Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 13 was a World War I "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the ''

Luftstreitkräfte The ''Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte'' (, German Air Force)—known before October 1916 as (Flyer Troops)—was the air arm of the Imperial German Army. In English-language sources it is usually referred to as the Imperial German Air Service, alt ...

'', the air arm of the

Imperial German Army The Imperial German Army (1871–1919), officially referred to as the German Army (german: Deutsches Heer), was the unified ground and air force of the German Empire. It was established in 1871 with the political unification of Germany under the l ...

during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. 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.

History

Jasta 13 was formed on 16 September 1916. Its founding personnel came from the Fokkerstaffel attached to FFA 9, and from other aviation units in the area of ''Armee-Abteilung'' C. They were operational by 15 October 1916. However, Jasta 13 did not score its first victory until 22 January 1917. In Spring 1917, the squadron was assigned to support of 7th Armee. By the end of August 1917, the unit had been credited with about ten victories. In September, it joined Jagdgruppe von Braun, along with Jasta 14, Jasta 16,

Jasta 21 Royal Saxon Jagdstaffel 21 was a "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) 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 148 verified a ...

, Jasta 22, Jasta 23,

Jasta 32 Royal Bavarian Jagdstaffel 32, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 32, was a "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the German ''Luftstreitkräfte'', the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The unit would score 41 aerial victor ...

, and

Jasta 34 Royal Bavarian ''Jagdstaffel'' 34, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 34, was a "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the ''Luftstreitkräfte'', the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The unit would score 89 confirmed aerial ...

. Also in September, Franz Buchner reported for duty with his first aerial victory awaiting approval; his eventual destruction of 39 more opponents would be a major part of the squadron's victory tally. He would soon be joined by a prewar veteran aviator,

Hans Martin Pippart ''Leutnant'' Hans Martin Pippart (14 May 1888 – 11 August 1918) Iron Cross was a pioneer aircraft manufacturer and early pilot. As a World War I German fighter ace he was credited with 22 victories. Early life Hans Martin Pippart was born on 14 ...

, who would also play a prominent role in the jasta. By the time Jasta 13 joined

Jagdgeschwader II ''Jagdgeschwader II (Fighter Wing II, or JG II)'' was the Imperial German Air Service's second fighter wing. Established because of the great success of Manfred von Richthofen's preceding '' Jagdgeschwader I'' wing, ''Jagdgeschwader II'' and ''Ja ...

on 2 February 1918, it had 22 victories to its credit. After this extensive campaigning within France, including the German spring offensive 1918, the squadron became a sort of "fire brigade" on loan to various Armees and rotated frequently among airfields. It retreated with the German forces, eventually being stationed in Luxembourg, and finally back in Germany. They demobilized at FEA 14, Halle-an-der-Salle, Germany by the end of November 1918.

Commanding officers (''
Staffelführer ''Staffelführer'' was one of the first paramilitary ranks used by the German ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) in the early years of that group's existence. The later SS rank of ''Staffelführer'' traces its origins to the First World War, where the tit ...
'')

Oberleutnant () is the highest lieutenant officer rank in the German-speaking armed forces of Germany (Bundeswehr), the Austrian Armed Forces, and the Swiss Armed Forces. Austria Germany In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Trans ...

Erhard Egerer: ca 16 September 1916 – 26 December 1916 # Eduard Dostler (later to be known as:

Eduard Ritter von Dostler Oberleutnant Eduard Ritter von Dostler (3 February 1892 – 21 August 1917) '' PlM'', MOMJ was a German World War I fighter ace credited with 26 victories. On three consecutive assignments during World War I, Dostler was entrusted with the combat ...

): 27 December 1916 – ca 19 February 1917 # Leutnant de Reserves

Wolfgang Güttler Leutnant Wolfgang Güttler was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories. He would score the first four while flying with '' Jagdstaffel 24'', and the last four while flying as commander of '' Jagdstaffel 13''. He was killed in ...

