Erich Hahn

Oberleutnant Erich Hahn (18 October 1891 – 4 September 1917) was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.^[1]

Erich Hahn
Born	18 October 1891 Leipzig, Kingdom of Saxony
Died	4 September 1917(1917-09-04) (aged 25) Beine, France
Allegiance	German Empire
Service / branch	Infantry; aviation
Rank	Oberleutnant
Unit	Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) (Flier Detachment (Artillery)) 221; Feldflieger Abteilung (Field Flier Detachment) 64; Kampfeinsitzerkommando (Combat Single-Seater Command) Bertincourt; Jagdstaffel 1 (Fighter Squadron 1); Jagdstaffel 19 (Fighter Squadron 19)
Commands	Jagdstaffel 19
Awards	Military Order of Saint Henry; Royal House Order of Hohenzollern; Iron Cross First and Second Class

Biography

Erich Hahn was born on 18 October 1891 in Leipzig, the Kingdom of Saxony, in the German Empire.^[2]

He joined Saxony's Infantry Regiment Nr. 2 just before World War I. In 1913, he learned to fly at Anthony Fokker's flying school. As one of the very few experienced pilots about, he was serving in Flieger-Abteilung (Flier Detachment) 64 when the war began. He then moved on to service in Flieger-Abteilung (Flier Detachment) 23 and then to artillery direction with Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) (Flier Detachment (Artillery)) 221.^[2]

Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Saint Henry

On 10 August 1916, he transferred to fighter aviation with his assignment to Kampfeinsitzerkommando (Combat Single-Seater Command) Bertincourtt. When Jagdstaffel 1 (Fighter Squadron 1) was founded as one of the original dedicated German fighter squadrons later in August, Hahn joined them. On 10 November, he would both succeed to acting squadron commander and score his first aerial victory. On 29 November 1916, he transferred to command of Jagdstaffel 19 (Fighter Squadron 19). Having already won both classes of the Iron Cross, he accepted the Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Saint Henry on 29 December 1916. Hahn was the first fighter pilot to receive the Saint Henry.^[2]

He would not score again until April, when he downed three enemy airplanes and two observation balloons. Notable among these wins was his fourth victory, when he downed French ace René Doumer. On 1 May, Erich Hahn was awarded the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern.^[2]

After these six confirmed victories, Hahn led his squadron until 1935 hours 4 September 1917. At that time, French ace, Lieutenant Georges Madon shot him down over Beine, France and killed him.^[2]

Sources of information

1. The Aerodrome webpage on Hahn Retrieved 29 October 2020
2. Franks et al 1993, pp. 122–123.

References

• Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank W.; Guest, Russell. Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. Grub Street, 1993. ISBN 0-948817-73-9, ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.