Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 59, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 59, 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 20 aerial victories during the war. The unit's victories came at the expense of four pilots killed in action and two wounded in action.

History

On 6 January 1918, Jasta 59 was founded at the pilots and observers training school at

Schwerin Schwerin (; Mecklenburgisch-Vorpommersch dialect, Mecklenburgisch-Vorpommersch Low German: ''Swerin''; Polabian language, Polabian: ''Zwierzyn''; Latin: ''Suerina'', ''Suerinum'') is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Germ ...

, Germany. The new unit became operational on 21 January. It was assigned to '' 2 Armee'' on the 24th. On 1 February 1918, Jasta 59 was posted to '' 17 Armee'', to remain part of this army for the duration of the war. Jasta 59 was merged into ''Jagdgruppe Sud'' on 10 February 1918. A week later, the squadron flew its first combat missions. It drew its first blood on 10 March 1918. When '' Jagdgruppe 8'' was founded by

Eduard Ritter von Schleich Eduard-Maria Joseph Ritter von Schleich (9 August 1888 – 15 November 1947), born Schleich, was a high scoring Bavarian flying ace of the First World War. He was credited with 35 aerial victories at the end of the war. During the Second World ...

on 15 March 1918, Jasta 59 was one of the squadrons included in the new fighter wing.

Commanding officers (''Staffelführer'')

* Otto Höhne: 6 January 1918 – 26 January 1918 * Hans-Helmut von Boddien: 26 January 1918 – 27 September 1918 * Fritz Krafft: 27 September 1918 – War's end

Duty stations

* Emerchicourt, France: 24 January 1918 *

Favreuil Favreuil () is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France south of Arras. Population See also *Communes of the Pas-de-Calais department The following is a list of the 887 communes of the Pas-de- ...

, France: 28 March 1918 *

Épinoy Épinoy (; ) is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France southeast of Arras. Population See also *Communes of the Pas-de-Calais department The following is a list of the 887 communes of the Pas ...

, France: 18 April 1918 * Roucourt: 8 August 1918 *

Erre Erre () is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is east of Douai Douai ( , , ; ; ; formerly spelled Douay or Doway in English) is a city in the Nord (French department), Nord département in northern France. It is a S ...

, France: 1 September 1918 *

Hélesmes Hélesmes () is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. Heraldry See also *Communes of the Nord department The following is a list of the 647 communes of the Nord department of the French Republic. The communes cooperate ...

, France: 27 September 1918 *

Ghlin Ghlin (; ) is a sub-municipality of the city of Mons located in the province of Hainaut, Wallonia, Belgium. It was a separate municipality until 1972. On 1 January 1972, it was merged into Mons.Arrêté royal du 18 février 1971 portant fusion de ...

, Belgium: 11 October 1918 * Castern: 18 October 1918

References

;Bibliography * {{wwi-air 59 Military units and formations established in 1918 1918 establishments in Germany Military units and formations disestablished in 1918