1 st U-Bootflottille August 1942 to February 1943;
U-Boat Commander’s course at 2 nd USS and also the 24 th U-Bootflottille February and March 1943;
Baubelehrung 1 st KLA March to May 1943;
Commander of U-471 - 5 May 1943 to 6 August 1944;
Promoted to Kapitänleutnant on 1 June 1944;
1 st UAA August and September 1944;
Baubelehrung Type XXI at the 6 th KLA from October to December 1944;
Commander of the Type XXI boat U-3512 from 4 December 1944 to 24 April 1945. Klingspor was scheduled to take over U-1101 from Dubler but the war ended before they could effect this Change of Command.

Helmut Knollmann

born 9 August 1918 at Meinerzhagen Bergisch land and was in Naval Class 1937a.
Comp. Officer 4/Basic Training Establishment Stralsund August and September 1939;
Seconded to Luftwaffe October 1939 to June 1943;
U-Boat training July to December 1943;
U-Boat Commander’s course at 3 rd ULD (U-Boot-Lehr-Division or Submarine School) and also the 24 th Training Flotilla from January to March 1944 and also took U-Boat Commander’s Torpedo Course 65;
Promoted to Kapitänleutnant on 1 April 1944;
Baubelehrung with the 7 th KLA April to July 1944;
Commander of U-1273 from 7 July 1944 to 17 Feb. 1945. Was lost with his boat on 17 February 1945 off Oslofjord, Norway. Helmut Koster, born 25 April 1914 at Geestemünde and was in Naval Class 1934.
Seconded to the Luftwaffe October 1936 to Nov. 1939;
ADC and W.O. with 6 th Torpedo Boat Flotilla November 1939 to May 1940;
I.W.O. aboard Torpedo Boat LEOPARD June - Oct 1940;
U-Boat training October 1940 to April 1941;
Various courses including U-Boat Commanders course from May to August 1941;
Commander U-72 from September to 1 December 1941;
Promoted to Kapitänleutnant 1 December 1941;
U-Commander (supernumerary W.O.) for sea training aboard U-567 from 12 to 21 December 1941; Was lost with his boat on 21 December 1941.

Hans Kolbus

born 5 October 1919 in Lohne, Westphalia and was in Naval Class 1938.
Seconded to Luftwaffe September 1940 to January 1941;
U-Boat training January to June 1941;
Various courses & Baubelehrung July 1941 to Jan. 1942;
I.W.O. aboard U-409 January to November 1942;
U-Boat Commander’s course with 24 th U-Bootflottille and Baubelehrung with 7 th KLA Nov. 1942 to Jan. 1943;
Promoted to Oberleutnant zur See on 1 April 1943;
Commander of U-421 from 13 Jan. 1943 to 29 Apr. 1944;
29 th U-Bootflottille (U-596) from April to July 1944;
Commander of U-596 July 1944 to 8 September 1944;
Commander of U-407 from 9 to 19 September 1944. He was captured on 19 September 1944 when U-407 was sunk.

Günther Krech

born 21 September 1914 at Wilhelmshaven and was in Naval Class 1933.
3/Küstenfligergruppe 506 from Nov. 1938 to Oct. 1939;
Torpedo School at Flensburg-Mürwik Feb. & Mar. 1939;
U-Boat training from November 1939 to March 1940;
W.O. aboard U-5 March and April 1940;
Baubelehrung U-Boats East April and May 1940;
I.W.O. aboard U-100 from May to November 1940;
U-Boat Commander’s course at the 24 th U-Bootflottille from November 1940 to January 1941;
Baubelehrung for U-558 January and February 1941;
Promoted to Kapitänleutnant 1 April 1941;
Commander of U-558 from 20 Feb. 1941 to 20 July 1943;
Decorated with the Knights Cross on 17 September 1942. Was taken prisoner of war on 20 July 1943 when the boat was lost.

WWII Vom Seeflieger Zum U-bootfahrer From Naval Aviator to Submariner [KTB 170]
WWII Vom Seeflieger Zum U-bootfahrer From Naval Aviator to Submariner [KTB 172]
WWII Vom Seeflieger Zum U-bootfahrer From Naval Aviator to Submariner [KTB 173]
WWII Vom Seeflieger Zum U-bootfahrer From Naval Aviator to Submariner [KTB 174]
WWII Vom Seeflieger Zum U-bootfahrer From Naval Aviator to Submariner [KTB 175]
WWII Vom Seeflieger Zum U-bootfahrer From Naval Aviator to Submariner [KTB 176]
WWII Vom Seeflieger Zum U-bootfahrer From Naval Aviator to Submariner [KTB 177]
WWII Vom Seeflieger Zum U-bootfahrer From Naval Aviator to Submariner [KTB 178]
WWII Vom Seeflieger Zum U-bootfahrer From Naval Aviator to Submariner [KTB 179]