Jagdstaffel 26
Encyclopedia
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 26 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 177 verified aerial victories, including four observation balloons destroyed. The jasta would pay a bloody price for its success: five pilots killed in action
, nine wounded in action
, and one prisoner of war
.
. It mobilized on 20 January 1917. Its first war patrols followed a week later, and the first victory was scored on 25 February 1917. Just four days before, on 21 February, Jasta 26 had become part of Jagdgeschwader III, with Bruno Loerzer raised to its command. As part of JG III, Jasta 26 would battle to the end of the war. It would end the war as one of the top-scoring German fighter squadrons. It disbanded at FEA 5 at Hannover, Germany on 3 December 1918.
, Germany: 14 December 1916 - 20 January 1917
2. Colmar Nord: 20 January 1917 - 2 March 1917
3. Habsheim
, France: 2 March 1917 - 12 April 1917
4. Guise-Ost: 16 April 1917 - 23 April 1917
5. Bohain-Nord: 23 April 1917 - 6 June 1917
6. Iseghem: 8 June 1917 - 10 September 1917
7. Abeele, Belgium: 11 September 1917 - 1 November 1917
8. Bavinchove
, France: 2 November 1917 - 10 February 1918
9. Markebecke: 11 February 1918 - 12 March 1918
10. Erchin
, France: 13 March 1918 - 10 April 1918
11. Halluin-Ost: 11 April 1918 - 23 May 1918
12. Vivaise
, France: 24 May 1918 - 7 June 1918
13. Mont Soissons Ferme, France: 8 June 1918 - 18 July 1918
14. Vauxcéré
, France: 19 July 1918 - 30 July 1918
15. Chambry
, France: 31 July 1918 - 24 August 1918
16. Émerchicourt
: 25 August 1918 - 26 September 1918
17. Lieu St. Armand: 27 September 1918 - 29 September 1918
18. Soultain: 30 September 1918 - 12 October 1918
19. Lenz
: 13 October 1918 - 4 November 1918
20. Aische-en-Befail: 5 November 1918 - 11 November 1918
Pour le Merite
, Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Iron Cross
, served a couple of months with Jasta 26 while making ace.
Bruno Loerzer, Pour le Merite, Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Iron Cross, scored over half of his 44 victories while commanding Jasta 26.
The squadron's other winner of the Blue Max
was Walter Blume
, who also rated an Iron Cross.
Otto Fruhner
, leading ace of the jasta with 27 wins, won the enlisted man's equivalent of the Blue Max, the Military Merit Cross
, as well as the Iron Cross.
Erich Buder
and Otto Esswein
also won the MMC and Iron Cross.
Fritz Kosmahl
and Franz Brandt both won both the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern and Iron Cross.
Xavier Dannhuber
was a winner of the Hohenzollern.
Several other aces also served in the unit, including Christian Mesch, Fritz Loerzer, Helmut Lange, Fritz Classen, and Claus Riemer.
1. The Albatros D.III
entered service in January 1917, coincidental with the unit's foundation.
2. The Albatros D.V
arrived as a replacement for the D.III later in 1917.
3. The Fokker Dr.I
triplane was brought into service in August 1917.
4. Fokker D.VII
s were introduced in late March or early April 1918.
On 21 February 1918, Jasta 26 was assigned to JG III, along with Jasta 2
, Jasta 27, and Jasta 36. On 13 March 1918, the squadron moved to support 17th Armee
. A month later, on 11 April, they moved back to aid 4 Armee. On 27 May 1918, they were seconded to 7th Armee. On 25 August 1918, the entire JG III was assigned to support of 17th Armee for Jasta 26's last posting 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...
, 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 177 verified aerial victories, including four observation balloons destroyed. The jasta would pay a bloody price for its success: five 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...
, 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 one 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 26 was founded on 14 December 1916 at the FEA 9 training center in DarmstadtDarmstadt
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...
. It mobilized on 20 January 1917. Its first war patrols followed a week later, and the first victory was scored on 25 February 1917. Just four days before, on 21 February, Jasta 26 had become part of Jagdgeschwader III, with Bruno Loerzer raised to its command. As part of JG III, Jasta 26 would battle to the end of the war. It would end the war as one of the top-scoring German fighter squadrons. It disbanded at FEA 5 at Hannover, Germany on 3 December 1918.
Staffelführers (Commanding officers)
- 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...
Bruno LoerzerBruno LoerzerBruno Loerzer was an officer in the German Luftstreitkräfte during World War I and Luftwaffe during World War II....
: transferred in from Jasta 17 on 21 January 1917 - promoted to command JG III on 21 February 1918
- Leutnant Fritz Loerzer: transferred in from Jasta 63 on 21 February 1918 - taken POWPrisoner of warA 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...
on 12 June 1918
-
- Bollmann (Acting CO): 12 June 1918 - 27 Jun3 1918
- Leutnant 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...
: 27 June 1918 - 22 August 1918
-
- Leutnant Helmut LangeHelmut Lange-World War I:Helmut Lange served in Jagdstaffel 26 during World War I. He scored nine aerial victories there, under the leadership of Bruno Loerzer and Franz Brandt...
(Acting CO): 22 August 1918 - 12 September 1918
- Leutnant Helmut Lange
- Franz Brandt: 12 September 1918 - 11 November 1918
Aerodromes
1. DarmstadtDarmstadt
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...
, Germany: 14 December 1916 - 20 January 1917
2. Colmar Nord: 20 January 1917 - 2 March 1917
3. Habsheim
Habsheim
Habsheim is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France. It forms part of the Mulhouse Alsace Agglomération, the inter-communal local government body for the Mulhouse conurbation.-References:*...
