{{infobox military unit |unit_name= Jasta 17 |image= |caption= |dates=1916–1918 |country= [[German Empire]] |allegiance= |branch=[[Luftstreitkräfte]] |type=Fighter squadron |role= |size= |command_structure=Jagdgruppe Nord |garrison= |garrison_label= |nickname= |patron= |motto= |colors= |colors_label= |march= |mascot= |equipment= |equipment_label= |battles= [[World War I]] |anniversaries= |decorations= |battle_honours= |battle_honours_label= |disbanded= |flying_hours= |website= <!-- Commanders --> |commander1= |commander1_label= |commander2= |commander2_label= |commander3= |commander3_label= |commander4= |commander4_label= |notable_commanders= <!-- Insignia --> |identification_symbol= |identification_symbol_label= |identification_symbol_2= |identification_symbol_2_label= |identification_symbol_3= |identification_symbol_3_label= |identification_symbol_4= |identification_symbol_4_label= <!-- Aircraft --> |aircraft_attack= |aircraft_bomber= |aircraft_electronic= |aircraft_fighter= |aircraft_helicopter= |aircraft_helicopter_attack= |aircraft_helicopter_cargo= |aircraft_helicopter_multirole= |aircraft_helicopter_observation= |aircraft_helicopter_transport= |aircraft_helicopter_trainer= |aircraft_helicopter_utility= |aircraft_interceptor= |aircraft_patrol= |aircraft_recon= |aircraft_trainer= |aircraft_transport= }} '''Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 17''' 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 101 aerial victories{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=36}} (including fourteen wins over enemy observation balloons) during the war, with another 22 of the squadron's claims going unconfirmed.<ref name="theaerodrome1">{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta17.php |title=Jasta 17 |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=17 December 2015}}</ref>
The ''Jasta'' paid a price of ten killed in action, two lost in flying accidents, six wounded in action, and three injured in accidents.{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=37}}
==History==
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 17 was formed at [[Army Flugpark 5]] on 23 October 1916. It absorbed the pre-existing ad hoc [[KEK Metz]]. In August 1917, they became part of [[Jagdgruppe Nord]] along with [[Kest 8]], [[Jasta 2]], [[Jasta 20]], and [[Jasta 28]]. In March 1918, it was collated with [[Jasta 22]] and [[Jasta 63]] into [[Jagdgruppe 2|Jagdgruppe II]]; their former commander, [[Rittmeister]] von Brederlow succeeded to its command a bit later. By Summer 1918, Jasta 17 anchored [[JGr II]], while the other squadrons in the group became [[Jasta 48]], [[Jasta 53]], and [[Jasta 61]]. Jasta 17 fought until war's end. Two days later, they relocated to FEA 5, [[Hanover|Hannover]]. On 7 December 1918, they disbanded.{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=36–37}}
==Commanding officers (''[[Staffelführer]]'')== # Heinz von Brederlow: 11 November 1916 - 10 May 1917 # Eberhard von Seel: 10 May 1917 - 12 June 1917{{KIA2}} (claimed by [[René Paul Fonck]]) # Ernst Wendler: 19 June 1917 - 1 October 1917{{WIA}} # Rudolf von Esebeck: 4 October 1917 - 27 May 1918{{KIA2}} # Hermann Pritsch (Acting CO): 29 May 1918 - 12 June 1918 # Günther Schuster: 12 June 1918 - 1 August 1918{{WIA}} # [[Julius Buckler]]: 1 August 1918 - 11 November 1918<ref name="theaerodrome1"/>
==Aerodromes== # [[Metz-Frescaty]]: 11 November 1916 – early March 1917 # [[St. Quentin-le-Petit]]: Early March 1917 – 24 June 1917 # [[Gistel]], Belgium: 24 June 1917 – August 1917 # [[Wasquehal]], France: August 1917 – November 1917 # [[Eringhem]], Belgium: November 1917 – December 1917 # [[Neuvilly]], France: December 1917 – 28 December 1917 # [[Retheuil]], France: 28 December 1917 – Unknown{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=36}} # [[Douilly]], France # [[Balâtre]], France # [[Erchau]] # [[Mars-sous-Bourcq]], France # [[Vivaise]], France # [[Chuffilly-Roche]], France # [[Malmy-Chéméry]]<ref name="theaerodrome1"/> # [[St. Medard]], Neufchâteau: Unknown – 13 November 1918{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=37}}
==Notable members==
