Oberleutnant Theodor Croneiss (18 December 1894 – 7 November 1942) was a World War I fighter pilot credited with five aerial victories.
World War I service
Croneiss was one of the German pilots assigned to duty with Germany's allies, the Ottoman Empire.[1] As such, he was assigned to Feldflieger Abteilung 6, which was also known as the Jasta Chanak Kale—Turkei as early as late 1915 or early 1916. His first aerial victory came on 7 January 1916, when he downed a Farman bomber over El Sedd-ul-Bahr. The next day, he downed a Royal Naval Air Service Voisin III LAS in the vicinity of Cape Helles. On 4 February 1916, his victory was over a reconnaissance two-seater at Baba-Tepe, off Imbros.[1]
On 24 January 1918, Croneiss shot down a Sopwith over the Gulf of Saros. His fifth victory came on 23 May 1918, when he destroyed a Sopwith fighter. He was subsequently decorated with the Iron Cross First Class and the Knight's Cross of the House Order of Hohenzollern in August 1918.[1][2]
Post World War I
Having survived the war as an Oberleutnant, Croneiss became a sporting aviator. He became director of a flying club that sponsored Willy Messerschmitt. Croneiss piloted one of Messerschmitt's early designs, the M-21, to win the designer a 60,000 Reichsmark prize. In 1928–1929, Croneiss won the East Prussia Flying Trophy with the M-23 model. He later evolved into a test pilot for the Messerschmitt Company.[1]
Early in 1934 SA Chief Ernst Röhm 'had chosen Theo Croneiss to replace Hermann Göring as air minister, for example, and had given him a magnificent ceremonial dagger. Croneiss ratted Röhm out to Göring. Röhm denied it...Reichsführer Himmler rewarded Croneiss with high SS rank later.' Irving, David (2020). True Himmler. Focal Point. p. 256-257. ISBN 1 872 197 83 3.
Theodor Jacob Croneiss died on 7 November 1942.[1]
