Jagdstaffel 4
Encyclopedia
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. It was one of the units in the famed Flying Circus.
.
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
.
s of Jasta 4:
and Fokker E.III
fighters. By February 1917, it was operating Albatros D.II
s. It also operated Pfalz D.III
s. 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.
The squadron also reportedly operated, at some time, Albatros D.III
s, Albatros D.V
s, Halberstadt D.Vs, and Fokker D.VII
s.
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....
. 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. It was one of the units in the famed Flying Circus.
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 RichthofenManfred von Richthofen
Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen , also widely known as the Red Baron, was a German fighter pilot with the Imperial German Army Air Service during World War I...
.
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
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...
. 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
Darmstadt
Darmstadt is a city in the Bundesland of Hesse in Germany, located in the southern part of the Rhine Main Area.The sandy soils in the Darmstadt area, ill-suited for agriculture in times before industrial fertilisation, prevented any larger settlement from developing, until the city became the seat...
.
Commanding officers
The following were the StaffelführerStaffelführer
Staffelführer was one of the first paramilitary ranks used by the German Schutzstaffel in the early years of that group’s existence...
s of Jasta 4:
- HauptmannHauptmannHauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
Rudolf Berthold: 25 August 1916 - 28 August 1916 - OberleutnantOberleutnantOberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
Hans Joachim BuddeckeHans Joachim BuddeckeHans-Joachim Buddecke was a German Flying Ace in World War I, credited with thirteen victories. He was the third, after Max Immelmann and Oswald Boelcke, to earn the Blue Max...
: 28 August 1916 - 14 December 1916 - Oberleutnant Ernst Freiherr von AlthausErnst Freiherr von AlthausErnst Freiherr von Althaus was a German flying ace in World War I, credited with nine confirmed aerial victories, as well as eight unconfirmed ones...
: 14 December 1916 - February 1917 - Leutnant Wilhelm FranklWilhelm FranklLeutnant Wilhelm Frankl, , Pour le Mérite, Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Iron Cross, was a World War I fighter ace credited with 20 aerial victories.-Personal life:...
: February 1917 - 8 April 1917 - Oberleutnant Kurt-Bertram von DöringKurt-Bertram von DöringGeneralleutnant Kurt-Bertram von Döring was a German World War II Luftwaffe Generalleutnant...
: 8 April 1917 - 6 July 1917 - Oberleutnant Oskar Freiherr von BoenigkOskar Freiherr von BoenigkGeneralmajor Oskar Freiherr von Boenigk began his military career during World War I as a fighter ace credited with 26 victories...
(Acting): 6 July 1917 - 25 July 1917 - Oberleutnant Kurt von Döring: 25 July 1917 - 6 September 1917
- Oberleutnant Oskar von Boenigk (Acting): 6 September 1917 - 23 October 1917
- Oberleutnant Kurt von Döring: 23 October 1917 - 12 December 1917
- Leutnant de Reserves Kurt WüsthoffKurt WusthoffLeutnant Kurt Wüsthoff was a German fighter pilot credited with 27 victories during World War I. He was the second youngest winner of Germany's highest decoration for valor, the Pour le Merite or Blue Max.-Early life:...
(Acting): 12 December 1917 - 20 December 1917 - Oberleutnant Kurt von Döring: 20 December 1917 - 19 January 1918
- Leutnant de Reserves Kurt Wüsthoff: 19 January 1918 - 16 March 1918
- Leutnant Hans-Georg von der OstenHans-Georg von der OstenLeutnant Hans-Georg von der Osten began his career as a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. He later rose to command of all Luftwaffe bases in Germany, during World War II....
: 16 March 1918 - 28 March 1918 - Leutnant de Reserves 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...
: 28 March 1918 - 3 May 1918 - Leutnant Viktor von Pressentin von RautterViktor von Pressentin von RautterLeutnant Viktor von Pressentin von Rautter was a World War I flying ace credited with 15 aerial victories.-Reference:...
(Acting): 4 May 1918 - 20 May 1918 - Leutnant de Reserves Ernst UdetErnst UdetColonel General Ernst Udet was the second-highest scoring German flying ace of World War I. He was one of the youngest aces and was the highest scoring German ace to survive the war . His 62 victories were second only to Manfred von Richthofen, his commander in the Flying Circus...
: 20 May 1918 - 14 August 1918 - Leutnant de Reserves Egon Koepsch (Acting): 14 August 1918 - 19 September 1918
- Oberleutnant de Reserves Ernst Udet: 19 September 1918 - 22 October 1918
- Leutnant de Reserves Heinrich Maushake (Acting) (WIA): 22 October 1918 - 3 November 1918
- Leutnant de Reserves Egon Koepsch (Acting): 3 November 1918 - 11 November 1918
Duty stations (airfields)
- VauxVaux-People:*Calvert Vaux , British-born American architect and landscape designer*Richard Vaux , an American politician, mayor of Philadelphia, and a member of the U.S...
