Jasta 8
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Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 8 was a 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 ...
. Although the ''Jasta'' went out of existence along with its parent units shortly after the Armistice ending World War I, its experiences would strongly influence the subsequent ''
Luftwaffe The Luftwaffe () was the aerial warfare, aerial-warfare branch of the before and during World War II. German Empire, Germany's military air arms during World War I, the of the Imperial German Army, Imperial Army and the of the Imperial Ge ...
''.


History

The basis of ''Jagdstaffel 8'' was a small element of single-seat fighters attached to ''Feldflieger Abteilung 6'' at Roulers Aerodrome. It was transferred to FEA 10 at
Böblingen Böblingen (; ) is a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, seat of Böblingen (district), Böblingen District. Sindelfingen and Böblingen are Geographic contiguity, contiguous. History Böblingen was founded by Count Wilhelm von Tübingen-Bö ...
for the formation of the new unit on 10 September 1916. The squadron served beyond the Armistice, not disbanding until 3 December 1918. It passed into history at FEA 11, Breslau- Gandau. During its 27-month existence, the squadron scored at least 91 confirmed victories. In turn, it had paid the cost of four pilots killed in action, one killed in a flying accident, and eight wounded in action (two multiply).


Commanding officers (''Staffelführer'')

# Gustav Stenzel: 23 September 1916 – 28 July 1917 # Konrad Mettlich (Acting): 28 July 1917 – 9 August 1917 # Constantin von Bentheim: 9 August 1917 – 1 April 1918 #
Werner Junck Werner Junck (28 December 1895 – 6 August 1976) was a German general in the Luftwaffe during World War II, serving in Iraq and later in the Baltic campaign. He claimed five aerial victories during World War I. Early life Werner Junck was bor ...
: 1 April 1918 – 6 July 1918 # Joachim de la Camp: 6 July 1918 – 12 August 1918 # Werner Junck: 12 August 1918 – 11 November 1918


Duty stations (airfields)

#
Rumbeke Rumbeke is a town in the Belgium, Belgian municipality of Roeselare in the province of West Flanders. It is most known as the location of Rumbeke Castle. Rumbeke was an independent municipality before the fusion of the Belgian municipalities in 1 ...
, Belgium: 12 September 1916 – 30 September 1917 #
Jabbeke Jabbeke () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Jabbeke proper, Snellegem, Stalhille, Varsenare and Zerkegem. On 1 January 2006 the municipality had 13,572 inhabitants. Th ...
,
Bruges Bruges ( , ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders, in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is in the northwest of the country, and is the sixth most populous city in the country. The area of the whole city amoun ...
, Belgium: 30 September 1917 – 19 November 1917 #
Neuvilly Neuvilly is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. Heraldry French sartorial heritage The city was a pivotal center of mulquinerie. People Frank Lester is buried there. See also *Communes of the Nord department The fo ...
, Le Cateau, France: 20 November 1917 – 14 December 1917 # Wassigny, France: 15 December 1917 – 21 March 1918 #
Bohain-en-Vermandois Bohain-en-Vermandois () is a Communes of France, commune in the Departments of France, department of Aisne in Hauts-de-France in northern France. It is the place where the painter Henri Matisse grew up. Etymology Formerly called Bohain, the t ...
, France: 21 March 1918 – 24 March 1918 # Beauvois, France: 24 March 1918 – 27 March 1918 #
Balâtre Balâtre () is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. Geography A small farming village, situated 6.4 kilometres (6 miles) to the east of Roye, on the D248 road. Population See also *Communes of the Somme ...
- Roye: 27 March 1918 – 5 July 1918 # Saint-Rémy, France: 6 July 1918 – 14 September 1918 # Mercy-le-Haut: 15 September 1918 – 11 November 1918


Personnel

The Jasta was a formative experience for a young
ace An ace is a playing card, die or domino with a single pip. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol (a heart, diamond, spade, or a club) located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the ...
who went on to be a Luftwaffe
Generalleutnant () is the German-language variant of lieutenant general, used in some German speaking countries. Austria Generalleutnant is the second highest general officer rank in the Austrian Armed Forces (''Bundesheer''), roughly equivalent to the NATO ...
,
Werner Junck Werner Junck (28 December 1895 – 6 August 1976) was a German general in the Luftwaffe during World War II, serving in Iraq and later in the Baltic campaign. He claimed five aerial victories during World War I. Early life Werner Junck was bor ...
. Among its seven other aces were four other notable ones;
Walter Göttsch Leutnant Walter Göttsch HoH, IC (10 June 1896—10 April 1918) was a German World War I flying ace credited with 20 aerial victories. His final combat assignment was commanding '' Jagdstaffel 19'' in '' Jagdgeschwader II.'' Early life and s ...
, Rudolf Francke, Wilhelm Seitz, and Rudolf Wendelmuth.


Aircraft and operations

Details of aircraft assigned are sketchy; the only type they are known to have operated were Albatros D.Vs, which were introduced in 1917. Squadron operations are not any better known for the squadron's first year, except it was based at Rumbeke, Belgium. During the summer of 1917, Jasta 8 became part of Jagdgruppe 15 — aka Jagdgruppe Nord. Jasta 8 suffered a stutter in leadership during this summer; on 28 July, Staffelführer Gustav Stenzel was killed in action. Oberleutnant Konrad Mettlich assumed command until Constantin von Bentheim arrived on 9 August. The Jasta moved from Rumbeke to Jabbeke-Brügge on 30 September 1917, shifting to support of 4 Armee. In early December, it also became part of ''Jagdgruppe "Etreux"'', an ad hoc unit consisting of the Jasta and Jasta 35; the Jagdgruppe was commanded by Constantin von Bentheim. On 14 December, the Jasta moved again, to Neuvilly, and to support of the 2 Armee. It moved once more that year, on 15 December, and began a three-month stay at Wassigny. When the Germans launched their Spring Offensive in March 1918, the Jasta uprooted three times, operating on the front of the 18 Armee. After three day stays at both Bohain and Beauvois, it settled into Balâtre-Roye on 27 March 1918 for a hundred-day occupation. At some time in March, Jasta 8 was also incorporated into Jagdgruppe 1. The Jasta acquired a new commanding officer on 4 April 1918 in future
Generalmajor is the Germanic languages, Germanic variant of major general, used in a number of Central Europe, Central and Northern European countries. Austria Belgium Denmark is the second lowest general officer rank in the Royal Danish Army and R ...
Werner Junck; their previous Staffelführer, Constantin von Bentheim, had been appointed to command of Jagdgruppe 15 three days previously. As part of Jagdgruppe 1, Jasta 8 supported, successively, 1 Armee and 5 Armee. On 6 July, it moved to St. Rémy, and on 15 September settled at Mercy-le-Haut. It ended the war there.


References

;Bibliography * {{wwi-air 08 Military units and formations established in 1916 1916 establishments in Germany Military units and formations disestablished in 1918