Jagdstaffel 22

Royal Saxon Jagdstaffel 22 was a "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. As one of the original German fighter squadrons, the unit would score 57 verified aerial victories. Their eleven wins over enemy observation balloons made them a balloon buster squadron.[1]

Jasta 22
Active1916–1919
CountryGerman Empire
BranchLuftstreitkräfte
TypeFighter squadron
EngagementsWorld War I

In turn, their casualties for the war would amount to five pilots killed in action, four killed in midair crashes, one killed in another flying accident, two wounded in action, and two taken prisoner of war.[1]

Jasta 22 was initially equipped with Halberstadt DII fighters.

History

Royal Saxon Jagdstaffel 22 was authorized on 25 October 1916; it formed on 16 November 1916. Its genesis was in the 7 Armee area, and its original personnel came from two field flier detachments, FF(A) 11 and FF(A) 29, and an artillery cooperation unit, FA(A) 222. It mobilized on 1 December 1916. First victory for the new unit is debatable; Leutnant Gustav Rose posted a claim for 27 December 1916, but Josef Jacobs was credited with downing a Caudron on 23 January 1917. Jasta 22 would serve through war's end and beyond; the squadron would not disband until 1919, in Marburg.[2]

Commanding officers (Staffelführer)
  1. Oberleutnant Erich Hönemanns: transferred in from Jasta 12 on 26 November 1916 – transferred out 29 June 1917
  2. Leutnant Alfred Lenz: transferred in from Jasta 4 on 1 July 1917 – served until war's end on 11 November 1918[3]

Aerodromes
Josef Jacobs, triumphant in 48 aerial victories, was a member of Jasta 22.
  1. Vaux, Laon: 16 November 1916 – 26 November 1916
  2. Riencourt, Arras: 26 November 1916 – 15 May 1917
  3. Mont, Verdun: 15 May 1917 – June 1917
  4. Vivaise, France: June 1917 – September 1917
  5. Mont, Verdun, France: September 1917 – November 1917
  6. Near Soissons, France: November 1917 – 19 March 1918
  7. La Ferté Ferme, France: 19 March 1918 – 23 March 1918
  8. Mont-d'Origny, France: 23 March 1918 – 29 March 1918
  9. Villeselve, France: 29 March 1918 – 8 April 1918
  10. Ercheu, France: 8 April 1918 – 12 May 1918
  11. Mont-Saint-Martin: 12 May 1918 – 8 July 1918
  12. Bignicourt, France: 11 July 1918 – 8 August 1918
  13. Haubourdin, France: 8 August 1918 – 19 August 1918
  14. Guise, France: 20 August 1918 – 11 November 1918[3]

Notable members

Aircraft

Original equipment at mobilization was nine Halberstadt D.II and two Albatros D.II fighters. The Jasta operated Albatros fighters until it gained Fokker D.VIIs in 1918.[2] It had at least one Siemens-Schuckert D.IV during the closing days of the war, as Staffelführer Lenz used one to become an ace on 29 September 1918, and was delighted with the aircraft.[8]

Operations
At least one Siemens-Schuckert D.IV was in Jasta 22's inventory at war's end.

Jasta 22 was originally formed in the 7 Armee area. It is known to have supported that army until well into 1917. Jasta 22 fought until war's end, and disbanded in 1919.[2]

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References
  1. Franks, Bailey & Guest (1993), p. 39.
  2. Franks, Bailey & Guest (1993), pp. 38–39.
  3. "Jasta 22". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  4. "Karl Bohnenkamp". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  5. "Josef Carl Peter Jacobs". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  6. "Dieter Collin". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  7. "Erik Thomas". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  8. "Alfred Lenz". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
Bibliography
  • Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank W. & Guest, Russell F. (1993). Above The Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service, and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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