Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 4, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 4, was a "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 192 confirmed victories; in turn, it would suffer 11 killed in action, 9 wounded in action, and two taken prisoner of war. It was one of the units in the famed

Flying Circus Barnstorming was a form of entertainment in which stunt pilots performed tricks individually or in groups that were called flying circuses. Devised to "impress people with the skill of pilots and the sturdiness of planes," it became popular in t ...

History

Jasta 4 was founded on 25 August 1916, drawing personnel from FFA 23 and other two-seater reconnaissance units within 2 Armee, as well as from Kampfeinsitzerkommando Vaux and Armee-Flugpark Nr. 2. In June 1917, it switched to support and control of the 4 Armee. On 24 June 1917, it became part of the forming '' Jagdgeschwader I'' (JG I). Also during that summer, the unit suffered a partial leadership vacuum, with its commanding officer

Kurt-Bertram von Döring Generalleutnant Kurt-Bertram von Döring (18 February 1889 in Ribbekardt – 9 July 1960 in Medingen) was a German World War II Generalleutnant of Luftwaffe. He began his career as a flying ace in World War I, became a flying soldier of fortune ...

double-tasked with command of JG 1 due to the wounding of its CO,

Manfred von Richthofen Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen (; 2 May 1892 – 21 April 1918), known in English as Baron von Richthofen or the Red Baron, was a fighter pilot with the German Air Force during World War I. He is considered the ace-of-aces of ...

. Membership in the peripatetic Flying Circus kept Jasta 4 on the move, as they moved from hot spot to hot spot. During 1918, the ''Jasta'' operated for the fronts of 2 Armee, 6 Armee, 7 Armee, and 17 Armee. They ended the war on the 5 Armee front. Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 4 passed into history on 16 November 1918, when it was disbanded at FEA 9,

Darmstadt Darmstadt () is a city in the States of Germany, state of Hesse in Germany, located in the southern part of the Frankfurt Rhine Main Area, Rhine-Main-Area (Frankfurt Metropolitan Region). Darmstadt has around 160,000 inhabitants, making it th ...

Commanding officers

The following served as ''

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 ...

'' of Jasta 4: *

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 ...

Rudolf Berthold Oskar Gustav Rudolf Berthold (24 March 1891 – 15 March 1920) was a German flying ace of World War I. Between 1916 and 1918, he shot down 44 enemy planes—16 of them while flying one-handed. Berthold's perseverance, bravery, and willingness t ...

: 25 August 1916 – 28 August 1916 *

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 ...

Hans Joachim Buddecke Hans-Joachim Buddecke (22 August 1890 – 10 March 1918) was a German flying ace in World War I, credited with thirteen victories. He was the third ace, after Max Immelmann and Oswald Boelcke, to earn the Blue Max (Pour le Mérite). He saw ...

: 28 August 1916 – 14 December 1916 * Oberleutnant

Ernst Freiherr von Althaus Ernst Freiherr von Althaus (19 March 1890 – 29 November 1946) was a German flying ace in World War I, credited with nine confirmed aerial victories, as well as eight unconfirmed ones. He was one of the original Fokker Eindekker pilots who ...

: 14 December 1916 – February 1917 * Leutnant

Wilhelm Frankl Wilhelm Frankl (20 December 1893 – 8 April 1917), ''Pour le Mérite'', Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Iron Cross, was a World War I fighter ace credited with 20 aerial victories. He scored his first aerial victory with a carbine on 10 M ...

: February 1917 – 8 April 1917 * Oberleutnant

: 8 April 1917 – 6 July 1917 * Oberleutnant

Oskar Freiherr von Boenigk Oskar Freiherr von Boenigk (25 August 1893 – 30 January 1946) was a German Generalmajor, he began his military career during World War I as a fighter ace credited with 26 victories. He survived the war, served in the post-war revolution, and eve ...

(Acting): 6 July 1917 – 25 July 1917 * Oberleutnant Kurt von Döring: 25 July 1917 – 6 September 1917 * Oberleutnant Oskar von Boenigk (Acting): 6 September 1917 – 23 October 1917 * Oberleutnant Kurt von Döring: 23 October 1917 – 12 December 1917 *

Leutnant de Reserves () is the lowest Junior officer rank in the armed forces the German-speaking of Germany (Bundeswehr), Austrian Armed Forces, and military of Switzerland. History The German noun (with the meaning "" (in English "deputy") from Middle High Germa ...

