Jagdstaffel 34
Encyclopedia
Royal Bavarian Jagdstaffel 34, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 34, 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 89 confirmed aerial victories during the war, including three enemy observation balloons. In turn, they would suffer eleven killed in action
, one killed in a flying accident, five wounded in action
, one injured in an accident, and five taken prisoner of war
.
. It made its first combat forays on 18 March in the Abteilung
'C' Sector; six days later, the new squadron's first victories were scored by Eduard Ritter von Dostler
and Hans von Adam
. On 17 July 1917, it was officially designated as a squadron belonging to the Kingdom of Bavaria
. The new unit would serve through war's end, and be disbanded with the rest of the German air force.
2 Franz Walz
: transferred in from Jasta 2
on 9 June 1917 - transferred out on 19 June 1917
3 Robert Ritter von Greim
: 19 June 1917 - 11 November 1918
2 Mars-la-Tour
: 25 February 1917 - 5 September 1917
3 Mont Verdun
: 5 September 1917 - 19 October 1917
4 Cuirieux
: 19 October 1917 - 22 November 1917
5 Chenois
, Virton: 22 November 1917 - 15 March 1918
6 Le Cateau
: 16 March 1918 - 27 March 1918
7 Vraignes: 27 March 1918 - 12 April 1918
8 Foucaucourt: 18 April 1918 - 31 July 1918
9 Saint Christ: 31 July 1918 - 11 August 1918
10 Hervilly
: 11 August 1918 - 29 August 1918
11 Séranvillers
: 29 August 1918 - 4 September 1918
12 Bévillers
: 5 September 1918 - 30 September 1918
13 Escarmain
: 1 October 1918 - 7 October 1918
14 Givry
: 7 October 1918 - 25 October 1918
15 Gosselies
, Charleroi: 25 October 1918 - 11 November 1918
16 Diedenhöfen
: 11 November 1918
; both also were knighted by being awarded the Kingdom of Bavaria
's most prestigious medal, the Military Order of Max Joseph
. Additionally, Greim's 27 victories were about a third of the squadron's total. 2010. 2010.
Hans Ritter von Adam won both the Iron Cross
and the Max-Joseph. Überkanone Heinrich Geigl
won the House Order of Hohenzollern
, and the Iron Cross. Max Kahlow
, Rudolf Stark
, and August Delling
all became aces with Jasta 34 and were awarded an Iron Cross apiece.
Johann Pütz and Alfons Scheicher were two more aces who served with the squadron.
s, on 20 February 1917.
By 6 March 1918, they were operating Albatros D.V
and Albatros D.Va fighters. The following month, on 10 April, they received Fokker Dr.I
triplanes and Pfalz D.III
s. On 15 June 1918, they took Fokker D.VII
s on strength. Near the end of August, they also received some Pfalz D.XII
s.
The unit's aircraft markings featured white or silver tails and rear fuselages.
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 89 confirmed aerial victories during the war, including three enemy observation balloons. In turn, they would suffer eleven 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, five 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....
, one injured in an accident, and five 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
Jasta 34 was founded on 20 February 1917 at FEA 1, AltenbergAltenberg
Altenberg is a German language place name and may refer to:Places in Germany:*Altenberg, Germany, a city in the Free State of Saxony, Germany...
. It made its first combat forays on 18 March in the Abteilung
Abteilung
Abteilung is a German language word often used when referring to German or Swiss military formations...
'C' Sector; six days later, the new squadron's first victories were scored by Eduard Ritter von Dostler
Eduard Ritter von Dostler
Oberleutnant Eduard Ritter von Dostler , Pour le Mérite, Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Military Order of Max Joseph, Iron Cross, was a German World War I fighter ace credited with 26 victories.-Early service:...
and Hans von Adam
Hans Ritter von Adam
Hans Ritter von Adam was a German flying ace in World War I, with 21 victories before being killed in action in 1917.-Background:...
. On 17 July 1917, it was officially designated as a squadron belonging to the Kingdom of Bavaria
Kingdom of Bavaria
The Kingdom of Bavaria was a German state that existed from 1806 to 1918. The Bavarian Elector Maximilian IV Joseph of the House of Wittelsbach became the first King of Bavaria in 1806 as Maximilian I Joseph. The monarchy would remain held by the Wittelsbachs until the kingdom's dissolution in 1918...
. The new unit would serve through war's end, and be disbanded with the rest of the German air force.
Staffelführers (Commanding officers)
1 Eduard von Dostler: 20 February 1917 - 9 June 19172 Franz Walz
Franz 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...
: 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 9 June 1917 - transferred out on 19 June 1917
3 Robert Ritter von Greim
Robert Ritter von Greim
Robert Ritter von Greim was a German Field Marshal, pilot, army officer, and the last commander of the Luftwaffe during the Second World War.-Early years:...
