Jagdstaffel 5

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Jagdstaffel 5
Jagdstaffel 5 flight line
(1 September 1917)
Active1916–1918
CountryGerman Empire
BranchLuftstreitkräfte
TypeFighter squadron
Nickname(s)"Greentails"; "Green-Tailed Devils"
ColorsGreen tails with red piping; red nose; various personal fuselage insignia
EngagementsWorld War I
Websitehttp://www.jasta5.org
Albatros D.Va, Hans von Hippel, Jasta 5
Albatros D.V, Paul Bäumer, Jasta 5
Pfalz D.IIIa, Jasta 5

History

Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 5, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 5, was created on 21 January 1916,

Jasta 37. With approximately 253 victories at war's end,[2] Jasta 5 had the third-highest victory total of any squadron in the Luftstreitkräfte. Its casualties came to 19 pilots killed in action, 3 killed in flying accidents, 8 wounded in action, and 1 injured in an accident.[3]

Commanding officers

  • Hans Berr: 21 August 1916 – 2 January 1917
  • Ludwig Dornheim: 2 January 1917 – 5 February 1917
  • Hans Berr: 5 February 1917 – 6 April 1917 (KIA)
  • Hans von Hünerbein: 7 April 1917 – 4 May 1917 (KIA)
  • Kurt Schneider: 6 May 1917 – 5 June 1917 (WIA)
  • Richard Flashar: 10 June 1917 – 31 December 1917
  • Wilhelm Lehmann: 31 December 1917 – 14 January 1918
  • Richard Flashar: 14 January 1918 – 12 May 1918
  • Wilhelm Lehmann: 12 May 1918 – 26 June 1918 (KIA)
  • Otto Schmidt: 3 July 1918 – 11 November 1918[1]

Duty stations (airfields)

  • Bechamp: 21 August 1916 – 25 September 1916
  • Bellevue Ferme, Senon: 26 September 1916 – 29 September 1916
  • Gonnelieu: 30 September 1916 – 10 March 1917
  • Boistrancourt: 11 March 1917 – 25 March 1918
  • Lieramont
    : 25 March 1918 – 23 April 1918
  • Cappy-sur-Somme: 23 April 1918 – 27 July 1918
  • Moislains: 27 July 1918 – 24 August 1918
  • Nurlu: 24 August 1918 – 30 September 1918
  • Neuville: 30 September 1918 – 7 October 1918
  • Escarmain by Capelle: 7 October 1918 – 10 October 1918
  • Villers-Sire-Nicole: 10 October 1918 – 11 November 1918[1]

Personnel

Albatros D.V of Paul Bäumer in 1917
Josef Mai, 30 victory ace
No. 22 Squadron RFC. Schneider died of wounds on 14 July 1917.[citation needed
]

There were several notable pilots and

flying aces who served and scored with Jasta 5. Pilots earning Prussia's highest decoration for valor, the Pour le Mèrite ("Blue Max") who served at one time or another in Jasta 5 included (alphabetically):[2]

Könnecke and Rumey were two of the three members of the "golden triumvirate", who were responsible for 40% of the total victories of the Jasta. The third member of the triumvirate not listed is Josef Mai, who although nominated and eligible for the award, was not officially awarded the Pour le Mèrite prior to the end of hostilities.

One member of Jasta 5 was rocket expert Rudolf Nebel.[citation needed]

Aircraft and operations

Jasta 5 also used the Pfalz D.XII

The squadron was originally equipped with

Fokker Eindeckers. It progressed to use of Albatros D.IIs and Halberstadt D.IIs. In 1917, it was using Albatros D.IIIs and Albatros D.Vs. In 1918, it used both the Fokker D.VII and the Fokker Triplane. At one time, the Jasta was one of only three squadrons not belonging to a Jagdgeschwader (fighter wing) that was totally equipped with the Triplane.[3] It also reputedly operated the Pfalz D.XII,[1] which entered service in July 1918.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Jasta 5". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  2. ^ a b Merrill (2004), p. 1.
  3. ^ a b c Franks, Bailey & Guest (1993), p. 31.
  4. ^ "Pfalz D.XII". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.

Bibliography

External links
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