Jagdstaffel 18
Encyclopedia
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 18 was a "hunting squadron" or fighter squadron of the World War I German air service, or Luftstreitkräfte
.
under 4th Armee auspices; Oberleutnant Karl von Grieffenhagen transferred in from Jasta 1 to take command. It deactivated at war's end, having existed some 25 months.
A dozen flying aces served within its ranks, including Berthold, Hans Müller
, Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp
, Kurt Adolf Monnington
, Wilhelm Kühne
, Paul Strähle
, Harald Auffarth
, Joseph Veltjens, and Johannes Klein
. During the course of the war, the jasta suffered eight killed in action, eleven wounded, and one taken prisoner.
fighter and the Fokker Dr.I
triplane. Its theater of operations was the Western Front
.
The new unit mobilized on 8 January 1917. Fifteen days later, it was credited with the first of its 112 confirmed victories during the war. It moved to Marckebeke and Harlebeke airfields. On 23 November 1917, it moved to Avelin
to work for the 6th Army (Germany).
In the spring of 1918, Berthold was promoted to command the Jagdgschwader II wing. He wanted to take his old unit with him and make it part of the wing, but this was disallowed. On 19 March 1918, he pulled a wholesale swap of pilots between Jasta 18 and Jasta 15 as a means of taking the pilots he knew with him. The exchange took place at Guise
, in the 18th Armee area of operations. About this time, Leutnant August Raben transferred in from Jasta 15 to take command. On 8 April 1918, he led the reconstituted squadron back to Avelines Airfield; they would henceforth refer to themselves as the "Staffel Raben", and sport an insignia of a raven on their aircraft, usually with white rear fuselages, with vermilion red forward of the cockpit and on the wings' upper surfaces. The unit would move on to assignments at Faches-Thumesnil
and Lome
in the 6th Army zone of operations. On 14 June, it moved to support of 19th Armee
, it moved to Möntingen, near Metz
for the remainder of the war.
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...
.
History
The jasta was formed on 30 October 1916, at HalluinHalluin
Halluin is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.-Geography:It is located at the north of the Lille Urban Community, on the Belgian border, contiguous with the Belgian town of Menen.-Heraldry:-Twin towns:...
under 4th Armee auspices; Oberleutnant Karl von Grieffenhagen transferred in from Jasta 1 to take command. It deactivated at war's end, having existed some 25 months.
Personnel
Jasta 18's four staffelfuhrers (commanding officers) were:- Oberleutnant Karl von Grieffenhagen: 30 October 1916 - 12 August 1917
- Oberleutnant Rudolf Berthold: 12 August 1917 - 10 October 1917
- Oberleutnant Ernst Turck: 10 October 1917 - April 1918
- August Raben: April 1918 - dissolution
A dozen flying aces served within its ranks, including Berthold, Hans Müller
Hans Müller (aviator)
Leutnant Hans Müller was a World War I flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories.-World War I:On 1 April 1914, Müller joined Infantry Regiment No. 13. He began World War I with this unit, but transferred to aviation in November 1916. He flew two-seaters a bit, then joined Jasta 12 in late...
, Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp
Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp
Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp , Pour le Merite, Military Order of Saint Henry, Iron Cross was a German fighter ace from an aristocratic family who was credited with 28 victories.- Early life :...
, Kurt Adolf Monnington
Kurt Adolf Monnington
Leutnant Kurt Adolf Monnington was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.-Reference:...
, Wilhelm Kühne
Wilhelm Kühne
Wilhelm Friedrich Kühne was a German physiologist. Born in Hamburg, he is best known today for coining the word enzyme.-Biography:...
, Paul Strähle
Paul Strähle
-Early military service:Paul Strähle originally served in the infantry after joining the German army on 1 October 1913. He transferred to aviation in 1915. He first flew in an artillery cooperation unit, being posted to FA 213 on 15 July 1916. In the autumn, he trained on fighters.-Service as a...
, Harald Auffarth
Harald Auffarth
Eduard Florus Harald Auffarth Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Iron Cross, Silver Wound Badge, Hanseatic Cross, was a World War I German fighter ace credited with 29 victories...
, Joseph Veltjens, and Johannes Klein
Johannes Klein
Leutnant Johannes Klein was a World War I flying ace credited with 16 confirmed and two unconfirmed aerial victories.He became a fighter pilot in February 1917, and received his initial assignment to either Royal Prussian Jasta 27 or Royal Prussian Jasta 29...
. During the course of the war, the jasta suffered eight killed in action, eleven wounded, and one taken prisoner.
Aircraft and operations
Its operational aircraft were the Albatros D.IIIAlbatros 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...
fighter and the Fokker Dr.I
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...
triplane. Its theater of operations was the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
.
The new unit mobilized on 8 January 1917. Fifteen days later, it was credited with the first of its 112 confirmed victories during the war. It moved to Marckebeke and Harlebeke airfields. On 23 November 1917, it moved to Avelin
Avelin
-References:*...
to work for the 6th Army (Germany).
In the spring of 1918, Berthold was promoted to command the Jagdgschwader II wing. He wanted to take his old unit with him and make it part of the wing, but this was disallowed. On 19 March 1918, he pulled a wholesale swap of pilots between Jasta 18 and Jasta 15 as a means of taking the pilots he knew with him. The exchange took place at Guise
Guise
Guise is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Population:-Sights:The ruins of the medieval castle of Guise, seat of the Dukes of Guise, are located in the commune.-Miscellaneous:...
, in the 18th Armee area of operations. About this time, Leutnant August Raben transferred in from Jasta 15 to take command. On 8 April 1918, he led the reconstituted squadron back to Avelines Airfield; they would henceforth refer to themselves as the "Staffel Raben", and sport an insignia of a raven on their aircraft, usually with white rear fuselages, with vermilion red forward of the cockpit and on the wings' upper surfaces. The unit would move on to assignments at Faches-Thumesnil
Faches-Thumesnil
Faches Thumesnil is twinned with the market town of St.Neots in Cambridgeshire, England, and with the town of Naousa, Greece.-References:*...
and Lome
Lomé
Lomé, with an estimated population of 737,751, is the capital and largest city of Togo. Located on the Gulf of Guinea, Lomé is the country's administrative and industrial center and its chief port. The city exports coffee, cocoa, copra, and palm kernels...
in the 6th Army zone of operations. On 14 June, it moved to support of 19th Armee
19th Army (Germany)
The 19th Army was a World War II field army of the German Army .-History:Formed in August 1943 in occupied southern France from Armeegruppe Felber The 19th Army (German: 19. Armee) was a World War II field army of the German Army (Wehrmacht Heer).-History:Formed in August 1943 in occupied southern...
, it moved to Möntingen, near Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
for the remainder of the war.