Jasta 68 | |
---|---|
Active | 1918 |
Country | Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire |
Branch | Luftstreitkräfte |
Type | Fighter squadron |
Engagements | World War I |
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 68, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 68, was a "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the Luftstreitkräfte , the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The squadron would score over 40 aerial victories during the war, including ten observation balloons downed. The unit's victories came at the expense of nine killed in action, and two wounded in action. [1]
The Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte —known before October 1916 as the Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches or simply Die Fliegertruppe—was the World War I (1914–18) air arm of the German Army, of which it remained an integral part. In English-language sources it is usually referred to as the Imperial German Air Service, although that is not a literal translation of either name. German naval aviators serving with the Marine-Fliegerabteilung remained an integral part of the Imperial German Navy. Both military branches, the army and navy, operated conventional aircraft, observation balloons and Zeppelins.
World War I, also known as the First World War or the Great War, was a global war originating in Europe that lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918. Contemporaneously described as "the war to end all wars", it led to the mobilisation of more than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans, making it one of the largest wars in history. It is also one of the deadliest conflicts in history, with an estimated nine million combatants and seven million civilian deaths as a direct result of the war, while resulting genocides and the 1918 influenza pandemic caused another 50 to 100 million deaths worldwide.
Balloon busters were military pilots known for destroying enemy observation balloons. These pilots were noted for their fearlessness. Seventy-seven flying aces in World War I were each credited with destroying five or more balloons, and thus were balloon aces.
On 1 February 1918, Jasta 68 was founded at Fliegerersatz-Abteilung ("Replacement Detachment") 3, Gotha, Germany. Nine days later, the new squadron went operational when it was posted to 18th Armee . CO Fritz Pütter scored the first aerial victory on 18 March 1918. Ten days later, Jasta 68 joined Jagdgruppe Nord. The Jasta was transferred to 1 Armee on 5 July 1918. On 13 September 1918, Jasta 68 was posted to 5 Armee . The squadron would serve until its disbandment on 6 December 1918. [1]
Gotha is the fifth-largest city in Thuringia, Germany, located 20 kilometres west of Erfurt and 25 km east of Eisenach with a population of 44,000. The city is the capital of the district of Gotha and was also a residence of the Ernestine Wettins from 1640 until the end of monarchy in Germany in 1918. The House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha originating here spawned many European rulers, including the royal houses of the United Kingdom, Belgium, Portugal and Bulgaria.
The 18th Army was an army level command of the German Army in World War I. It was formed against France on 27 December 1917 from the former Heeresgruppe Woyrsch command. It served exclusively on the Western Front and was dissolved on 2 January 1919.
LeutnantFritz PütterPour le Mérite, Iron Cross, was a German World War I ace fighter pilot credited with victories over eight enemy observation balloons and 17 airplanes.
Killed in action (KIA) is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own combatants 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 hostile attack. KIAs do not come from incidents such as accidental vehicle crashes and other "non-hostile" events or terrorism. KIA can be applied both to front-line combat troops and to naval, air and support troops. Someone who is killed in action during a particular event is denoted with a † (dagger) beside their name to signify their death in that event or events.
Beauvais is a city and commune in northern France. It serves as the capital of the Oise département, in the Hauts-de-France region. Beauvais is located approximately 75 kilometres from Paris. The residents of the city are called Beauvaisiens.
Semide is a commune in the Ardennes department in the Grand Est region in northern of France.
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 13 was a World War I "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The unit would score 108 aerial victories during the war, at the expense of twelve killed in action, one killed in a flying accident, two wounded in action, and two taken prisoner of war.
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 26 was a "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. 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.
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 29, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 29, was a "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The squadron would score 76 aerial victories during the war, at the cost of 13 of their pilots killed in action, two killed in flying accidents, 12 wounded in action, one injured in a flying accident and one taken prisoner.
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 39, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 39, was a "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The unit would score 68 aerial victories during the war, including 14 observation balloons downed. The squadron's victories came at the expense of seven pilots killed in action, one killed in a flying accident, five wounded in action, and one taken prisoner of war.
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 43, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 43, was a "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The unit would score over 35 aerial victories during the war, including two observation balloons downed. The squadron's victories came at the expense of six killed in action, five wounded in action, two injured in accidents, and one taken prisoner of war.
Royal Württemberg Jagdstaffel 47, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 47 or Jasta 47W, was a "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. Incomplete records credit the squadron with 14 aerial victories during the war. The unit's known casualties include three killed in action, one injured in a flying accident, three wounded in action, and one taken prisoner of war.
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 53, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 53, was a "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The squadron would score over 20 aerial victories during the war. The unit's victories came at the expense of one pilot killed in a flying accident, another injured in an accident, one wounded in action, and four taken prisoner of war.
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 57, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 57, was a "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The squadron would score over 32 aerial victories during the war. The unit's victories came at the expense of four pilots killed in action, one injured in a flying accident, four wounded in action, and one taken prisoner of war.
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 58, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 58, was a "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The squadron would score 24 aerial victories during the war, including nine observation balloons downed. The unit's victories came at the expense of five killed in action, two wounded in action, and one injured in an aviation accident.
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 59, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 59, was a "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The squadron would score over 20 aerial victories during the war. The unit's victories came at the expense of four pilots killed in action and two wounded in action.
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 60, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 60, was a "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The squadron would score over 52 aerial victories during the war, including seven observation balloons downed. The unit's victories came at the expense of six pilots killed in action, three wounded in action, one injured in a flying accident, and two taken prisoner of war.
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 63, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 63, was a "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The squadron would score 16 aerial victories during the war. The unit's victories came at the expense of seven pilots killed in action, and one killed in a flying accident.
Royal Württemberg Jagdstaffel 64, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 64, was a "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The squadron would score 20 or more aerial victories during the war. The unit's victories came at the expense of three wounded in action, and three taken prisoner of war.
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 66, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 66, was a "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The squadron would score over 97 aerial victories during the war, including seven observation balloons downed. The unit's victories came at the expense of five pilots killed in action, one who died in captivity, and two taken prisoner of war.
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 69, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 69, was a "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The squadron would score 15 aerial victories during the war, including two observation balloons downed. The unit's victories came at the expense of one pilot killed in action, three killed in flying accidents, one wounded in action, and three taken prisoner of war.
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 71, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 71, was a "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The squadron would score eight aerial victories during the war, including three observation balloons downed. The unit's victories came at the expense of four killed in action and one wounded in action.
Royal Saxon Jagdstaffel 72, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 72, was a "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The squadron would score over 58 aerial victories during the war, including three observation balloons downed. The unit's victories came at the expense of two killed in action, one wounded in action, and one taken prisoner of war.
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 73, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 73, was a "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. squadron would score 29 aerial victories during the war, including seven night victories, and including an observation balloon downed. The unit's victories came at the expense of three killed in action.
Royal Bavarian Jagdstaffel 76, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 76, was a "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The squadron would score over 20 aerial victories during the war. The unit's victories came at the expense of six killed in action, four wounded in action, and three taken prisoner of war.
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 81, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 81, was a "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The squadron would score six or more aerial victories during July/August 1917, while serving on the Eastern Front. After switching to the Western Front, Jasta 81 would score another 35 victories from May 1918 to war's end. The unit's victories came at the expense of five killed in action, three killed in flying accidents, one injured in a flying accident, three wounded in action, and three taken prisoner of war.
Norman Leslie Robert Franks is an English militaria writer who specialises in aviation topics. He focuses on the pilots and squadrons of World Wars I and II.
The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a numeric commercial book identifier which is intended to be unique. Publishers purchase ISBNs from an affiliate of the International ISBN Agency.