Christian Donhauser

Leutnant Hans Christian Friedrich Donhauser (9 September 1894 – 13 January 1919) was a German World War I flying ace credited with 19 aerial victories.

Early life Hans Christian Friedrich Donhauser was born in Harburg on 9 September 1894. He preferred use of the first name Christian.

World War I aerial service Donhauser began his flying career as a pilot in a photo reconnaissance and artillery direction unit, Feldflieger Abteilung (Field Flier Detachment) 10. He then volunteered to fly fighter aircraft and underwent training at Jastaschule (fighter school) No. 1. After his graduation and posting to Jasta 17 as a Feldwebel in July 1918, he rapidly ran up a score. His second victory was on 20 August 1918; by the end of the month, his count was nine. He won twice more in September, and scored eight triumphs in October, with the last one on 23 October, just over two months after joining the jagdstaffel. At war's end, Donhauser was in the first detachment of German pilots to surrender their aircraft.

Donhauser remained in military service in the diminished postwar Reichswehr. He was promoted to the officer's ranks as a Leutnant. While visiting Coblenz, he died in an airplane crash on 13 January 1919.

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