: 19 June 1917 - 11 November 1918
Aerodromes
1 Altenberg: 20 February 1917 - 25 February 19172 Mars-la-Tour
Mars-la-Tour
Mars-la-Tour is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in northeastern France.-History:The Battle of Mars-La-Tour was fought on 16 August 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War near the town of Mars-la-Tour....
: 25 February 1917 - 5 September 1917
3 Mont Verdun
Lyon - Mont Verdun Air Base
Lyon - Mont Verdun Air Base is located to the northwest of Lyon. It is a duplicate of the headquarters of the French Air Force nuclear strike force at Taverny Air Base - BA921 near Paris, with an underground command center....
: 5 September 1917 - 19 October 1917
4 Cuirieux
Cuirieux
Cuirieux is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France....
: 19 October 1917 - 22 November 1917
5 Chenois
Chenois
Chenois is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France....
, Virton: 22 November 1917 - 15 March 1918
6 Le Cateau
Le Cateau-Cambrésis
Le Cateau-Cambrésis is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.The term Cambrésis indicates that it lies in the county of that name which fell to the Prince-Bishop of Cambrai.-History:...
: 16 March 1918 - 27 March 1918
7 Vraignes: 27 March 1918 - 12 April 1918
8 Foucaucourt: 18 April 1918 - 31 July 1918
9 Saint Christ: 31 July 1918 - 11 August 1918
10 Hervilly
Hervilly
Hervilly is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Hervilly is situated on the D24 road, some northwest of Saint-Quentin.-Population:-External links:*...
: 11 August 1918 - 29 August 1918
11 Séranvillers
Séranvillers
Séranvillers is a former commune in the Nord department in northern France, merged in 1964 with Forenville to create Séranvillers-Forenville-Heraldry:-See also:*Communes of the Nord department...
: 29 August 1918 - 4 September 1918
12 Bévillers
Bévillers
Bévillers is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.-Heraldry:-References:*...
: 5 September 1918 - 30 September 1918
13 Escarmain
Escarmain
-References:*...
: 1 October 1918 - 7 October 1918
14 Givry
Givry
-France:Givry is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* Givry, in the Ardennes département* Givry, in the Saône-et-Loire département* Givry, in the Yonne département* Givry-en-Argonne, in the Marne département...
: 7 October 1918 - 25 October 1918
15 Gosselies
Gosselies
Gosselies is a section of the Belgian town of Charleroi within the Walloon region in the Province of Hainaut. It was a commune of its own before the merger of the communes in 1977. Gosselies is the home for the headquarters of Caterpillar Belgium, and Solar Turbines Europe....
, Charleroi: 25 October 1918 - 11 November 1918
16 Diedenhöfen
Thionville
Thionville , is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France. The city is located on the left bank of the river Moselle, opposite its suburb Yutz.-Demographics:...
: 11 November 1918
Notable members
Robert Ritter von Greim and Eduard Ritter von Dostler commanded the squadron for virtually its entire existence. Both aces won 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 also were knighted by being awarded the Kingdom of Bavaria
Kingdom of Bavaria
The Kingdom of Bavaria was a German state that existed from 1806 to 1918. The Bavarian Elector Maximilian IV Joseph of the House of Wittelsbach became the first King of Bavaria in 1806 as Maximilian I Joseph. The monarchy would remain held by the Wittelsbachs until the kingdom's dissolution in 1918...
's most prestigious medal, the Military Order of Max Joseph
Military Order of Max Joseph
The 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...
. Additionally, Greim's 27 victories were about a third of the squadron's total. 2010. 2010.
Hans Ritter von Adam won both the 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....
and the Max-Joseph. Überkanone Heinrich Geigl
Heinrich Geigl
Leutnant Heinrich Georg Geigl was a World War I flying ace credited with thirteen aerial victories.Geigl was an elementary school teacher and a philosophy student in civilian life. Once trained as a pilot, he went through assignments with Kagohl 6 and Kasta 36. On 26 February 1917, he was assigned...
won the House Order of Hohenzollern
House Order of Hohenzollern
The House Order of Hohenzollern was an order of chivalry of the House of Hohenzollern. It was both a military and a civil award...
, and the Iron Cross. Max Kahlow
Max Kahlow
Vizefeldwebel Max Kahlow was a German World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.-Sources of information:...
, Rudolf Stark
Rudolf Stark
Leutnant Rudolf Stark was a World War I flying ace credited with eleven confirmed and five unconfirmed aerial victories....
, and August Delling
August Delling
Leutnant August Delling was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.-References:...
all became aces with Jasta 34 and were awarded an Iron Cross apiece.
Johann Pütz and Alfons Scheicher were two more aces who served with the squadron.
Aircraft
Jasta 34 was founded with 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...
s, on 20 February 1917.
By 6 March 1918, they were operating 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....
and Albatros D.Va fighters. The following month, on 10 April, they received 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...
triplanes and 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. On 15 June 1918, they took 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 on strength. Near the end of August, they also received some 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...
s.
The unit's aircraft markings featured white or silver tails and rear fuselages.