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Oberleutnant Armin Faber

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Print ID: IN15

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In June 1942, Oberleutnant Armin Faber was Adjutant to the commander of III/JG2 in Northern France. On 23rd June, he was given special permission to fly a combat mission with 7th Staffel. The unit operated Focke-Wulf 190 fighters.

The FW-190 had only recently arrived with front line units at this time and its superior performance had caused the Allies so many problems that they were considering mounting a commando raid on a French airfield to capture one for evaluation. Later this day, Faber was to save them the effort by accidentally handing them one intact!

7th Staffel was scrambled to intercept a force of twelve Bostons on their way back from a bombing mission. A fight developed over the English Channel with the escorting Spitfires, during which Faber was attacked by Sergeant Trejtnar of 310 Squadron RAF. In his efforts to shake off the Spitfire, Faber flew north over Exeter. After much high-speed manoeuvring, Faber, with only one cannon working, pulled an Immelmann turn into the sun and shot down his pursuer in a head-on attack.

Trejnar baled out safely, but the disorientated Faber now mistook the Bristol Channel for the English Channel and flew north instead of south. Thinking South Wales was France, he turned towards the nearest airfield - RAF Pembrey. Observers on the ground could not believe their eyes as Faber waggled his wings in a victory celebration, lowered the Focke-Wulf's undercarriage and landed. He was immediately captured, along with his aircraft.

The FW-190 was repainted in RAF colours and evaluated by the Air Fighting Development Unit at Farnborough, providing the Allies with extremely valuable intelligence. Faber spent the rest of the war as a PoW.