Kurt Wüsthoff Leutnant Kurt Wüsthoff (27 January 1897 – 23 July 1926) was a German fighter ace credited with 27 listed confirmed victories during World War I. Enlisting prewar at age 16 1/2, after learning to fly during the events leading to the war's start, ...

(Acting): 12 December 1917 – 20 December 1917 * Oberleutnant Kurt von Döring: 20 December 1917 – 19 January 1918 * Leutnant de Reserves Kurt Wüsthoff: 19 January 1918 – 16 March 1918 * Leutnant

Hans-Georg von der Osten Leutnant Hans-Georg August von der Osten began his career as a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. He later rose to command of all Luftwaffe bases in Germany, during World War II. Biography See also Aerial victory standards ...

: 16 March 1918 – 28 March 1918 * Leutnant de Reserves

Johannes Janzen Leutnant Johannes Max Janzen (21 May 1886 – 18 October 1945) was a World War I flying ace credited with thirteen aerial victories. He returned to Germany's military service during World War II, and died in a Russian prison camp on 18 October ...

: 28 March 1918 – 3 May 1918 * Leutnant

Viktor von Pressentin von Rautter Leutnant Viktor von Pressentin von Rautter (8 May 1896 – 31 May 1918) was a German World War I flying ace credited with 15 aerial victories.The Aerodrome websitRetrieved 24 January 2010. Biography See also Aerial victory standards of World War I ...

(Acting): 4 May 1918 – 20 May 1918 * Leutnant de Reserves

Ernst Udet Ernst Udet (26 April 1896 – 17 November 1941) was a German pilot during World War I and a ''Luftwaffe'' Colonel-General (''Generaloberst'') during World War II. Udet joined the Imperial German Air Service at the age of 19, and eventually ...

: 20 May 1918 – 14 August 1918 * Leutnant de Reserves Egon Koepsch (Acting): 14 August 1918 – 19 September 1918 * Oberleutnant de Reserves Ernst Udet: 19 September 1918 – 22 October 1918 * Leutnant de Reserves Heinrich Maushake (Acting) : 22 October 1918 – 3 November 1918 * Leutnant de Reserves Egon Koepsch (Acting): 3 November 1918 – 11 November 1918

Duty stations (airfields)

Vaux Vaux may refer to: People * Antoine-Alexis Cadet de Vaux (1743–1828), French chemist and pharmacist * Bernard Carra de Vaux (1867–1953), French orientalist who published accounts of his travels in the Middle East *Clotilde de Vaux (1815–184 ...

: 25 August 1916 – 31 August 1916 *

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 of France, communes in the French Departments of Fra ...

: 1 September 1916 – 11 December 1916 * Xivry-Circourt: 12 December 1916 – 9 February 1917 *

Le Catelet Le Catelet () 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 of France, communes in the French Departments of F ...

: 10 February 1917 – 23 February 1917 *

Douai Douai (, , ,; pcd, Doï; nl, Dowaai; formerly spelled Douay or Doway in English) is a city in the Nord département in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. Located on the river Scarpe some from Lille and from Arras, D ...

: 24 February 1917 – 31 May 1917 * Ceune-

Courtrai Kortrijk ( , ; vls, Kortryk or ''Kortrik''; french: Courtrai ; la, Cortoriacum), sometimes known in English as Courtrai or Courtray ( ), is a Belgian city and municipality in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It is the capital and larges ...

: 1 June 1917 – 1 July 1917 * Marckebeke: 2 July 1917 – 20 November 1917 *

Lieu-Saint-Amand Lieu-Saint-Amand () is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is the home of the Sevel Nord facility, an automobile factory which builds Fiat, Peugeot and Citroën vehicles. Heraldry See also *Communes of the Nord department ...

