Ernst Freiherr von Althaus
Encyclopedia
Ernst Freiherr von Althaus (19 March 1890 – 29 November 1946) was a German flying ace
in World War I
, credited with nine confirmed aerial victories, as well as eight unconfirmed ones. He was one of the original Fokker Eindekker pilots who became known collectively as the Fokker Scourge
.
; he was the son of the Adjutant to the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. He joined the 1st Saxon Husaren-Regiment Nr. 18 as an ensign
in Grossenhain in 1909 and was serving in that unit at the outbreak of war. He was a bon vivant who enjoyed poker and women.
At the start of war, von Althaus was a leutnant with his unit. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Military Order of St. Henry
on 27 January 1915 for an action when he led a patrol of 15 hussars into a French
village which led and captured twenty-two prisoners. In the spring of 1915 he transferred to the Fliegertruppen
and trained at FEA 6 at Grossenhain.
on 6 August 1915 before being posted to FA 23 on 20 September. where he led long distance flights. He also served in KEK Vaux, KEK Sivry, and KEK Jamitz.
On 3 December 1915, he shot down a Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2
c near Roye
. In February 1916, he scored twice more, in March again, and on 30 April became an ace. He was wounded in the process. During his stay in hospital, he met the nurse who would become his wife.
During the early summer of 1916, he was awarded the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern. On 22 July 1916, he notched his eighth win, thus earning the Pour le Mérite
. He continued with KEK Vaux when it became Jasta 4, and was wounded in action with them on 4 March 1917. Althaus then transferred to Jasta 14
. Manfred von Richthofen
personally requested Althaus's transfer to Jasta 10. Althaus took command on 6 July 1917. He made a bit of a splash, marking his Albatros D.V
's chrome yellow fuselage with the five dots and a dash that Morse Code
d his nickname initials of 'H A'.
He scored one last victory here, after a year's break, on 24 July 1917. However, four days before, at the Red Baron's request, he had relinquished command of Jasta 10 to Werner Voss
. Althaus's failing eyesight caused his removal from command and combat; he also seems to have been regarded as a scandalous gambler. He shifted to commanding Jastaschule II, but that assignment was also ended by his diminishing vision. In a reversal of the usual system of transfers, Althaus shifted back into the command of an infantry company at Verdun
. After a battle in which his company was reduced to fifteen men, he was captured by Americans on 15 October 1918, and not repatriated until September 1919.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, credited with nine confirmed aerial victories, as well as eight unconfirmed ones. He was one of the original Fokker Eindekker pilots who became known collectively as the Fokker Scourge
Fokker Scourge
The Fokker Scourge was a term coined by the British press in the summer of 1915 to describe the then-current ascendancy of the Fokker Eindecker monoplane fighters of the German Fliegertruppen over the poorly-armed Allied reconnaissance types of the period....
.
Early life and infantry service
Ernst Frieherr von Althaus was born in CoburgCoburg
Coburg is a town located on the Itz River in Bavaria, Germany. Its 2005 population was 42,015. Long one of the Thuringian states of the Wettin line, it joined with Bavaria by popular vote in 1920...
; he was the son of the Adjutant to the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. He joined the 1st Saxon Husaren-Regiment Nr. 18 as an ensign
Ensign
An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
in Grossenhain in 1909 and was serving in that unit at the outbreak of war. He was a bon vivant who enjoyed poker and women.
At the start of war, von Althaus was a leutnant with his unit. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Military Order of St. Henry
Military Order of St. Henry
The Military Order of St. Henry was a military order of the Kingdom of Saxony, a member state of the German Empire. The order was the oldest military order of the states of the German Empire. It was founded on October 7, 1736 by Augustus III, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony...
on 27 January 1915 for an action when he led a patrol of 15 hussars into a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
village which led and captured twenty-two prisoners. In the spring of 1915 he transferred to the Fliegertruppen
Luftstreitkräfte
The Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte , known before October 1916 as Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches , or simply Die Fliegertruppen, was the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I...
and trained at FEA 6 at Grossenhain.
Aerial service
He was promoted to OberleutnantOberleutnant
Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
on 6 August 1915 before being posted to FA 23 on 20 September. where he led long distance flights. He also served in KEK Vaux, KEK Sivry, and KEK Jamitz.
On 3 December 1915, he shot down a Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2
Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2
The Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 was a British single-engine two-seat biplane which was in service with the Royal Flying Corps from 1912 until the end of World War I. The "Bleriot" in its designation refers to the fact that, like the Bleriot types it was of tractor configuration, with the...
c near Roye
Roye
Roye is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* Roye, Haute-Saône, in the Haute-Saône département* Roye, Somme, in the Somme département* Roye-sur-Matz, in the Oise département-People:...
. In February 1916, he scored twice more, in March again, and on 30 April became an ace. He was wounded in the process. During his stay in hospital, he met the nurse who would become his wife.
During the early summer of 1916, he was awarded the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern. On 22 July 1916, he notched his eighth win, thus earning the Pour le Mérite
Pour le Mérite
The Pour le Mérite, known informally as the Blue Max , was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order for German soldiers until the end of World War I....
. He continued with KEK Vaux when it became Jasta 4, and was wounded in action with them on 4 March 1917. Althaus then transferred to Jasta 14
Jasta 14
Jasta 14 was a hardcore band from Connecticut that existed from 1991 to 1996. Over the years it included members that went on to play in such bands as Hatebreed, Red Sparowes and Orthrelm.-Members:* Jamey Jasta* Mick Barr* Joel Chialastri* Greg Burns...
. Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen , also widely known as the Red Baron, was a German fighter pilot with the Imperial German Army Air Service during World War I...
personally requested Althaus's transfer to Jasta 10. Althaus took command on 6 July 1917. He made a bit of a splash, marking his Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
's chrome yellow fuselage with the five dots and a dash that Morse Code
Morse code
Morse code is a method of transmitting textual information as a series of on-off tones, lights, or clicks that can be directly understood by a skilled listener or observer without special equipment...
d his nickname initials of 'H A'.
He scored one last victory here, after a year's break, on 24 July 1917. However, four days before, at the Red Baron's request, he had relinquished command of Jasta 10 to Werner Voss
Werner Voss
Werner Voss was a World War I German flying ace, a friend and rival of the famous Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen....
. Althaus's failing eyesight caused his removal from command and combat; he also seems to have been regarded as a scandalous gambler. He shifted to commanding Jastaschule II, but that assignment was also ended by his diminishing vision. In a reversal of the usual system of transfers, Althaus shifted back into the command of an infantry company at Verdun
Verdun
Verdun is a city in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Verdun is the biggest city in Meuse, although the capital of the department is the slightly smaller city of Bar-le-Duc.- History :...
. After a battle in which his company was reduced to fifteen men, he was captured by Americans on 15 October 1918, and not repatriated until September 1919.