Jagdstaffel 23
Encyclopedia
Royal Bavarian Jagdstaffel 23b was a World War I "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the Luftstreitkräfte
, which was the forerunner to the Luftwaffe
. As one of the original German fighter squadrons, the unit would score a minimum of 63 verified aerial victories. They scored twelve wins over enemy observation balloons as a squadron.
In turn, their casualties for the war would amount to 14 pilots killed in action
, one killed in a flying accident, nine wounded in action
, and two taken prisoner of war
.
. It would not gain a commanding officer until 17 November. The jagdstaffel finally came ready for action on the last day of the year. The following day, 1 January 1917, Jasta 23 moved into action at Puxieux
. It would not score its first win until 14 February. On 4 July 1917, it was officially designated a Bavarian squadron. It joined the Bavarian Jagdgeschwader IV under command of Eduard Ritter von Schleich
on 10 October 1918, and served there for the last month of the war.
Staffelführer
17 November 1916 - 4 August 1917
4 August 1917 - WIA
29 May 1918
2 June 1918 - WIA 29 June 1918
2 July 1918 -WIA 19 July 1918
19 July 1918 - 11 November 1918
25 October 1916 - 1 January 1917
2. Pusieux, Mars-la-Tour:
1 January 1917 - 14 April 1917
3. Erlon
, France:
16 April 1917 - 14 July 1917
4. Jametz
, France:
20 July 1917 - 24 November 1917
5. Saint-Mard
, France:
24 November 1917 - 4 February 1918
6. Aniche:
6 February 1918 - 16 March 1918
7. Émerchicourt
, France:
17 March 1918 - 27 March 1918
8. Bapaume
, France:
27 March 1918 - 18 April 1918
9. Epinoy
, France:
18 April 1918 - 27 August 1918
10. Lieu-St.-Armand:
27 August 1918 - 25 September 1918
11. Bühl
, Germany:
27 September 1918 - 8 October 1918
12. Harmignies
, Belgium:
13 October 1918 - 5 November 1918
13. Fleurs, France:
5 November 1918 - 11 November 1918
Other aces serving in the unit were Karl Schattauer, Heinrich Seywald, Albert Haussmann, Max Gossner , and Albert Dietlen.
fighter. Later, it would be refurnished with Pfalz D.XII
and Roland D.VI
a fighters.
In February 1918, it moved to support 17th Armee
at Aniche
. On 27 September, it moved to the Armee-Abteilung A Sector; shortly thereafter, on 8 October, it moved on to work for 2nd Armee until war's end.
Luftstreitkräfte
The Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte , known before October 1916 as Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches , or simply Die Fliegertruppen, was the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I...
, which was the forerunner to the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
. As one of the original German fighter squadrons, the unit would score a minimum of 63 verified aerial victories. They scored twelve wins over enemy observation balloons as a squadron.
In turn, their casualties for the war would amount to 14 pilots killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
, one killed in a flying accident, nine wounded in action
Wounded in action
Wounded in action describes soldiers who have been wounded while fighting in a combat zone during war time, but have not been killed. Typically it implies that they are temporarily or permanently incapable of bearing arms or continuing to fight....
, and two taken prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
.
History
Royal Saxon Jagdstaffel 23 was established on 25 October 1916 at Metz-FrescatyMetz-Frescaty Air Base
Metz-Frescaty Air Base is a front-line French Air Force base. The base is located approximately south-southwest of Metz ; about east of Paris....
. It would not gain a commanding officer until 17 November. The jagdstaffel finally came ready for action on the last day of the year. The following day, 1 January 1917, Jasta 23 moved into action at Puxieux
Puxieux
Puxieux is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department*Parc naturel régional de Lorraine...
. It would not score its first win until 14 February. On 4 July 1917, it was officially designated a Bavarian squadron. It joined the Bavarian Jagdgeschwader IV under command of Eduard Ritter von Schleich
Eduard Ritter von Schleich
Eduard Ritter von Schleich , née Eduard-Maria Joseph Schleich was a high scoring Bavarian flying ace of World War I. He was credited with 35 aerial victories at the end of the war...
on 10 October 1918, and served there for the last month of the war.
StaffelführerStaffelführerStaffelführer was one of the first paramilitary ranks used by the German Schutzstaffel in the early years of that group’s existence...
s (Commanding officers)
- Paul Backhaus
17 November 1916 - 4 August 1917
- Otto KissenberthOtto KissenberthOtto Kissenberth was a German flying ace of World War I.Born in Landshut, Bavaria in 1893, Kissenberth studied at Grenoble University completing an engineering degree in Munich and then working for the Gustav Otto aircraft works as a mechanical engineer.With his interest in aircraft design,...
4 August 1917 - WIA
Wounded in action
Wounded in action describes soldiers who have been wounded while fighting in a combat zone during war time, but have not been killed. Typically it implies that they are temporarily or permanently incapable of bearing arms or continuing to fight....
29 May 1918
- Heinrich Seywald
2 June 1918 - WIA 29 June 1918
- Fritz Krautheim (WIA)
2 July 1918 -WIA 19 July 1918
- Heinrich Seywald
19 July 1918 - 11 November 1918
Aerodromes
1. Armee-Abt. v Strantz:25 October 1916 - 1 January 1917
2. Pusieux, Mars-la-Tour:
1 January 1917 - 14 April 1917
3. Erlon
Erlon
Erlon is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France....