: 21 November 1917 – 25 March 1918 * Léchelle: 26 March 1918 – 2 April 1918 *

Harbonnières Harbonnières (; pcd, Harbounière) is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. Geography The commune is situated on the D337 road, east of Amiens. Population Places of interest * Saint Martin's church at Har ...

: 3 April 1918 – 11 April 1918 * Cappy: 12 April 1918 – 19 May 1918 * Longchamps,

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 ...

: 20 May 1918 – 25 May 1918 * Puisieux Ferme,

Laon Laon () is a city in the Aisne department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. History Early history The holy district of Laon, which rises a hundred metres above the otherwise flat Picardy plain, has always held strategic importance. In ...

: 26 May 1918 – 30 May 1918 *

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

: 31 May 1918 – 17 July 1918 * Monthussart Ferme: 18 July 1918 – 29 July 1918 * Puisieux Ferme, Laon: 30 July 1918 – 9 August 1918 *

Ennemain Ennemain () is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and terr ...

, Falvy: 10 August 1918 – 11 August 1918 *

Bernes Bernes () is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territ ...

: 11 August 1918 – 30 August 1918 *

Busigny Busigny () is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. Busigny station has rail connections to Douai, Paris, Lille, Maubeuge and Saint-Quentin. Population Heraldry See also *Communes of the Nord department The following is a li ...

- Escaufourt: 30 August 1918 – 27 September 1918 * Metz-Frescaty: 28 September 1918 – 8 October 1918 *

Marville Marville may refer to: * ''Marville'' (comics), a Marvel Comics series from the early 2000s * Marville, Meuse Marville () is a commune in the Meuse department in Grand Est in north-eastern France. An airbase built by NATO hosted fighter squ ...

: 9 October 1918 – 6 November 1918 * Tellancourt: 7 November 1918 – 10 November 1918 *

Aschaffenburg Aschaffenburg (; South Franconian: ''Aschebersch'') is a town in northwest Bavaria, Germany. The town of Aschaffenburg is not part of the district of Aschaffenburg, but is its administrative seat. Aschaffenburg belonged to the Archbishopric ...

: 10 November 1918

Personnel

Besides the Staffelführer aces that led the squadron, a number of other notable aces served and scored with Jasta 4. They include: *

Hans Klein Hans Klein (17 January 1891 – 18 November 1944) was a German World War I fighter ace credited with 22 aerial victories. During World War II he held the position of Geschwaderkommodore of the JG 53 "Pik As" fighter ''Geschwader'' (wing). Early ...

* Fritz Anders

Aircraft and operations

Upon formation, the ''Jagdstaffel'' was equipped with

Halberstadt D.II The Halberstadt D.II was a biplane fighter aircraft developed and manufactured by German aircraft company Halberstädter Flugzeugwerke. It was adopted by the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' (Imperial German Army Air Service) and served through the period ...

and

Fokker E.III The Fokker E.III was the main variant of the ''Eindecker'' (literally meaning "one deck") fighter aircraft of World War I. It entered service on the Western Front in December 1915 and was also supplied to Austria-Hungary and Turkey. Design and ...

fighters. By February 1917, it was operating

Albatros D.II The Albatros D.II was a German fighter aircraft used during World War I. After a successful combat career in the early '' Jagdstaffeln'', it was gradually superseded by the Albatros D.III. Design and development Albatros designers Robert Thelen ...

s. It also operated Pfalz D.IIIs. Squadron markings during this time included black and white bands around the fuselages in addition to national markings. In early and mid-1918, it had Fokker Triplanes on strength, reportedly striped red and turquoise on wings and fuselages. The squadron also reportedly operated, at some time,

Albatros D.III The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service (''Luftstreitkräfte'') during World War I. A modified licence model was built by Oeffag for the Austro-Hungarian Air Service ( ''Luftfahrtruppen''). T ...

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 ...

Halberstadt D.V The Halberstadt D.II was a biplane fighter aircraft developed and manufactured by German aircraft company Halberstädter Flugzeugwerke. It was adopted by the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' (Imperial German Army Air Service) and served through the period ...

s, and

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 ...

References

;Notes ;Bibliography * {{Use dmy dates, date=June 2017 04 Military units and formations established in 1916 1916 establishments in Germany Military units and formations disestablished in 1918