Friedrich T. Noltenius
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Friedrich Theodor Noltenius (8 January 1894–12 March 1936) was a German
flying ace
in the First World War
, with a total of 21 kills.
Noltenius enlisted in Field Artillery Regiment No. 13 at the outbreak of war, on 4 August 1914. He served on the Eastern Front until December 1915; during this time, he was in the assault on Warsaw
and saw action in Serbia
. He then saw action at Ypres
and the Somme
in France until November 1917, winning the Iron Cross 2nd class. He was commissioned in October 1916 and was wounded on 16 April 1917. In May he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st class.
; he then took flight school with FEA 10 at Böblingen
in February 1918. In June 1918 he attended fighter school and then posted to the Royal Prussian Jasta 27 in Jagdgeschwader 3
, commanded by Bruno Loerzer
.
Flying a Fokker D.VII
with red and white bands painted around the fuselage and on the middle of the top wing, Noltenius soon became a 'star' of the Jasta. His first victory was over a Sopwith Dolphin, on 10 August. His second win, ten days later, initiated him into the ranks of balloon busters as he destroyed an observation balloon. By 2 September, he was an ace, scoring his fifth and sixth triumphs. He survived being blown out of the sky on 14 September, when he attacked a booby-trapped balloon full of high explosives that singed much of the fabric from his plane's wings, and being wounded on the next day. He was also shot down on the 22nd by George Vaughn
. Nevertheless, by the end of September, Noltenius had successfully claimed victory over another four enemy airplanes and three more balloons, raising his score to a baker's dozen.
Disputes over victories with his fellow pilots prompted his transfer to the Royal Prussian Jasta 6
on 27 September, the day after his thirteenth victory. He thus joined the elite Flying Circus, Royal Prussian Jagdgeschwader I. Noltenius scored twice with Jasta 6, once on a balloon on 6 October 1918, and once four days later on a Spad. The former victory made him one of the rare balloon aces.
A clash with Ulrich Neckel
, his Commanding Officer, led to another move, this time within the Circus, to the Royal Prussian Jasta 11
. He scored thrice for his new squadron on 23 October. Three more singleton victories, on 28 October, 3 and 4 November, closed out his career as an ace. The armistice a week after his final victory, and the subsequent revolution, scotched his chances of being awarded Germany's highest decoration, the Pour le Mérite
or Blue Max. Indeed, he was one of the last awardees of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
flying ace
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 the First World War
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...
, with a total of 21 kills.
Early life and service
Friedrich Theodor Noltenius was born in Bremen on 8 January 1894, the son of a Professor of Medicine. The younger Noltenius graduated from high school in Bremen. The war interrupted him becoming a doctor.Noltenius enlisted in Field Artillery Regiment No. 13 at the outbreak of war, on 4 August 1914. He served on the Eastern Front until December 1915; during this time, he was in the assault on Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
and saw action in Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
. He then saw action at Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
and the Somme
Somme
Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
in France until November 1917, winning the Iron Cross 2nd class. He was commissioned in October 1916 and was wounded on 16 April 1917. In May he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st class.
Aerial service
In December, he commenced ground school in AltenburgAltenburg
Altenburg is a town in the German federal state of Thuringia, 45 km south of Leipzig. It is the capital of the Altenburger Land district.-Geography:...
; he then took flight school with FEA 10 at Böblingen
Böblingen
Böblingen is a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, seat of Böblingen District. Physically Sindelfingen and Böblingen are continuous.-History:Böblingen was founded by Count Wilhelm von Tübingen-Böblingen in 1253. Württemberg acquired the town in 1357, and on 12 May 1525 one of the bloodiest battles...
in February 1918. In June 1918 he attended fighter school and then posted to the Royal Prussian Jasta 27 in Jagdgeschwader 3
Jagdgeschwader 3
Jagdgeschwader 3 Udet was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. The Geschwader operated on all the German fronts in the European Theatre of World War II. It was named after Ernst Udet in 1942.-Campaign in the West :...
, commanded by Bruno Loerzer
Bruno Loerzer
Bruno Loerzer was an officer in the German Luftstreitkräfte during World War I and Luftwaffe during World War II....
.
Flying a Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
with red and white bands painted around the fuselage and on the middle of the top wing, Noltenius soon became a 'star' of the Jasta. His first victory was over a Sopwith Dolphin, on 10 August. His second win, ten days later, initiated him into the ranks of balloon busters as he destroyed an observation balloon. By 2 September, he was an ace, scoring his fifth and sixth triumphs. He survived being blown out of the sky on 14 September, when he attacked a booby-trapped balloon full of high explosives that singed much of the fabric from his plane's wings, and being wounded on the next day. He was also shot down on the 22nd by George Vaughn
George Augustus Vaughn, Jr.
George Augustus Vaughn, Jr. was an American fighter ace in World War I and Distinguished Service Cross, Britain's Distinguished Flying Cross, and Silver Star recipient....
. Nevertheless, by the end of September, Noltenius had successfully claimed victory over another four enemy airplanes and three more balloons, raising his score to a baker's dozen.
Disputes over victories with his fellow pilots prompted his transfer to the Royal Prussian Jasta 6
Jasta 6
-History:Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 6 was founded on 25 August 1916. It was one of the original units of the Luftstreitkräfte, which was the forerunner to the Luftwaffe. The jasta was formed from Fokkerstaffel Sivry, itself an early attempt to use the new winged weapons of fighter aircraft...
on 27 September, the day after his thirteenth victory. He thus joined the elite Flying Circus, Royal Prussian Jagdgeschwader I. Noltenius scored twice with Jasta 6, once on a balloon on 6 October 1918, and once four days later on a Spad. The former victory made him one of the rare balloon aces.
A clash with Ulrich Neckel
Ulrich Neckel
Ulrich Neckel Pour le Mérite, Iron Cross First and Second Class, was a World War I fighter ace credited with 30 victories.-Early Life and Enlistment:...
, his Commanding Officer, led to another move, this time within the Circus, to the Royal Prussian Jasta 11
Jasta 11
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 11 was founded on 28 September 1916 from elements of 4 armee's Keks 1, 2 and 3 and mobilized on 11 October as part of the German Air Service's expansion program, forming permanent specialised fighter squadrons, or "Jastas"...
. He scored thrice for his new squadron on 23 October. Three more singleton victories, on 28 October, 3 and 4 November, closed out his career as an ace. The armistice a week after his final victory, and the subsequent revolution, scotched his chances of being awarded Germany's highest decoration, 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....
or Blue Max. Indeed, he was one of the last awardees of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern.