Jagdstaffel 19
Encyclopedia
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 19 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 92 verified aerial victories, including ten wins over enemy observation balloons.
In turn, their casualties for the war would amount to eleven pilots killed in action
, four wounded in action
, and one taken prisoner of war
.
The new jasta drew first blood on 6 April 1917, credit being given to Leutnant Walter Böning
.
On 2 February 1918, Jasta 19 was detailed into Jagdgeschwader II along with Jasta 12, Jasta 13
, and Jasta 15.
Staffelführer
1. Obltn Franz Walz
: 25 October 1916 - 28 November 1916
2. Obltn Erich Hahn
: transferred in from Jasta 1 on 28 November 1916 - KIA
4 September 1917
– Eichorn (Acting CO)
3. Ernst Hess
: transferred in from Jasta 28 in September 1917 - KIA 23 December 1917
– Ltn d R Gerlt (Acting CO): 23 December 1917 - 2 February 1918
4. Ltn Konrad von Bülow-Bothkamp: transferred in from Jasta 14
on 2 February 1918 - 14 February 1918
5. Ltn d R Walter Göttsch
: 14 February 1918 - KIA 10 April 1918
– Ltn d R Arthur Rahn
(Acting CO): 10 April 1918 - 18 April 1918
6. Ltn d L Hans Martin Pippart
: transferred in from Jasta 13
on 18 April 1918 - 20 May 1918
– Ltn d R Gerlt (Acting CO): 20 May 1918 - 11 June 1918
7. Ltn d L Hans Pippart: 11 June 1918 - KIA 11 August 1918
– Ltn d R Gerlt (Acting CO): 11 August 1918 - 12 August 1918
8. Ltn d R Ulrich Neckel
: transferred in from Jasta 2
on 12 August 1918 - transferred out on 1 September 1918
9. Ltn Olivier Freiherr von Beaulieu-Marconnay
: transferred in from Jasta 15 on 1 September 1918 -WIA
18 October 1918
– Ltn d R Wilhelm Leusch (Acting CO): 18 October 1918 - 26 October 1918
10. Ltn d R Wilhelm Leusch: 26 October 1918 - 11 November 1918
2. Saarburg
, Germany: 11 December 1916 - 19 March 1917
2. Lothringen: 11 December 1916 - 19 March 1917
3. Le Thour
, France: 19 March 1917 - Unknown date
4. Saint-Fergeux
, France: Unknown date - 30 June 1917
5. Saint-Loup
: 30 June 1917 - 2 February 1918.
6. Cuirieux
: 2 February 1918 - 26 February 1918
7. Toulis: 26 February 1918 - 19 March 1918.
8. Guise
: 19 March 1918 - Unknown date
9. Roupy
10. Guisecourt
11. Balatre
: Unknown date - 12 June 1918
12. Mesnil-Bruntel
: 12 June 1918 - 12 July 1918
13. Leffincourt
: 12 July 1918 - 24 July 1918
14. Chery-les-Pouilly
: 24 July 1918 - 10 August 1918
15. Foreste
: 10 August 1918 - Late August 1918
16. Neuflize
: Late August 1918 - 3 September 1918
17. Tichemont: 3 September 1918 - 5 September 1918
18: Stenay
: 5 September 1918 - Unknown date
19. Carigan
20. Florenville
21. Trier
; both of them commanded the unit at some point. They were:
One of Germany's pioneer pilots checked into the jasta already bearing the Military Order of Saint Henry:
Four other aces in Jasta 19 won both the Hohenzollern Order and Iron Cross:
Other aces in the squadron were awarded the Iron Cross:
And there were aces who went unrewarded by medals, such as Rudolf Rienau and Hans Körner.
fighters from its inception in December 1916. The Fokker Dr.I
fighter came on line in August 1917;the unit was supplied with the triplane, although this re-equipment date is unknown. The Fokker D.VII
fighter was supplied to combat units beginning in March or April 1918; the squadron also received them at an unknown date.
On 19 March 1917, they were assigned to 7th Armee. It then moved back to the support of 1st Armee on 30 June.
On 2 February 1918, as part of the formation of JG II, Jasta 19 returned to support of 7th Armee. On 19 March, the unit moved to the control of 18th Armee. On 12 June, they moved once more, to 2nd Armee support. A month later, it was 3rd Armee that needed the squadron. On 24 July, they moved to support of 9th Armee. It returned to the aid of 18th Armee on 10 August. By the end of August, the jasta had moved again, back to the aid of 1st Armee. On 3 September 1918, they went to the Armee-Abteilung C Front, but moved two days later to support 5th Armee for its final assignment.
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 92 verified aerial victories, including ten wins over enemy observation balloons.
In turn, their casualties for the war would amount to eleven 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...
, four 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 one 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 Prussian Jagdstaffel 19 was founded on 25 October 1916. It flew its first combat patrols five days before Christmas, 1916.The new jasta drew first blood on 6 April 1917, credit being given to Leutnant Walter Böning
Walter Böning
Leutnant Walter Böning was a World War I flying ace credited with 17 aerial victories. He began his military career in the German infantry, and transferred to the German flying service. He began pilot training on 10 February 1916. He was briefly posted to FA 6 on the Western Front for artillery...
.
On 2 February 1918, Jasta 19 was detailed into Jagdgeschwader II along with Jasta 12, Jasta 13
Jasta 13
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 13 was a World War I "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, which was the forerunner to the Luftwaffe...
, and Jasta 15.
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)
1. Obltn Franz WalzFranz Walz
Generalleutnant Franz Walz began his military career in the infantry in 1905. In 1912, he switched to aviation. He attained the rank of Hauptmann while becoming a flying ace during World War I. He flew more than 500 combat sorties in Palestine and upon the Western Front. He scored seven confirmed...
: 25 October 1916 - 28 November 1916
2. Obltn Erich Hahn
Erich Hahn
Oberleutnant Erich Hahn was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.-Reference:...
: transferred in from Jasta 1 on 28 November 1916 - KIA
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...
4 September 1917
– Eichorn (Acting CO)
3. Ernst Hess
Ernst Hess
Leutnant Ernst Hess was a World War I flying ace credited with 17 confirmed and four unconfirmed aerial victories.He scored a victory for KEK Douai on 5 January 1916 in conjunction with Oswald Boelcke, and another for Fokkerstaffel C on 22 June 1916, but did not hit his stride until assigned to...
: transferred in from Jasta 28 in September 1917 - KIA 23 December 1917
– Ltn d R Gerlt (Acting CO): 23 December 1917 - 2 February 1918
4. Ltn Konrad von Bülow-Bothkamp: transferred in from Jasta 14
Jasta 14
Jasta 14 was a hardcore band from Connecticut that existed from 1991 to 1996. Over the years it included members that went on to play in such bands as Hatebreed, Red Sparowes and Orthrelm.-Members:* Jamey Jasta* Mick Barr* Joel Chialastri* Greg Burns...
on 2 February 1918 - 14 February 1918
5. Ltn d R Walter Göttsch
Walter Göttsch
Leutnant Walter Göttsch was a German World War I flying ace credited with 20 aerial victories.-Early service:Walter Göttsch volunteered for the German army on 1 July 1915...
: 14 February 1918 - KIA 10 April 1918
– Ltn d R Arthur Rahn
Arthur Rahn
Leutnant Arthur Rahn was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.-Reference:...
(Acting CO): 10 April 1918 - 18 April 1918
6. Ltn d L Hans Martin Pippart
Hans Martin Pippart
Leutnant Hans Martin Pippart Iron Cross was a pioneer aircraft manufacturer and early pilot. As a World War I fighter ace he was credited with 22 victories.-Early life:...
: transferred in from Jasta 13
Jasta 13
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 13 was a World War I "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, which was the forerunner to the Luftwaffe...
on 18 April 1918 - 20 May 1918
– Ltn d R Gerlt (Acting CO): 20 May 1918 - 11 June 1918
7. Ltn d L Hans Pippart: 11 June 1918 - KIA 11 August 1918
– Ltn d R Gerlt (Acting CO): 11 August 1918 - 12 August 1918
8. Ltn d R Ulrich Neckel
Ulrich Neckel
Ulrich Neckel Pour le Mérite, Iron Cross First and Second Class, was a World War I fighter ace credited with 30 victories.-Early Life and Enlistment:...
: transferred in from Jasta 2
Jasta 2
Jasta 2 was one of the best-known German Luftstreitkräfte Squadrons in World War I. It was founded by the great aerial tactician Oswald Boelcke, and was the incubator of several notable aviation careers.-Formation:...
on 12 August 1918 - transferred out on 1 September 1918
9. Ltn Olivier Freiherr von Beaulieu-Marconnay
Olivier Freiherr von Beaulieu-Marconnay
Leutnant Olivier Freiherr von Beaulieu-Marconnay was a German World War I ace fighter pilot credited with 25 victories. He is notable for being World War I's youngest recipient of Germany's highest decoration for military valor, the Pour le Merite.-Early life and service:Olivier Freiherr von...
: transferred in from Jasta 15 on 1 September 1918 -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....
18 October 1918
– Ltn d R Wilhelm Leusch (Acting CO): 18 October 1918 - 26 October 1918
10. Ltn d R Wilhelm Leusch: 26 October 1918 - 11 November 1918
Aerodromes
1. Lagnicourt: 4 December 1916 - 11 December 19162. Saarburg
Saarburg
Saarburg is a city of the Trier-Saarburg district in the Rhineland-Palatinate state of Germany, on the banks of the Saar River in the hilly country a few kilometers upstream from the Saar's junction with the Moselle....
