Background
Hans Christian Friedrich Donhauser was born in Coblenz on 9 September 1894.
Hans Christian Friedrich Donhauser was born in Coblenz on 9 September 1894.
He preferred use of the first name Christian. Donhauser began his flying career as a pilot in a photo reconnaissance and artillery direction unit, Feldflieger Abteilung (Field Flier Detachment) 10. He scored his first victory on 18 May 1918, while he was flying artillery spotting missions.
He then volunteered to fly fighter aircraft and underwent training at Jastaschule (fighter school) Number.
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. At war"s end, Donhauser was in the first detachment of German pilots to surrender their aircraft.
On 30 December 1918, Donhauser was the subject of an article in the New York Times.
lieutenant noted that he claimed to have shot down and killed Quentin Roosevelt, President Theodore Roosevelt"s son. lieutenant also stated that at 94 pounds, he was the smallest aviator in the German air force. 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.