, France:
16 April 1917 - 14 July 1917
4. Jametz
Jametz
Jametz is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France....
, France:
20 July 1917 - 24 November 1917
5. Saint-Mard
Saint-Mard
-Belgium:* Saint-Mard, Virton, a locality in the municipality of Virton, province of Luxembourg-France:* Saint-Mard, Aisne, a commune in the department of Aisne* Saint-Mard, Charente-Maritime, a commune in the department of Charente-Maritime...
, France:
24 November 1917 - 4 February 1918
6. Aniche:
6 February 1918 - 16 March 1918
7. Émerchicourt
Émerchicourt
-References:*...
, France:
17 March 1918 - 27 March 1918
8. Bapaume
Bapaume
Bapaume is a commune and the seat of a canton in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A farming and light industrial town located 10 miles south of Arras at the junction of the A1 autoroute and the N17 and N30 national roads its location is...
, France:
27 March 1918 - 18 April 1918
9. Epinoy
Épinoy
Épinoy is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A farming village situated southeast of Arras at the junction of the N43 and D21 roads.-Population:-Places of interest:* Traces of an old castle....
, France:
18 April 1918 - 27 August 1918
10. Lieu-St.-Armand:
27 August 1918 - 25 September 1918
11. Bühl
Bühl
- Place name :* Bühl , in the district Rastatt, Germany* Bühl bei Aarberg, in the Canton of Bern, Switzerland* Sportplatz Bühl, Schaffhausen, Switzerland- See also :* Buhl * Buel...
, Germany:
27 September 1918 - 8 October 1918
12. Harmignies
Harmignies
Harmignies is a village near the Belgian town of Mons in the province of hainaut.- Gallery :...
, Belgium:
13 October 1918 - 5 November 1918
13. Fleurs, France:
5 November 1918 - 11 November 1918
Notable members
- Otto KissenberthOtto KissenberthOtto Kissenberth was a German flying ace of World War I.Born in Landshut, Bavaria in 1893, Kissenberth studied at Grenoble University completing an engineering degree in Munich and then working for the Gustav Otto aircraft works as a mechanical engineer.With his interest in aircraft design,...
Pour le MeritePour le MériteThe Pour le Mérite, known informally as the Blue Max , was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order for German soldiers until the end of World War I....
, Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
- Balloon busterBalloon busterBalloon busters were military pilots known for destroying enemy observation balloons. These pilots were noted for their fearlessness. Seventy-six fighter pilots in World War I were each credited with destroying five or more balloons, and thus were balloon aces....
Friedrich Ritter von RöthFriedrich Ritter von RöthOberleutnant Friedrich Ritter von Röth was a German World War I fighter ace with 28 victories. He was the most successful German pilot at shooting down enemy observation balloons; 20 of his triumphs were against them.-Early service:Friedrich Röth served originally in an artillery regiment. He was...
Pour le Merite, Hohenzollern, Iron Cross, Military Order of Max JosephMilitary Order of Max JosephThe Military Order of Max Joseph was the highest purely military order of the Kingdom of Bavaria. It was founded on 1 January 1806 by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, the first king of Bavaria...
- Michael HuttererMichael HuttererUnteroffizier Michael Hutterer was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.-References:...
Iron Cross
- Theodor RumpelTheodor RumpelTheodor Rumpel was a German surgeon remembered for describing the Rumpel-Leede sign. He received his doctorate in 1887 in Marburg and worked at the Hamburg-Eppendorf Hospital. He oversaw the building of the Barmbecker Krankenhaus in Hamburg, of which he became director in 1913.- References :...
Iron Cross
- Johannes JanzenJohannes JanzenLieutenant Johannes Janzen was a World War I flying ace credited with thirteen aerial victories.-Early service:On 3 August 1914, Janzen volunteered for duty in No. 1 Leibhussaren Regiment. He was promoted to Leutnant on 24 February 1916. He transferred to aviation duty on 4 May 1916. He trained...
Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
Other aces serving in the unit were Karl Schattauer, Heinrich Seywald, Albert Haussmann, Max Gossner , and Albert Dietlen.
Aircraft
Initial equipment for Jasta 23 was the Albatros D.IIAlbatros D.II
|-See also:...
fighter. Later, it would be refurnished with Pfalz D.XII
Pfalz D.XII
The Pfalz D.XII was a German fighter aircraft built by Pfalz Flugzeugwerke. Designed by Rudolph Gehringer as a successor to the Pfalz D.III, the D.XII entered service in significant numbers near the end of the First World War. It was the last Pfalz aircraft to see widespread service...
and Roland D.VI
Roland D.VI
|-References:NotesBibliography* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962.* Gray, Peter Laurence. German Aircraft of the First World War. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday & Co., 1970....
a fighters.
Operations
Jasta 23 was formed in the Armee-Abteilung von Strantz Sector. On 16 April 1917, it moved to the 7th Armee Sector. Its next move, on 18 July, saw it assigned to 5th Armee.In February 1918, it moved to support 17th Armee
17th Army (Germany)
The German Seventeenth Army was a World War II field army.-Commanding officers:* General der Infanterie Carl-Heinrich von Stülpnagel * Generaloberst Hermann Hoth...
at Aniche
Aniche
Aniche is a commune in the Nord department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region.-Heraldry:-References:*...
. On 27 September, it moved to the Armee-Abteilung A Sector; shortly thereafter, on 8 October, it moved on to work for 2nd Armee until war's end.