, Germany: 11 December 1916 - 19 March 1917
2. Lothringen: 11 December 1916 - 19 March 1917
3. Le Thour
Le Thour
Le Thour is a commune in the Ardennes department in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
, France: 19 March 1917 - Unknown date
4. Saint-Fergeux
Saint-Fergeux
Saint-Fergeux is a commune in the Ardennes department in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
, France: Unknown date - 30 June 1917
5. Saint-Loup
Saint-Loup
Saint-Loup is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:*Saint-Loup, Allier, in the Allier département*Saint-Loup, Charente-Maritime, in the Charente-Maritime département...
: 30 June 1917 - 2 February 1918.
6. Cuirieux
Cuirieux
Cuirieux is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France....
: 2 February 1918 - 26 February 1918
7. Toulis: 26 February 1918 - 19 March 1918.
8. 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:...
: 19 March 1918 - Unknown date
9. Roupy
Roupy
Roupy is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France....
10. Guisecourt
11. Balatre
Balâtre
Balâtre is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Population:-External links:*...
: Unknown date - 12 June 1918
12. Mesnil-Bruntel
Mesnil-Bruntel
Mesnil-Bruntel is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The commune is situated on the D88 road, some west-northwest of Saint Quentin, about a mile from the banks of the Somme River.-Population:-External links:*...
: 12 June 1918 - 12 July 1918
13. Leffincourt
Leffincourt
Leffincourt is a commune in the Ardennes department in northern France.-Population:...
: 12 July 1918 - 24 July 1918
14. Chery-les-Pouilly
Chéry-lès-Pouilly
Chéry-lès-Pouilly is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
: 24 July 1918 - 10 August 1918
15. Foreste
Foreste
Foreste is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France....
: 10 August 1918 - Late August 1918
16. Neuflize
Neuflize
Neuflize is a commune in the Ardennes department in northern France.-External links:* * * *...
: Late August 1918 - 3 September 1918
17. Tichemont: 3 September 1918 - 5 September 1918
18: Stenay
Stenay
Stenay is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.It was one of the last villages to experience fighting during World War I. Stenay was captured on 11 November 1918 by the American 89th Division under General William M. Wright only hours before the Armistice went into...
: 5 September 1918 - Unknown date
19. Carigan
20. Florenville
Florenville
Florenville is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Luxembourg. On 1 January 2007 the municipality had 5,448 inhabitants. The total area is 146.91 km², giving a population density of 37.1 inhabitants per km²....
21. Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
Notable members
Two of the members of Jasta 19 were holders of the Blue MaxPour le Mérite
The 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....
; both of them commanded the unit at some point. They were:
- Oliver von Beaulieu-Marconnay, winner of the 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....
and 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....
- Ulrich Neckel, Pour le Merite, Iron Cross
One of Germany's pioneer pilots checked into the jasta already bearing the Military Order of Saint Henry:
- Erich HahnErich HahnOberleutnant Erich Hahn was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.-Reference:...
went on to win the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern and Iron Cross
Four other aces in Jasta 19 won both the Hohenzollern Order and Iron Cross:
- Walter BöningWalter BöningLeutnant Walter Böning was a World War I flying ace credited with 17 aerial victories. He began his military career in the German infantry, and transferred to the German flying service. He began pilot training on 10 February 1916. He was briefly posted to FA 6 on the Western Front for artillery...
- Ernst Hess
- Franz BrandtFranz BrandtLeutnant Franz Brandt was a World War I flying ace credited with ten aerial victories.Brandt entered the war an artilleryman. In July 1915 he transferred to aviation. His first assignment after training was Kasta 14, between July and September 1916. In December, he moved on to Schutzstaffel 2; he...
- Walter Göttsch
Other aces in the squadron were awarded the Iron Cross:
- Hans Pippart, the leading ace of Jasta 19
- Arthur RahnArthur RahnLeutnant Arthur Rahn was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.-Reference:...
And there were aces who went unrewarded by medals, such as Rudolf Rienau and Hans Körner.
Aircraft
Jasta 19 was founded with Albatros D.IIAlbatros D.II
|-See also:...
fighters from its inception in December 1916. 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...
fighter came on line in August 1917;the unit was supplied with the triplane, although this re-equipment date is unknown. The 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...
fighter was supplied to combat units beginning in March or April 1918; the squadron also received them at an unknown date.
Operations
From Armee-Flugpark I, the squadron moved to the 1st Armee Sector on 4 December 1916. They were moved to Armee-Abteilung Sector A a week afterwards.On 19 March 1917, they were assigned to 7th Armee. It then moved back to the support of 1st Armee on 30 June.
On 2 February 1918, as part of the formation of JG II, Jasta 19 returned to support of 7th Armee. On 19 March, the unit moved to the control of 18th Armee. On 12 June, they moved once more, to 2nd Armee support. A month later, it was 3rd Armee that needed the squadron. On 24 July, they moved to support of 9th Armee. It returned to the aid of 18th Armee on 10 August. By the end of August, the jasta had moved again, back to the aid of 1st Armee. On 3 September 1918, they went to the Armee-Abteilung C Front, but moved two days later to support 5th Armee for its final assignment.