In 1932, Himmelheber invented particle board.^{[citation needed][1]}

During the Second World War Himmelheber served as pilot in the fighter unit Jagdgeschwader 2. During the Battle of Britain he was a leutnant and technical officer of Stab.I/JG 2 (staff flight of the I group of JG 2). He had one victory on 30 August 1940, over an RAF Hurricane near Goudhurst. He was shot down himself on 6 September 1940, over Staplehurst, Kent, and became a POW at Woolwich Hospital.

• Literature by and about Max Himmelheber in the German National Library catalogue