: ca 20 February 1917 – 29 October 1917 # Oberleutnant Alex Thomas: 21 February 1918 – 1 May 1918 # Leutnant de Reserves Wilhelm Schwartz: 1 May 1918 – 15 June 1918 # Leutnant

Franz Büchner Franz Büchner PlM (2 January 1898 – 18 March 1920) was one of the most successful German fighter aces of the First World War, shooting down 40 enemy aircraft. He began his military career as a 16-year-old infantryman. His doughty exploits ear ...

: 15 June 1918 – 11 November 1918

Duty stations (airfields)

# Mars-la-Tour, France #

La Selve, Aisne La Selve () is a commune in the Aisne department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. Population See also * Communes of the Aisne department The following is a list of the 799 communes in the French department of Aisne. The comm ...

, France # Le Clos Ferme, Boncourt #

Marle, Aisne Marle () is a Communes of France, commune in the Aisne Departments of France, department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. Population International relations Marle is twinned with Eyemouth, Scotland, UK. See also * Communes of the Ais ...

, France #

Cambrai Cambrai (, ; pcd, Kimbré; nl, Kamerijk), formerly Cambray and historically in English Camerick or Camericke, is a city in the Nord (French department), Nord Departments of France, department and in the Hauts-de-France Regions of France, regio ...

, France # Reneuil Ferme: 13 February 1918 #

Autremencourt Autremencourt () is a commune in the department of Aisne in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. Geography Location Autremencourt is located some 35 km east by southeast of Saint-Quentin and 25 km northeast of Laon. It can ...

, France #

Guise Guise (; nl, Wieze) is a commune in the Aisne department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. The city was the birthplace of the noble family of Guise, Dukes of Guise, who later became Princes of Joinville. Population Sights The remains ...

, France #

Roupy Roupy () is a commune in the Aisne department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. Population See also * Communes of the Aisne department The following is a list of the 799 communes in the French department of Aisne. The commune ...

, France # Guisecourt # Balâtre, France # Boneuil Ferme # Le Mesnil, Nesle #

Mesnil-Bruntel Mesnil-Bruntel () is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. Geography The commune is situated on the D88 road, some west-northwest of Saint-Quentin, about a mile from the banks of the river Somme. Population ...

, France #

Leffincourt Leffincourt () is a commune in the Ardennes department in northern France. Population See also * Mazagran *Communes of the Ardennes department The following is a list of the 449 communes of the Ardennes department of France. The commun ...

, France # Chéry-lès-Pouilly, France #

Foreste Foreste () is a commune in the Aisne department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. Population See also *Communes of the Aisne department The following is a list of the 799 communes in the French department of Aisne. The commun ...

, France # Fontaine-Notre-Dame, FranceSource (Jagdgeschwader Nr II: Geschwader Berthold) speaks of the "Fonfomme-Fontaine-Notre Dame road". It is likely this is an error, and

Fonsommes Fonsomme (; before 2011: ''Fonsommes'')Décret n° 2011-311
22 March 2011 i ...

is meant, next to Fontaine-Notre-Dame in the Aisne. #

Neuflize Neuflize () is a commune in the Ardennes department in northern France. Population See also *Communes of the Ardennes department The following is a list of the 449 communes of the Ardennes department of France. The communes coopera ...

, France # Tichémont #

Stenay Stenay () is a commune in the Meuse department in Grand Est in north-eastern France. Its inhabitants are called ''Stenaisiens''. History In 679, the assassinated king Dagobert II was buried in the church of Saint-Remi in Stenay. In 872, King ...

, France #

Carignan, Ardennes Carignan () is a commune in the Ardennes department in northern France. It is the seat of a canton. It was known as Yvoy or Yvois until 1662. History Carignan was, under the name ''Epoissium'', ''Eposium'', ''Epusum'' or ''Ivosium'', a militar ...

, France #

Florenville Florenville (; Gaumais: ''Floravile'') is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Luxembourg, Belgium. On 1 January 2016 the municipality had 5,639 inhabitants. The total area is 146.91 km², giving a population dens ...

