Jagdstaffel 15

Jasta 15
Active 1916–1918
Country German Empire
Branch Luftstreitkräfte
Type Fighter squadron
Engagements World War I

Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 15, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 15, 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 over 150 aerial victories during the war, at the expense of seven killed in action, two killed in flying accidents, three wounded in action, one injured in a flying accident, and two taken prisoner of war.[1][2]

Contents

History

The "jasta" was formed on 28 September 1916 at Bixhiem, from Kampfeinsitzer Kommando Habsheim, FFA 48 and FFA 68. It mobilized on 9 October 1916. It became part of Jagdgeschwader 2 under Adolf Tutschek at Autremencourt in February 1918. On 19 March 1918, Rudolf Berthold took command of JG 2 when Tutschek was killed; he arranged a swap of Jasta 15's personnel with those of Jasta 18, so that Berthold could continue to command those with whom he was familiar. The squadron demobilized in November 1918 at FEA 14 in Halle an der Saale, Germany.[3]

Commanding officers

The following were the Staffelführers of the jasta:

Duty stations (airfields)

1916

1917

1918

Jasta used over a dozen airfields in support of 18 Armee, then moved to fly support of 5th Armee.[9]

Personnel

A number of notable aces served in the unit during its brief existence, including the following:

Aircraft and operations

The unit was founded with Fokker D.IIs and Fokker D.IIIs. In 1917, it operated Albatros D.IIIs and Albatros D.Vs. It then used Fokker Dr.I triplanes and some Siemens-Schuckert D.IIIs. Their final mount was the Fokker D.VII. By summer 1918, the jasta's aircraft markings had settled to royal blue fuselage and tail, brown rudders, and red noses extending back as far as the cockpit.[12]

References

Sources of information

  1. ^ Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914-1918. p. 35. 
  2. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta15.php Retrieved on 10 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. p. 35. 
  4. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta15.php Retrieved on 10 May 2010.
  5. ^ Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914-1918. p. 36. 
  6. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta15.php Retrieved on 10 May 2010.
  7. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta15.php Retrieved on 10 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. 36. 
  9. ^ Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914-1918. p. 36. 
  10. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta15.php Retrieved on 10 May 2010.
  11. ^ Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914-1918. p. 36. 
  12. ^ Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914-1918. p. 36.