Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 9 was a "hunting group" (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. Although the squadron, and the ''Luftstreitkräfte'', were short-lived, they had great influence on the Nazi '' Luftwaffe'', as can be seen by the later careers of the unit's ''

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 ...

''. It was founded on 28 September 1916, and by the time it disbanded on 15 January 1919, it was credited with 107 aerial victories. In turn, it had suffered thirteen pilots killed in combat, three wounded, five non-combat deaths, and three injuries.

History

When Jagdstaffel 9 was founded, it absorbed the pre-existing Fokkerstaffel attached to 3 Armee. This ad hoc Fokkerstaffel had been formed under Oberleutnant Ascheberg on 16 June 1916. He relinquished this unit to Oberleutnant Kurt Student on 23 September. The unit was officially founded five days later; it mobilized a week later, and moved to Leffincourt. It remained operational at that field for the next year and a half under Student. The Jasta then underwent the turmoil of shifting airfields eight times during the last eight months of war. When it shifted to Chéry-les-Pouilly, it also shifted to support of the 7 Armee. In July 1918, it joined Jagdgruppe 5 at Maizy; this oversized wing also contained

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 ...

Jasta 41 Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 41, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 41, 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 73 aerial victories durin ...

Jasta 45 Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 45, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 45, was a "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the '' Luftstreitkräfte'', the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The squadron would score over 113 aerial vict ...

Jasta 50 Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 50, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 50, was a "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the ''Luftstreitkräfte'', the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The squadron would score over 45 aerial victo ...

, and Jasta 66.

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 Kurt Student: 5 October 1916 – 14 March 1918 # Leutnant Walter Blume: 14 March 1918 – 11 November 1918

Duty stations (airfields)

# Leffincourt: 5 October 1916 – 23 March 1918 #

Chéry-lès-Pouilly Chéry-lès-Pouilly is a commune in the Aisne department in Hauts-de-France Hauts-de-France (; pcd, Heuts-d'Franche; , also ''Upper France'') is the northernmost Regions of France, region of France, created by the territorial reform of Fren ...

: 24 March 1918 – 6 June 1918 # Montceau-le-West: 6 June 1918 – 11 July 1918 # Fonfry: 11 July 1918 – 20 July 1918 #

Rocourt-Saint-Martin Rocourt-Saint-Martin is a commune in the Aisne department in Hauts-de-France Hauts-de-France (; pcd, Heuts-d'Franche; , also ''Upper France'') is the northernmost Regions of France, region of France, created by the territorial reform of Fre ...

: 20 July 1918 – 23 July 1918 # Bazoches: 23 July 1918 – 26 July 1918 # Maizy: 27 July 1918 – 31 July 1918 # Sissonne: 1 August 1918 – 11 October 1918 # Plounion: 11 October 1918 – 11 November 1918

Personnel

The squadron's commanders were not the only notable fliers serving in the unit. Other pilots, such as Hartmuth Baldamus, Fritz Pütter, Erich Thomas, Hermann Pfeiffer, and Heinrich Kroll also served with distinction.

Aircraft and operations

Fokker EIII Oblt Schildknecht Landing 01 Dawn Patrol NMUSAF 26Sept09 (14413266780)

The unit was founded using Fokker E.IIIs and

Fokker E.IV The Fokker E.IV was the final variant of the Fokker Eindecker, ''Eindecker'' fighter aircraft that was operated by Germany during World War I. Design and development Given the Fokker designation of M.15, the E.IV was essentially a lengthened F ...

s that were forwarded from the previous Fokkerstaffel. Albatros D.IIs were assigned in early 1917. The unit later progressed to Fokker D.VIIs in summer 1918, probably in May.

References