Luftstreitkrfte

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This article is about the army air service of the German Empire. For the post-World
War I German air force, see Luftwaffe. For the post-World War II air force of West
Germany and modern air force of Germany, see German Air Force. For the air force of
East Germany, see Air Forces of the National People's Army. For other uses, see
Luftstreitkrfte (disambiguation).
Deutsche Luftstreitkrfte
Cross-Pattee-Heraldry.svg
Form of Cross Patte used on
German military aircraft in 1915
Founded 1910 8 May 1920
Country German Empire
Allegiance Kaiser Wilhelm II
Branch Imperial German Army
Type Air force
Role Aerial warfare
Size In 1918
2,709 front line aircraft
56 airships
186 balloon detachments
About 4,500 aircrew
Engagements
World War I

Greater Poland Uprising (1918-1919)

Commanders
Notable
commanders Hermann von der Lieth-Thomsen
Ernst von Hoeppner
Insignia
19141915 Cross-Pattee-Heraldry.svg
1916 March 1918 Cross-Pattee-alternate3.svg
MarchApril 1918 to
1919 Greek cross.svg
The Deutsche Luftstreitkrfte (German ['d??t?? 'l?ft??t?a?tk??ft?], German Air
Force)known before October 1916 as the Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches
(Imperial German Flying Corps)[1] or simply Die Fliegertruppewas the World War I
(191418) air arm of the German Army, of which it remained an integral part. In
English-language sources it is usually referred to as the Imperial German Air
Service, although that is not a literal translation of either name. German naval
aviators serving with the Marine-Fliegerabteilung remained an integral part of the
Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine). Both military branches, the army and
navy, operated conventional aircraft, observation balloons and Zeppelins.

Contents [hide]
1 Founding
2 Organization
3 Fighter unit organization
4 Unit designations
5 Aircraft
6 Aircraft designation system
7 Pilots
8 Insignia
9 Establishment
10 Statistics
11 See also
12 References
13 Sources
14 External links
Founding[edit]
The first military aircraft to be acquired by the German Army entered service in
1910 forming the nucleus of what was to become the Luftstreitkrfte in October
1916. The duties of such aircraft were initially intended to be reconnaissance and
artillery spotting in support of armies on the ground, just as balloons had been
used during the Franco-Prussian War of 18701871 and even as far back as the
Napoleonic Wars. For comparison, France's embryonic army air service (Aviation
Militaire), which eventually became the Arme de l'Air, was instituted later in
1910 the Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers (later re-organised as the Royal
Flying Corps) was not formed until November 1911.

Organization[edit]
The initial units of the Luftstreitkrfte, dedicated to observation, were known as
Feldflieger Abteilungen (Field Flier Detachments), and had an official
establishment of six unarmed, two-seat A andor B-class aircraft apiece, with each
FFA unit assigned to an army unit in their local area, and usually numbered with
the same number as the army they were assigned to serve.

The Luftstreitkrfte organization changed substantially as the war progressed, to

accommodate and adapt to the new types of aircraft, doctrine, tactics and the needs
of the ground troops, in particularly the artillery. During this time the system of
organisation and unit designations evolved that would form the basis of those used
in the Third Reich's Luftwaffe when it was revealed in 1935.

During 1916, the German High Command, in response to Allied air superiority,
reorganized their forces by creating several types of specialist units, most
notably single-seat fighter squadrons, or Jagdstaffeln (literally hunting
squadron), in order to counter the offensive operations of the Royal Flying Corps
and the French Aviation Militaire.

Fighter unit organization[edit]

Main article Jagdstaffeln

Leutnant Max Immelmann with his first Fokker Eindecker, E.1315.

The initial deployment of fighter aircraft in the summer of 1915 occurred within
the Feldflieger Abteilung, which were being equipped with one or two of the new
Fokker Eindecker fighter aircraft for each unit, starting with the five Fokker
M.5KMG production prototypes of the Eindecker, bearing serial numbers E.115 through
E.515. The buildup of the Eindecker fighter force rapidly progressed with regular
lMG 08 Spandau-armed production examples of the Fokker E.I following the deliveries
of the M.5KMG airframes late in the summer of 1915, with early E.Is going to aces
like Max Immelmann, who received IdFlieg serial number E.1315 in August 1915.

The first step towards specialist fighter-only aviation units within the German
military was the establishment of Kampfeinsitzer Kommando (single-seat battle unit,
abbreviated as KEK) formations by Inspektor-Major Friedrich Stempel in February
1916. These were based around Eindeckers and other new fighter designs emerging,
like the Pfalz E-series monoplanes, that were being detached from their former FFA
units during the winter of 19151916 and brought together in pairs and quartets at
particularly strategic locations, as KEK units were formed at Vaux, Avillers,
Jametz, Cunel and other strategic locations along the Western Front, to act as
Luftwachtdienst (aerial guard force) units, consisting only of fighters.[2]
Following the era of the KEK units through the summer of 1916, Jagdstaffeln
(hunting squadrons), established by the reorganization that started by the late
summer of 1916 were fielded by four kingdoms of the German Empire. Individually -
each of these units was often known by the abbreviation Jasta. The Kingdom of
Prussia was predominant, with a fighter force eventually comprising 67 squadrons.
The Kingdom of Bavaria formed ten of these units, the Kingdom of Saxony formed
seven and the Kingdom of Wrttemberg four.

On 24 June 1917, the Luftstreitkrfte brought a quartet of Jasta squadrons together

to form its first fighter wing, Royal Prussian Jagdgeschwader I, incorporating
Jastas 4, 6, 10 and 11, and set the pattern for using Roman numerals in the
Luftstreitkrfte for designating such larger-sized units. Manfred von Richthofen
was moved up from command of Jasta 11 to command JG I. Much as Jasta 2 had been
renamed as Jasta Boelcke in December 1916 after Oswald Boelcke, Germany's top
fighter tactician had been lost in a mid-air collision in October 1916, following
the Red Baron's death in action in late April 1918, JG I was renamed to honor von
Richthofen by order of the Kaiser.[3][4]

The Prussians established three more Jagdgeschwader. On 2 February 1918, JG II

formed from Jastas 12, 13, 15 and 19, with Adolf Ritter von Tutschek in command.[5]
On the same day, JG III consolidated Jasta 2 Boelcke and Jastas 26, 27 and 36 under
Bruno Loerzer.[6] Finally, on 2 September 1918, the Royal Prussian Marine
Jagdgeschwader was formed from the Kaiserliche Marine's Marine Feld Jastas I
through V and placed in charge of Gotthard Sachsenberg. Bavaria established the
Royal Bavarian Jagdgeschwader IV on 3 October 1918, from Jastas 23, 32, 34 and 35
under Eduard Ritter von Schleich.[7]

Unit designations[edit]

Die Fliegerabteilung (A) 272 im Kriegsjahr 1917. Ballonaufstieg

(AFA) Artillerieflieger-Abteilung Artillery Flier Detachment
(AFS) Artillerieflieger-Schule; Artillery Flier School
AFP Armee-Flug-Park Army Flight Park