: 25 August 1916 - 31 August 1916 - RoupyRoupyRoupy is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France....
: 1 September 1916 - 11 December 1916 - Hivry-Circourt: 12 December 1916 - 9 February 1917
- Le CateletLe CateletLe Catelet is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-References:*...
: 10 February 1917 - 23 February 1917 - DouaiDouai-Main sights:Douai's ornate Gothic style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80 m high structure includes an impressive carillon, consisting of 62 bells spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391 were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying...
: 24 February 1917 - 31 May 1917 - Ceune-Courtrai: 1 June 1917 - 1 July 1917
- Marckebeke: 2 July 1917 - 20 November 1917
- Lieu Saint Armand: 21 November 1917 - 25 March 1918
- LechelleLéchelleLéchelle is the name of two communes in France:* Léchelle, Pas-de-Calais* Léchelle, Seine-et-Marne...
: 26 March 1918 - 2 April 1918 - HarbonnièresHarbonnièresHarbonnières is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The commune is situated on the D337 road, some east of Amiens.-Population:-Places of interest:...
: 3 April 1918 - 11 April 1918 - CappyCappy, SommeCappy is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.- Geography :Cappy is situated on the D1 road, some east of Amiens, by the banks of the river Somme.- Population :- History :...
: 12 April 1918 - 19 May 1918 - Longchamps, Guise: 20 May 1918 - 25 May 1918
- Puisieux Ferme, Laon: 26 May 1918 - 30 May 1918
- BeugneuxBeugneuxBeugneux is a commune in the department of Aisne in Picardy in northern France....
: 31 May 1918 - 17 July 1918 - Monthussart Ferme: 18 July 1918 - 29 July 1918
- Puisieux Ferme, Laon: 30 July 1918 - 9 August 1918
- EnnemainEnnemainEnnemain is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Ennemain is situated on the D103 and D145 crossroads, from the banks of the river Somme, some west of Saint-Quentin.-Population:-External links:*...
, Falvy: 10 August 1918 - 11 August 1918 - BernesBernesBernes is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Bernes is situated on the junction of the D15 and D87 roads, some northwest of Saint-Quentin.-Population:-External links:* * *...
: 11 August 1918 - 30 August 1918 - Busigny-Escaufourt: 30 August 1918 - 27 September 1918
- Metz-FrescatyMetz-Frescaty Air BaseMetz-Frescaty Air Base is a front-line French Air Force base. The base is located approximately south-southwest of Metz ; about east of Paris....
: 28 September 1918 - 8 Oct 1918 - MarvilleMarville, MeuseMarville is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.An airbase built by NATO hosted fighter squadrons from the RCAF from 1952 to 1967.-Geography:...
: 9 October 1918 - 6 November 1918 - TellancourtTellancourtTellancourt is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France....
: 7 November 1918 - 10 November 1918 - AschaffenburgAschaffenburgAschaffenburg is a city in northwest Bavaria, Germany. The town of Aschaffenburg is not considered part of the district of Aschaffenburg, but is the administrative seat.Aschaffenburg is known as the Tor zum Spessart or "gate to the Spessart"...
: 10 November 1918
Personnel
Besides the Staffelführer aces that led the squadron, a number of other notable aces served and scored with Jasta 4. They include:- Hans KleinHans KleinDipl.-Ing. Hans KleinIn German an engineer's degree is called Diplom-Ingenieur was a German World War I fighter ace credited with 22 aerial victories...
- Fritz AndersFritz AndersLeutnant Fritz G. Anders was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories. He was the world's first night fighter ace-References:...
Aircraft and operations
Upon formation, the jagdstaffel was equipped with Halberstadt D.IIHalberstadt D.II
The Halberstadt D.II was a biplane fighter aircraft of the Luftstreitkräfte that served through the period of Allied air superiority in early 1916, but had begun to be superseded in the Jagdstaffeln by the superior Albatros fighters by the autumn of that year.-Design and development:The D.II was...
and Fokker E.III
Fokker E.III
|-See also:...
fighters. By February 1917, it was operating Albatros D.II
Albatros D.II
|-See also:...
s. It also operated Pfalz D.III
Pfalz D.III
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1.* Grosz, Peter M. Pfalz D.IIIa . Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-94841-425-1.* Guttman, Jon. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 ...
s. 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
Fokker Dr.I
The Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker was a World War I fighter aircraft built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. The Dr.I saw widespread service in the spring of 1918...
on strength, reportedly striped red and turquoise on wings and fuselages.
The squadron also reportedly operated, at some time, Albatros D.III
Albatros D.III
The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer...
s, Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
s, Halberstadt D.Vs, and Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
s.