Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 31 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 ...

. As one of the original German fighter squadrons, the unit would score 35 verified aerial victories, including five wins over enemy

observation balloons An observation balloon is a type of balloon that is employed as an aerial platform for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Use of observation balloons began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I ...

. In turn, their casualties for the war would amount to nine pilots killed in action, two dead in aircraft accidents, six

wounded in action Wounded in Action (WIA) describes combatants who have been wounded while fighting in a combat zone during wartime, but have not been killed. Typically, it implies that they are temporarily or permanently incapable of bearing arms or continuing ...

, and two injured in accidents.

History/Operations

Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 31 was formed on 14 December 1916 at Breslau, the site of the FEA II training unit in the 3rd Armee Sector. It was mobilized into action on 7 February 1917. Its first victory was scored on 3 March 1917 by ''Staffelführer'' Albert. On 11 September 1917, it left the

Western Front Western Front or West Front may refer to: Military frontiers *Western Front (World War I), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (World War II), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (Russian Empire), a majo ...

for service in Italy. Between 25 October 1917 and 20 February 1918, it racked up 14 victories in Italy. It was then shifted back to the Western Front on 7 March, and there completed its war. It returned from there toward the end of February 1918, and returned to the Western Front. It fought through to war's end, and was disbanded along with the rest of the ''Luftstreitkräfte''.

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 ...
'')

# Leutnant Werner Albert: Unknown date – 10 May 1917 #

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 ...

Gunther Viehweger: transferred in from

Jasta 17 Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 17 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 101 aerial ...

on 10 May 1917 – transferred out on 6 September 1917 # Leutnant Zech: transferred in from

Jasta 1 Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 1 (commonly abbreviated as Jasta 1) was a fighter squadron of the ''Luftstreitkräfte'', the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. Jasta 1 was founded on 22 August 1916, using single seat fighters drawn ...

on 6 September 1917 – promoted out of unit on 18 May 1918 # Oberleutnant Robert Blumenbach: transferred in from

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 ...

on 18 May 1918 – 2 October 1918 #

Hauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian, and Swiss armies. While in contemporary German means 'main', it also has and originally had the meaning of 'head', i.e. ' literally ...

Eduard Seldner: transferred in from

Jasta 37 Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 37, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 37, 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 70 aerial victories ...

on 2 October 1918 – 17 March 1919?

Aerodromes

Mars-sous-Bourcq Mars-sous-Bourcq () is a commune in the Ardennes department and Grand Est region of north-eastern France. Population See also *Communes of the Ardennes department The following is a list of the 449 communes of the Ardennes department of Fr ...

, France: 8 February 1917 – Unknown date # Italy: 11 September 1917 – Late February or early March 1918 #

: 7 March 1918 – ca 11 November 1918

Notable members

One member of Jasta 31 was a recipient of the

Royal House Order of Hohenzollern The House Order of Hohenzollern (german: Hausorden von Hohenzollern or ') was a dynastic order of knighthood of the House of Hohenzollern awarded to military commissioned officers and civilians of comparable status. Associated with the various v ...

and

Iron Cross The Iron Cross (german: link=no, Eisernes Kreuz, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, and later in the German Empire (1871–1918) and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). King Frederick William III of Prussia est ...

: *

Richard Wenzl Leutnant Richard Wenzl was a German World War I flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories.The Aerodrome website http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/wenzl.php Retrieved on 17 April 2010. World War I service Wenzl flew first for an art ...

Two members were Iron Cross winners: *

Sylvester Garsztka Sylvester or Silvester is a name derived from the Latin adjective ''silvestris'' meaning "wooded" or "wild", which derives from the noun ''silva'' meaning "woodland". Classical Latin spells this with ''i''. In Classical Latin, ''y'' represented a ...

Fritz Jacobsen ''Vizefeldwebel'' Fritz John Jacobsen was a German World War I flying ace credited with eight confirmed and two unconfirmed aerial victories.The Aerodrome website's page on JacobseRetrieved 25 February 2013. Biography Fritz John Jacobsen was born ...

Two other aces served with the squadron: * Alwin Thurm * Kurt Jacob

Aircraft

Jasta 31 used the Albatros D.III, D.III (OAW), Albatros D.V and Roland D.II fighters.

References