When Germany invaded Austria in 1938 he was offered German citizenship, but being fervently anti-Nazi he declined and was declared stateless. Lammer lost his job, lived on his savings and studied photography.
At the outbreak of war Lammer volunteered for the RAF. Somewhat to his surprise he was granted an emergency commission in March 1940 for training as an Air Gunner. He did not become a British citizen until 22 May 1941.
After initial ground training, Pilot Officer Lammer went on a gunnery course. He joined No 254 Squadron and was immediately attached to No 206 Squadron, flying in Hudsons on convoy escort. On 9 July Lammer was posted to 5 OTU, Aston Down, where he converted to Defiants before joining No 141 Squadron at Prestwick.
He later retrained as a Radio Observer on Beaufighters and was posted to No 409 Squadron at Coleby Grange on 1 November 1941. He went to No 255 Squadron at Coltishall in February 1942, as Navigation Leader.
The squadron flew to Gibraltar on 14 November and landed at Maison Blanche, Algiers the next day. Shortly afterwards Lammer went with a detachment to Souk-el-Arba.
He assisted in the destruction of a He 111 and two Cant 1007s on the 6th, flying with Squadron Leader J H Player. On December 15 and 17, two Ju 88s were destroyed, with Wing Commander D P D G Kelly. Lammer was awarded the DFC on 16 February 1943.
On 25 June, flying again with Player, Lammer assisted in destroying a Cant 1007. Tour-expired, Lammer returned to the UK and was posted as Squadron Leader i/c Radar and Navigation at 62 OTU, Ouston in September 1943. A bar to his DFC was gazetted on 29 October.
Lammer went to 54 OTU as Senior Navigation Radar Instructor in June 1945. He received a Mention in Despatches and was released from the RAF on 7 November 1945 as a Squadron Leader.
He became a professional photographer and had his own studio, specialising in photographing children. Lammer later taught at Guildford and the London School of Art. After retirement he taught part time at the Royal College of Art and was made an Honorary Fellow. His photographs were used on postage stamps.
Lammer died on 4 October 2000.
