Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 66, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 66, 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 squadron would score over 97 aerial victories during the war, including seven observation balloons downed. The unit's victories came at the expense of five pilots killed in action, one who died in captivity, and two taken prisoner of war.

History

Jasta 66 was founded on 27 January 1918 at

Hannover Hanover (; german: Hannover ; nds, Hannober) is the capital and largest city of the German States of Germany, state of Lower Saxony. Its 535,932 (2021) inhabitants make it the List of cities in Germany by population, 13th-largest city in Germa ...

, Germany, at ''Fliegerersatz-Abteilung'' ("Replacement Detachment") 5. The new squadron became operational on 5 February. On 12 February 1918, it was attached to '' 7 Armee''.

Rudolf Windisch Leutnant Rudolf Friedrich Otto Windisch (27 January 1897 – after 27 May 1918) was a World War I fighter ace credited with 22 victories. Early life and service Rudolf Friedrich Otto Windisch was born in Dresden, Germany on 27 January 1897,''Ab ...

scored the unit's first victory on 15 March 1918. Jasta 66 would serve ''7 Armee'' 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 ...
'')

: 27 January 1918 – 27 May 1918 * Wilhelm Schulz: 27 May 1918 – 25 June 1918 * Lambert Schutt: c. 27 May 1918 – 15 July 1918 * Konrad Schwartz: c. 15 July 1918 – 18 July 1918 *

Arthur Laumann Arthur Laumann was a German World War I flying ace who scored 28 victories in just over three months. He rose to become Air Attache to Greece and Yugoslavia during World War II, raising to a final rank of ''Luftwaffe'' ''Generalmajor''. World War ...

: c. 18 July 1918 – 11 August 1918 *

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 ...

: 11 August 1918 – 24 August 1918 * Bruno von Voight: 24 August 1918 – 19 September 1918 *

Werner Preuss Leutnant Werner Preuss (21 September 1894 – 6 March 1919), Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Iron Cross, was a World War I fighter ace credited with 22 victories. Early life and military service Werner Preuss was the son of a tax inspector. He ...

: 19 September 1918 – war's end

Duty stations

* Saint-Gobert, France: 12 February 1918 * Norman-le-Wast: 5 March 1918 * Perles, France: 20 July 1918 *

Sissonne Sissonne () is a commune in the Aisne department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. It is about 20 km east of Laon, close to the source of the river Souche. The community dates back to the 12th century with the first church built c.1107. ...

, France: 30 July 1918 * Boncourt, France: 21 August 1918 *

Plomion Plomion () is a Communes of France, commune in the Aisne Departments of France, department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. History Plomion was the site of a massacre by retreating German forces on the evening of August 31, 1944 as the Ame ...

, France: 9 October 1918 * Bourlers: 4 November 1918 * Sarienne-les-Longue

References

;Bibliography * 66 Military units and formations established in 1918 1918 establishments in Germany Military units and formations disestablished in 1918 {{wwi-air

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

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 ...
'')