, Luxembourg #

Trier Trier ( , ; lb, Tréier ), formerly known in English as Trèves ( ;) and Triers (see also names in other languages), is a city on the banks of the Moselle in Germany. It lies in a valley between low vine-covered hills of red sandstone in the ...

, Germany

Personnel

A number of notable aces flew with Jasta 13. Indeed, four of the ''Staffelnführer'' were renowned aces. Eduard Ritter von Dostler won a

Pour le Mérite The ' (; , ) is an order of merit (german: Verdienstorden) established in 1740 by Frederick the Great, King Frederick II of Prussia. The was awarded as both a military and civil honour and ranked, along with the Order of the Black Eagle, the Or ...

and a knighthood; Guttler, Thomas, and Buchner were all decorated for their services. The squadron also contained other decorated aces who did not succeed to its command, in Kurt Hetze, Reinhold Jörke and

balloon buster Balloon busters were military pilots known for destroying enemy observation balloons. These pilots were noted for their fearlessness, as balloons were stationary targets able to receive heavy defenses, from the ground and the air. Seventy-seven fl ...

Aircraft

Early aircraft assigned to Jasta 13 are unknown, though its foundation from a Fokkerstaffel strongly hint of

Fokker Eindekker The Fokker ''Eindecker'' fighters were a series of German World War I monoplane single-seat fighter aircraft designed by Netherlands, Dutch engineer Anthony Fokker.Boyne 1988 Developed in April 1915, the first ''Eindecker'' ("Monoplane") was the f ...

s. It later operated the

Fokker Dr.I The Fokker Dr.I (''Dreidecker'', "triplane" in German), often known simply as the Fokker Triplane, was a World War I fighter aircraft built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. The Dr.I saw widespread service in the spring of 1918. It became famous as the ...

triplane, and ended the war using mostly

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 second half of 1918. In service with the ''Luftstreitkräfte'', the D.VII qu ...

s. Jasta 13 joined

in February 1918. Identifiable by serial number or pilot insignia, these are some of the aircraft known to have served with the squadron: * One

Albatros D.V The Albatros D.V is a fighter aircraft built by the Albatros Flugzeugwerke and used by the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' (Imperial German Air Service) during World War I. The D.V was the final development of the Albatros D.I family and the last Albatro ...

* Three Fokker Dr.Is * Four Fokker D.VIIs

Operations

In Spring 1917, the squadron was assigned to support of 7th Armee. In September, it joined Jagdgruppe von Braun, along with Jasta 14, Jasta 16,

, Jasta 22, Jasta 23,

, and

. In February 1918, it was assigned to Jagdgruppe II at Marle, along with

Jasta 12 Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 12 was a World War I "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) 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 scor ...

Jasta 15 Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 15, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 15, was a "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the ''Luftstreitkräfte'', the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The unit would score over 150 aerial victo ...

, and

Jasta 19 Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 19 was a World War I "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) 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 scor ...

. When the German March offensive began, Jasta 13 was shifted to 18th Armee, and lived an itinerant existence, being moved among various airfields. By June, it had been assigned to 1st Armee at Mesnil. The squadron then became an itinerant unit, supporting at various times 2nd Armee, 3rd Armee, 1st Armee again, and 5th Armee. The squadron moved to its last base at Trier the day before the armistice.

Footnotes

References

;Bibliography * * {{wwi-air 13 Military units and formations established in 1916 1916 establishments in Germany Military units and formations disestablished in 1918

History

Commanding officers (''Staffelführer ''Staffelführer'' was one of the first paramilitary ranks used by the German ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) in the early years of that group's existence. The later SS rank of ''Staffelführer'' traces its origins to the First World War, where the tit ...'')

Duty stations (airfields)

Personnel

Aircraft

Operations

Footnotes

References

Commanding officers (''
Staffelführer ''Staffelführer'' was one of the first paramilitary ranks used by the German ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) in the early years of that group's existence. The later SS rank of ''Staffelführer'' traces its origins to the First World War, where the tit ...
'')