Max Näther

Leutnant Max Näther (24 August 18998 January 1919) HOH, IC, was a German World War I ace fighter pilot who destroyed 26 enemy aircraft. He shot down ten observation balloons and sixteen airplanes, including ten SPAD S.XIII fighters and a Sopwith Dolphin. He was killed in his plane at the border of Germany during the Greater Poland uprising on 8 January 1919. He won both the Second and First Class Iron Crosses during this time, In the summer of 1917, he volunteered for transfer to the Air Service.

Aerial service

Näther's Albatros D.Va was black with a German flag painted on its side. Observation balloons were very flammable, but well defended.

Näther took basic flight training in Bucharest. He then progressed to training with Fliegerersatz-Abteilung 7 (Replacement Detachment 7) at Brunswick. His final training was at Jastaschule I (Fighter Training School 1) in Valenciennes, France. He graduated from Jastaschule I

Näther made his first aerial kill on 16 May 1918, over a Spad XIII. Then, in June, he reeled off a string of six more over enemy observation balloons between the 1st and the 28th, becoming an ace on the 16th. He became Staffelführer (Commander) on 7 July 1918, just before his 19th birthday. His final three kills were scored on 29 October. Coincidentally, although he had become eligible with his 20th and 21st on 10 October, he was nominated for the Pour le Mérite on 29 October. His was one of several nominations that was not approved because of the war's end.

Näther's 26 kills comprised over half those of his entire squadron. These included ten observation balloons and eleven fighters—ten SPAD S.XIIIs and a Sopwith Dolphin.

Death in Greater Poland uprising Näther was killed on 8 January 1919 during the Greater Poland uprising after World War I, by Polish ground fire while flying over Colmar (now Chodziez) in the Province of Posen (now Poland).