Jagdstaffel 4

Jasta 4
Active 1916–1918
Country German Empire
Branch Luftstreitkräfte
Type Fighter squadron
Engagements World War I

Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 4, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 4, was a World War I "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the Luftstreitkräfte, which was the forerunner to the Luftwaffe. The unit would score 192 confirmed victories; in turn, it would suffer 11 Killed in Action, 9 Wounded in Action, and two Prisoners of War captured.[1] It was one of the units in the famed Flying Circus.[2]

Contents

History

Jasta 4 was founded on 25 August 1916, drawing personnel from FFA 23 and other two-seater reconnaissance units within 2 Armee, as well as from Kampfeinsitzer Kommando Vaux and Armee Flug Park Nr. 2. In June 1917, it switched to support and control of the 4 Armee. On 24 June 1917, it became part of the forming Jagdeschwader 1. Also during that summer, the unit suffered a partial leadership vacuum, with its commanding officer Kurt von Döring double-tasked with command of JG 1 due to the wounding of its CO, Manfred von Richthofen.[3]

Membership in the peripatetic Flying Circus kept Jasta 4 on the move, as they moved from hot spot to hot spot. During 1918, the jasta operated for the fronts of 2 Armee, 6 Armee, 7 Armee, and 17 Armee. They ended the war on the 5 Armee front. Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 4 passed into history on 16 November 1918, when it was disbanded at FEA 9, Darmstadt. [4]

Commanding officers

The following were the Staffelführers of Jasta 4:

Duty stations (airfields)

Personnel

Besides the Staffelführer aces that led the squadron, a number of other notable aces served and scored with Jasta 4. They include:

Aircraft and operations

Upon formation, the jagdstaffel was equipped with Halberstadt D.II and Fokker E.III fighters. By February 1917, it was operating Albatros D.IIs. It also operated Pfalz D.IIIs. Squadron markings during this time included black and white bands around the fuselages in addition to national markings. In early and mid-1918, it had Fokker Triplanes on strength, reportedly striped red and turquoise on wings and fuselages.[10]

The squadron also reportedly operated, at some time, Albatros D.IIIs, Albatros D.Vs, Halberstadt D.Vs, and Fokker D.VIIs.[11]

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, Frank W. Bailey, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1993. ISBN 0948817739, 9780948817731.

Sources of information

  1. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta4.php Retrieved on 13 May 2010.
  2. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jg/jg1.php Retrieved on 13 May 2010.
  3. ^ Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914-1918. pp. 30–31. 
  4. ^ Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914-1918. p. 31. 
  5. ^ Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914-1918. p. 30. 
  6. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta4.php Retrieved on 13 May 2010.
  7. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta4.php Retrieved on 13 May 2010.
  8. ^ Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914-1918. p. 31. 
  9. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta4.php Retrieved on 13 May 2010.
  10. ^ Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914-1918. pp. 30–31. 
  11. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta4.php Retrieved on 13 May 2010.