Jagdstaffel 11
Jasta 11 | |
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Active | 1916–1918 |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | Luftstreitkräfte |
Type | Fighter squadron |
Part of | Jagdgeschwader 1 |
Engagements | World War I |
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Albatros_Manfred_von_Richthofen_neu.jpg/220px-Albatros_Manfred_von_Richthofen_neu.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/Fokker_Dr_I_Richthofen.jpg/220px-Fokker_Dr_I_Richthofen.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-2004-0430-501%2C_Jagdstaffel_11%2C_Manfred_v._Richthofen.jpg/220px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-2004-0430-501%2C_Jagdstaffel_11%2C_Manfred_v._Richthofen.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Herman_Goering_1918_Jasta_11.jpg/220px-Herman_Goering_1918_Jasta_11.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Photograph_Q63153.jpg/220px-Photograph_Q63153.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Albatros_D.III_German_fighter_c1917.jpg/220px-Albatros_D.III_German_fighter_c1917.jpg)
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 11( "No 11 Fighter Squadron"; commonly abbreviated toJasta 11) was founded on 28 September 1916 from elements of4 Armee'sKampfeinsitzerkommandos(or KEKs) 1, 2 and 3 and mobilized on 11 October as part of theGerman Air Service'sexpansion program, forming permanent specialised fighter squadrons, or "Jastas".It became the most successful fighter squadron in theLuftstreitkräfte.
Founding
[edit]Jasta 11's first commander wasFirst Lieutenant(Oberleutnant) Rudolf Lang, from its mobilization at Brayelles, until 14 January 1917.Jasta11's first months of operations were very undistinguished.[1]
It was not until the appointment of 24-year-old Cavalry Captain (Rittmeister)Manfred von Richthofenon 16 January 1917 as Commanding Officer that the unit commenced its path to fame and immortality. Von Richthofen, later known as theRed Baron(due to the practice of painting his aircraft red for easy identification during combat) was already an able tactical pilot and ace following several months of service inJasta2 and became a highly effective unit commander who led his pilots by example. He already had 16 victories[2][better source needed]and was awarded thePour le Meritejust before he assumed his command.[3]
The unit was first based atDouai-Brayellesand thenRoucourtfor operations over the6 Armeeon theArrasfront, the Jasta were equipped with various models of the excellentAlbatros D.IIIsesquiplanefighter. Between 22 January 1917 and the end of March the Jasta claimed some 36 victories. The beginning of theBattle of Arrasin early April meant a higher number of targets, with Jasta 11 logging 89 claims for aircraft destroyed in April (from a total of 298 made by all German fighter units for the month.) This decimation of theRoyal Flying Corpsbecame termed "Bloody April".
TheJasta's performance is all the more extraordinary as the unit usually flew in small flights of six or fewer. Significant 'scorers' in the unit that April wereManfred von Richthofen(21 claims), Lt.Kurt Wolff(22), Lt.Karl Schäfer(15), Manfred's brotherLothar(15) and NCO pilotSebastian Festner(10).[4]
Members
[edit]- Cavalry Captain (Rittmeister)Manfred von Richthofen
- First Lieutenant(Oberleutnant) Rudolf Lang
- Lt.Kurt Wolff
- Lt.Karl Schäfer
- Lothar von Richthofen
- Wilhelm Reinhard
- Sebastian Festner
- Erich Rüdiger von Wedel
- Hans Wolff
- Willi Gabriel
- Werner Steinhäuser
- Anton Baierlein
- Karl Allmenröder
- Eberhard Mohnicke
- Wolfram von Richthofen
- Wilhelm Gisbert Groos
- Erich Just
- George Schiller
- Friedrich T. Noltenius
- Alfred Niederhoff
- Hans-Georg von der Osten
- Edgar Scholtz
- Hans Weiss
- Siegfried Gussmann
- (Oberleutnant) Georg "Simon" Shöster
- Otto Brauneck
- Hermann Göring
- Carl-August von Schoenebeck
- Ernst Udet
- Carlos Meyer Baldó[5]
- Richard Wenzl[6][better source needed]
Incorporation into JG I
[edit]On 26 July 1917,Jasta11 became part ofJagdgeschwader1- a collection of fourJastas into one administrative and highly mobile tactical force. Richthofen was promoted to command JG I, which was the second fighter wing in the history of military aviation.[citation needed]It was dubbed 'Richthofen's Flying Circus' because it mimicked a circus's logistics by using dedicated railway trains to transport it toforward airfields,and because of its vividly painted aircraft.