, France: 2 March 1917 - 12 April 1917
4. Guise-Ost: 16 April 1917 - 23 April 1917
5. Bohain-Nord: 23 April 1917 - 6 June 1917
6. Iseghem: 8 June 1917 - 10 September 1917
7. Abeele, Belgium: 11 September 1917 - 1 November 1917
8. Bavinchove
Bavinchove
Bavinchove is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.-Heraldry:-References:*...
, France: 2 November 1917 - 10 February 1918
9. Markebecke: 11 February 1918 - 12 March 1918
10. Erchin
Erchin
Erchin is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.-Heraldry:-References:*...
, France: 13 March 1918 - 10 April 1918
11. Halluin-Ost: 11 April 1918 - 23 May 1918
12. Vivaise
Vivaise
Vivaise is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France....
, France: 24 May 1918 - 7 June 1918
13. Mont Soissons Ferme, France: 8 June 1918 - 18 July 1918
14. Vauxcéré
Vauxcéré
Vauxcéré is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-References:*...
, France: 19 July 1918 - 30 July 1918
15. Chambry
Chambry
Chambry is the name of two communes in France:* Chambry, Aisne, in the Aisne département* Chambry, Seine-et-Marne, in the Seine-et-Marne département...
, France: 31 July 1918 - 24 August 1918
16. Émerchicourt
Émerchicourt
-References:*...
: 25 August 1918 - 26 September 1918
17. Lieu St. Armand: 27 September 1918 - 29 September 1918
18. Soultain: 30 September 1918 - 12 October 1918
19. Lenz
Lenz
Lenz may refer to:* Lantsch/Lenz, the German name of the place in Grisons, Switzerland* Lenz , literary fragment by Georg Büchner* Lenasia, an Indian township in Gauteng, South Africa* Lenz Military Base, a military base in Lenasia, Gauteng...
: 13 October 1918 - 4 November 1918
20. Aische-en-Befail: 5 November 1918 - 11 November 1918
Notable members
Hermann GöringHermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
Pour le Merite
Pour 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....
, Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The 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....
, served a couple of months with Jasta 26 while making ace.
Bruno Loerzer, Pour le Merite, Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Iron Cross, scored over half of his 44 victories while commanding Jasta 26.
The squadron's other winner of the Blue Max
Pour 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....
was Walter Blume
Walter Blume
Walter Blume was a German fighter ace of World War I and aircraft designer.During World War I, he flew with Jastas 26 and 9, gaining 28 aerial victories and earning the Iron Cross and Blue Max Pour le Merite....
, who also rated an Iron Cross.
Otto Fruhner
Otto Fruhner
Leutnant Otto Fruhner was a German World War I fighter pilot credited with 27 victories. He was one of the first aviators to parachute from a stricken aircraft.-Early service:...
, leading ace of the jasta with 27 wins, won the enlisted man's equivalent of the Blue Max, the Military Merit Cross
Military Merit Cross (Prussia)
The Military Merit Cross was the highest bravery award of the Kingdom of Prussia for non-commissioned officers and enlisted soldiers. It was also known as the Golden Military Merit Cross to distinguish it from the Military Decoration 1st Class The Military Merit Cross (Militär-Verdienstkreuz)...
, as well as the Iron Cross.
Erich Buder
Erich Buder
Vizefeldwebel Erich Buder was a World War I flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories.Buder served with Jasta 84 before transferring to Jasta 26. He scored his wins with this squadron between 26 March and 4 November 1918, with two victories unconfirmed at war's end. He was transferred to...
and Otto Esswein
Otto Esswein
Offizierstellvertreter Otto Esswein was a World War I flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories.Esswein transferred from ground service to aviation in mid-1915. On 30 October 1917, he was assigned to Jasta 26. He scored his first victory, shooting down a Sopwith Camel on 15 November...
also won the MMC and Iron Cross.
Fritz Kosmahl
Fritz Kosmahl
Offizierstellvertreter Fritz Gustav August Kosmahl was one of the first flying aces of Germany's Luftstreitkräfte during World War I. He was one of the few German two-seater aces of the war, being officially credited with nine aerial victories...
and Franz Brandt both won both the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern and Iron Cross.
Xavier Dannhuber
Xavier Dannhuber
Lieutenant Xavier Dannhuber was a German World War I flying ace credited with eleven aerial victories.Dannhuber was first assigned to Kagohl 6, then to SS 25. His next assignment, on 1 July 1917, was to fly a fighter for Jasta 26. He shot down an observation balloon near Vlamertinghe on 12 August...
was a winner of the Hohenzollern.
Several other aces also served in the unit, including Christian Mesch, Fritz Loerzer, Helmut Lange, Fritz Classen, and Claus Riemer.
Aircraft
While specifics of aircraft usage by Jasta 26 are not known, the following is known about the types assigned to the squadron.1. The 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...
entered service in January 1917, coincidental with the unit's foundation.
2. The 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....
arrived as a replacement for the D.III later in 1917.
3. 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 was brought into service in August 1917.
4. 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 were introduced in late March or early April 1918.
Operations
Jasta 26 was originally mobilized in the Armee-Abteilung B Sector on 20 January 1917. From there, it was assigned to 2nd Armee Sector on 12 April. On 16 June, it was reassigned to 4th Armee Sector. During December 1917, after only a year's operation, the squadron scored its 100th victory.On 21 February 1918, Jasta 26 was assigned to JG III, along with 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:...
, Jasta 27, and Jasta 36. On 13 March 1918, the squadron 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...
. A month later, on 11 April, they moved back to aid 4 Armee. On 27 May 1918, they were seconded to 7th Armee. On 25 August 1918, the entire JG III was assigned to support of 17th Armee for Jasta 26's last posting of the war.