Royal Saxon Jagdstaffel 72, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 72, was a "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the ''
Luftstreitkräfte'', 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. 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.
History
Jasta 72 was founded on 11 February 1918, at ''Fliegerersatz-Abteilung'' ("Replacement Detachment") 8,
Grossenhain. The new squadron became operational on 20 February 1918. On 2 March 1918, it was assigned to ''
3 Armee''. On 28 March, it was moved to ''
18 Armee'' to become part of ''Jagdgruppe Nord''. On 1 April 1918,
Carl Menckhoff
Carl Menckhoff (14 April 1883 – 11 January 1949) was a German First World War fighter ace. He was credited with 39 confirmed victories, the majority over opposing fighter aces. Already in his 30s when he learned to fly in February 1915, he wa ...
scored the squadron's first aerial victory. On 7 July 1918, Jasta 72 was posted to ''
1 Armee''. The squadron continued to serve until the war's end.
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 ...
'')
*
Carl Menckhoff
Carl Menckhoff (14 April 1883 – 11 January 1949) was a German First World War fighter ace. He was credited with 39 confirmed victories, the majority over opposing fighter aces. Already in his 30s when he learned to fly in February 1915, he wa ...
: ca 11 February 1918 – 25 July 1918
* Kurt Muller: ca 25 July 1918 – 23 October 1918
*
Gustav Frädrich: 23 October 1918 – war's end
Duty stations
* Blaize: 2 March 1918
*
Leffincourt, France: 7 March 1918
*
Bergnicourt
Bergnicourt is a commune in the Ardennes department in northern France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and terr ...
, France: 7 July 1918
*
Thin-le-Moutier
Thin-le-Moutier () is a commune in the Ardennes department and Grand Est region of north-eastern France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas ...
, France: 10 October 1918
References
;Bibliography
*
72
Military units and formations established in 1918
1918 establishments in Germany
Military units and formations disestablished in 1918
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