Ernst Freiherr von Althaus

Oberleutnant 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.

At the start of World War I, Althaus led his unit into battle. In an early action, he led a patrol of 15 hussars into a French village occupied by the enemy and captured twenty-two prisoners. For this feat, on 27 January 1915, he was awarded his native Bavaria's highest decoration for valor, the Knight's Cross of the Military Order of St. Henry. In April 1915, he transferred to the Fliegertruppen and trained at Fliegerersatz-Abteilung 6 (Replacement Detachment 6) at Grossenhain.

Aerial service See also Aerial victory standards of World War I

Althaus was promoted to Oberleutnant on 6 August 1915 before being posted to Feldflieger Abteilung 23 (Field Flier Detachment 23) on 20 September. While in this detachment, he served with two other future flying aces: Rudolf Berthold and Hans-Joachim Buddecke. While serving with Feldflieger Abteilung 23, Althaus was temporarily assigned to ad hoc fighter formations known as Kampfeinsitzerkommando (Combat Single-Seater Commands), which were named after their location.

Althaus began flying combat missions in early October, flying an example of the world's first dedicated fighter airplane, the Fokker Eindecker. All three of these nascent aces were part of the Fokker Scourge.

Althaus flew with three Kampfeinsitzerkommandos, but had success only with Kampfeinsitzerkommando Vaux. On 3 December 1915, he shot down a Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2c near Roye. In February 1916, he scored twice more, again in March, 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. 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 splash, marking his Albatros D.V's chrome yellow fuselage with the five dots and a dash that denoted the Morse Code for his nickname initials of 'H A'. He shifted to command of 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 the American Army on 15 October 1918. He was repatriated in September 1919.

Post World War I

Althaus studied law. He became a lawyer despite his total loss of vision by 1937. He did well enough that during World War II, he rose to become Landgerichtsdirektor (Director) of the County Court of Berlin. In 1945, he served briefly as an interpreter for the Allied armies. He died in the following year.

Decorations and awards

Pour le Mérite: Awarded 21 July 1916 Knight's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern with Swords: Summer 1916 Knight's Cross of the Military Order of St. Henry: 27 January 1915 Iron Cross of 1914, 1st and 2nd class Knight's Cross of the Ducal Saxe-Ernestine House Order with Swords War Merit Cross, 2nd class (Brunswick) General Honor Decoration (Hesse)