Xavier Dannhuber

Lieutenant Xavier Dannhuber was a German World War I flying ace credited with eleven aerial victories.^[1][2]

History

Dannhuber was first assigned to Kagohl 6, then to SS 25. His next assignment, on 1 July 1917, was to fly a fighter for Jagdstaffel 26. He shot down an observation balloon near Vlamertinghe on 12 August 1917 to start his victory string.^[3] On the 17th, he shot down Canadian ace Harold Joslyn. With a second win later on the 17th, and a win on the 21st, he became an ace on 27 September 1917.^[4] He was also shot down that day.^[5]

His next victory, on 1 October, killed ace Robert Slolely. On 9 October, he shot down William Rooper. He scored on each of the two next days, and again on 14 October 1917, to bring his count to ten.^[6] On the 18th, Dannhuber took a bullet through his upper arm^[7] while being shot down, probably by Andre de Meulemeester,^[8] which removed Dannhuber from action until 7 November. He returned to action in a different squadron, Jasta 79. Dannhuber ended 1917 by taking command of the jasta in December.^[9]

He crashed on 11 February 1918, and was taken out of action until he could resume his command on 9 October. Five days later, on 14 October, exactly one year since his last victory, he scored his final triumph. He shot down a new Sopwith Dolphin.^[10]

Sources of information

References

Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps 1914 - 1918 Norman L. R. Franks, et al. Grub Street, 1993. ISBN 0-948817-73-9, ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.