Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 57, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 57, 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 32 aerial victories during the war. The unit's victories came at the expense of four pilots killed in action, one injured in a flying accident, four wounded in action, and one taken prisoner of war.
History
Jasta 57 was founded at the pilots and observers training school at
Königsberg
Königsberg (; ; ; ; ; ; , ) is the historic Germany, German and Prussian name of the city now called Kaliningrad, Russia. The city was founded in 1255 on the site of the small Old Prussians, Old Prussian settlement ''Twangste'' by the Teuton ...
on 6 January 1918. The new squadron began operations on 20 January 1918. Four days later, it was incorporated into
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.
In postwar Germany, Berthold organized a ''Freikor ...
's ''Jagdgruppe Nord'' and tasked to support ''
6 Armee''. On 26 February 1918, the unit flew its first combat missions. On 11 March, it scored its first aerial victories. Leutnant Hans Viebig (1897–1961), who would become Oberst of the
Wehrmacht
The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the German Army (1935–1945), ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmac ...
with the
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (), or simply the Knight's Cross (), and its variants, were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. While it was order of precedence, lower in preceden ...
, was first and shot down a
Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 of the
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was the air arm of the British Army before and during the First World War until it merged with the Royal Naval Air Service on 1 April 1918 to form the Royal Air Force. During the early part of the war, the RFC sup ...
.
On 23 April 1918, Jasta 57 was reassigned to ''
4 Armee''. It moved once again on 6 June, to join ''
Jagdgruppe 7'' under
Emil Thuy in support of ''
2 Armee''. Five days later, JG 7 was reassigned to support ''
18 Armee''. On 8 July 1918, Jasta 57 was posted to ''
1 Armee''.
Commanding officer (''
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 ...
'')
*
Paul Strähle
''Leutnant'' Paul Strähle was a German World War I flying ace credited with 15 aerial victories.The Aerodrome website page on StrählRetrieved 27 January 2010.
Early life and infantry service
Paul Strähle was born on 20 May 1893 in Schorndorf, ...
: 6 January 1918
Duty stations
*
Wasquehal
Wasquehal (traditional pronunciation ; currently common pronunciation ) is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.
The town originally had a Flemish name; it was written as ''Waskenhal'' in the 11th century.
Geography
Wasquehal ...
, France: 24 January 1918
*
Halluin
Halluin (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Nord (French department), Nord Departments of France, department in northern France.
Geography
It is located at the north of the Métropole Européenne de Lille, on the Belgium, Belgian border ...
: 23 April 1918
*
Ennemain
Ennemain (; Picard: ''Ènmain'' ) is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France.
Geography
Ennemain is situated on the D103 and D145 crossroads, from the banks of the river Somme, some west of Saint-Quentin.
Popu ...
: 6 June 1918
*
Neuflize
Neuflize () is a commune in the Ardennes department in northern France.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Ardennes department
The following is a list of the 447 communes of the Ardennes department of France
France, official ...
: 8 July 1918
*
Aniche
Aniche (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Nord (French department), Nord Departments of France, département in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France.
The commune, located in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais mining area, long lived on t ...
, France: 21 August 1918
*
Beuvry
Beuvry () is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region in northern France.
Geography
A suburban town immediately southwest of Béthune, southwest of Lille, at the junction of the D945, D72 and N41 roads. Light ind ...
, France: 30 September 1918
*
Chièvres
Chièvres (; ) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium.
On January 1, 2018, Chièvres had a total population of 6,899. The total area is 46.91 km2 which gives a population density of 150 inhabitan ...
, Belgium: 12 October 1918
* Champles: 4 November 1918
Notable personnel
* Paul Strähle
*
Johannes Jensen
References
;Bibliography
*
57
Military units and formations established in 1918
1918 establishments in Germany
Military units and formations disestablished in 1918
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