Leutnant Friedrich Theodor Noltenius (8 January 1894 – 12 March 1936) was a German flying ace during the First World War, with a total of 21 official victories.

Despite the resulting transfers between units, Noltenius continued his success, being credited with his 21st victory on 4 November 1918.

Only the war's end a week later barred him from receiving Germany's highest award for valor, the Pour le Mérite.

Friedrich Theodor Noltenius was born in Bremen on 8 January 1894, the son of a professor of medicine.

[1] While it is unknown when Noltenius transferred to flying service in the Luftstreitkräfte (Imperial German Air Force), he began ground school on 3 November 1917.

Upon graduation, he was assigned to Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 27, one of the fighter squadrons of Bruno Loerzer's Jagdgeschwader III wing.

He chose an elaborate display of red and white, with checkerboards and stripes both encircling the fuselage in a wide band and painted on the upper wing above the cockpit.

Flying in this killing weather, Noltenius found himself one of three German pilots attacking a French Breguet 14 on the 18th.

[3] On 3 August 1918, Noltenius pushed through drizzly weather to unsuccessfully attack a drenched enemy observation balloon.

By this time, Noltenius had successfully shot down another four enemy airplanes and three more balloons, raising his score to 13, with one pending.

Then a clash with Ulrich Neckel, his commanding officer, led to another move, this time to Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 11.

His twentieth victory qualified him for the Pour le Mérite, but the Armistice three days later put an end to those awards.

Noltenius enrolled in the Freikorps for the German Revolution of 1918-1919, fighting against the communist Spartacus League revolutionists attempting to take over Germany.

[10] Noltenius became involved in racial research, dealing with the concepts of a master race, including the Hamitic theory.

These items were published in the League's magazine, the Cross and Cockade Journal, Volume 7, Number 4 (Winter 1966), p 307.