[[Julius Buckler]] was the predominant ace of Jasta 17. He entered the unit as an enlisted man,{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=36}} scored its first victory on 17 December 1916,<ref name="theaerodrome1"/> won the [[Military Merit Cross (Prussia)|Military Merit Cross]], rose through the ranks to be commissioned an officer,{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=36}}and became not only its leading ace<ref name="theaerodrome1"/>{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=36}} but one of the leading German aces over all.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/index.php?pageNum_names=1&totalRows_names=393 |title=World War I Aces of Germany |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=17 December 2015}}</ref> To top it off, he won the [[Pour le Merite]],<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.theaerodrome.com/medals/germany/prussia_opm.php?pageNum_recipients=1&totalRows_recipients=63#recipients |title=World War I Military Medals and Decorations - Germany - Orden Pour le Mérite (Prussia) |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=17 December 2015}}</ref> was probably the only German ace to be wounded seriously enough times to receive the Golden [[Wound Badge]],<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.theaerodrome.com/medals/germany/wb.php |title=World War I Military Medals and Decorations - Germany - Wound Badge |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=17 December 2015}}</ref> and became the squadron's final ''Staffelführer''.{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=36}}
Not that he was the only notable among the unit's eight aces. There were [[Gustav Schneidewind]] and [[Christian Donhauser]] with a Military Merit Cross and an [[Iron Cross]] apiece. The squadron's other aces were [[Georg Strasser]], Karl Bohny, [[Alfred Fleischer]], Otto Fitzner, and Günther Schuster<ref name="theaerodrome1"/>
==Aircraft==
The new ''Jasta'' was equipped with at least one [[Halberstadt D.II]], several [[Albatros D.II]] and [[Albatros D.III]]s at inception.{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=37}} [[Albatros D.V]] started to appear in July 1917, [[Pfalz D.III]] and D.IIIas were received in October 1917 - end January 1918, two [[Pfalz D.XII]] and 12 [[Fokker D.VII]] were on strength at the Armistice. <ref>{{cite book|last1=VanWyngarden|first1=Greg|title=Aces of Jagdstaffel 17|date=2013|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=978-1-78096-718-9 }}</ref>
==Operations==
Jasta 17 originated on the front of the [[5th Army (German Empire)|5th Armee]]. On 11 November 1916, it became operational to the [[Armee-Abteilung A|''Armee-Abteilung'' A]] Sector. It switched to support of [[7th Army (German Empire)|7th Armee]] in early March 1917, then onward to support [[1st Army (German Empire)|1st Armee]]. After its move northward on 24 June 1917 to Ghistelle, it supported [[4th Army (German Empire)|4th Armee]]. By the end of 1917, the squadron was operating on [[2nd Army (German Empire)|2nd Armee]]'s front.{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=36}}
==In popular culture== Fictional War comic character [[Enemy Ace]] aka Baron Hans Von Hammer aka "The Hammer of hell" commands Jasta 17 in World War I.
==References== {{reflist}}
==Bibliography== *{{cite journal |last1=Bailleux|first1=Yves|last2=Cony|first2=Christophe|name-list-style=amp |title=As allemands 14/18: Georg Strasser et la Jasta 17 |journal=Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire |date=November 2001 |issue=104 |pages=50–56 |trans-title=German Aces of the Great War: Georg Strasser and Jasta 17 |language=fr |issn=1243-8650}} * {{cite book |first1=Norman |last1=Franks |author-link1=Norman Franks |first2=Frank W. |last2=Bailey |first3=Russell F. |last3=Guest |title=Above The Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service, and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918 |location=London, UK |publisher=Grub Street |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-948817-73-1 |name-list-style=amp}} * {{cite book|last1=VanWyngarden|first1=Greg|title=Aces of Jagdstaffel 17|date=2013|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=978-1-78096-718-9}}
[[Category:Jagdstaffeln|17]] [[Category:Military units and formations established in 1916]] [[Category:1916 establishments in Germany]] [[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1918]] {{wwi-air}}