In September 1917, Jasta 11 would be equipped withFokker Dr.Itriplanes. It would operate these until April–May 1918, when it received theFokker D.VIIsit would use until war's end.
Manfred von Richthofen remained Jasta commander until 26 June 1917, when his deputy, LeutnantKarl Allmenroedertook over. Following the latter's death the next day, former Jasta 11 pilot Leutnant Kurt Wolff took over after his transfer back from Jasta 29. After Wolff was wounded in September, Oberlt.Wilhelm Reinhardtook charge until Wolff returned. Soon after Wolff was killed in action on 15 September, thereafterLothartook command. Jasta 11 would then have a bewildering succession of other temporary commanding officers, especially when Lothar was frequently away from the front recovering from wounds. OberleutnantErich Rüdiger von Wedelwas the lastStaffelführer,from September 1918 until the end of the war. The Jasta was demobilised atDarmstadton 16 November 1918.
Jasta11 eventually became the highest scoring German Jasta of World War I, with 350 claims. The first was scored on 23 January 1917, the 100th on 23 April, the 200th on 17 August, the 250th on 2 April 1918, the 300th on 28 June 1918; the 350th was on 19th Sept 1918 (the Jasta 11 last victory) was the shooting down of aRoyal Aircraft Factory R.E.8ofNo. 3 Squadron RAAF[Pilot Lt. Clifford Peel and Observer Lt. J. P.Jeffers (both killed)] by Leutnant Julius Schulte-Frohlinde.[7][4 Victory claims]
It numbered no fewer than twenty aces among its ranks, and "graduated" pilots to command numerous other Jastas in theGerman Air force.In return it suffered 17 pilots killed, 2 captured as prisoners, and 2 killed in flying accidents. Its loss rate was thus less than one-tenth of its opponents, although it also suffered 19 wounded in action.
References
[edit]- Kilduff, Peter (1997).The Red Baron Combat Wing: Jagdgeschwader Richthofen in Battle.Arms and Armour.ISBN1854092669.OCLC38423201.
- Franks, Norman L. R; Bailey, Frank W; Guest, Russell (1994).Above the lines: the aces and fighter units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914-1918.Grub Street.ISBN0-948817-73-9.
- Richthofen's Circus': Jagdgeschwader Nr 1.Greg VanWyngarden, Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing, 2004.ISBN1-84176-726-3,ISBN978-1-84176-726-0.
Notes
[edit]- ^Kilduff, Peter (1997).The Red Baron Combat Wing: Jagdgeschwader Richthofen in Battle.Arms and Armour. p. 60.ISBN1854092669.OCLC38423201.
- ^"Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen".The Aerodrome.
- ^"Air Service Awards During World War I".Orden Pour le Mérite. Archived fromthe originalon 12 December 2015.Retrieved2 April2012.
- ^Franks, Norman L. R; Bailey, Frank W; Guest, Russell (1994).Above the lines: the aces and fighter units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914-1918.Grub Street.ISBN978-0-948817-73-1.[page needed]
- ^"Carlos Meyer Baldó".
- ^"Jasta 11".The Aerodrome.
- ^"Clifford Peel 3 Squadron Stories".Archived fromthe originalon 21 March 2020.Retrieved15 August2020.
External links
[edit]Media related toJagdstaffel 11at Wikimedia Commons
- Jasta 11 at The Aerodrome