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 Combat Forces)known before October 1916 as (The Imperial German Air Service, lit. "The flying troops of the German Kaiser’s Reich")was the air arm of the Imperial German Army. In English-langu ...
'', the air arm of the
Imperial German Army
The Imperial German Army (1871–1919), officially referred to as the German Army (), was the unified ground and air force of the German Empire. It was established in 1871 with the political unification of Germany under the leadership of Kingdom o ...
during
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. 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 ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the States of Germany, German state of Lower Saxony. Its population of 535,932 (2021) makes it the List of cities in Germany by population, 13th-largest city in Germany as well as the fourth-l ...
, 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 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'' (, " Formation leader") 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 ...
'')
*
Rudolf Windisch: 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: 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 (Bad Bevensen), Medingen) was a Nazi Germany, German World War II Generalleutnant of Luftwaffe. He began his career as a flying ace in World War ...
: 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.11 ...
, France: 30 July 1918
* Boncourt, France: 21 August 1918
*
Plomion
Plomion () is a commune in the Aisne 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 American army approached pushing toward the ...
, 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
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