Jagdstaffel 28

{{Infobox military unit |unit_name= Jasta 28 | image= Albad3.jpg | image_size = 300 |caption=Jasta 28 was founded with Albatross D.III fighters. |dates=1916–1918 |country= [[German Empire]] |allegiance= |branch=[[Luftstreitkräfte]] |type=Fighter squadron |role= |size= |command_structure= |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=  |commander1= |commander1_label= |commander2= |commander2_label= |commander3= |commander3_label= |commander4= |commander4_label= |notable_commanders=  |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_attack= |aircraft_bomber= |aircraft_electronic= |aircraft_fighter= |aircraft_interceptor= |aircraft_patrol= |aircraft_recon= |aircraft_trainer= |aircraft_transport= }} '''Royal Württemberg Jagdstaffel 28''', commonly abbreviated to '''Jasta 28''', 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 100 verified aerial victories. The Jasta would pay a blood price for its success: nine pilots [[killed in action]], three [[wounded in action]], one injured in a collision, and one [[prisoner of war]].{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=41}}

==History== Royal Württemberg Jagdstaffel 28 was founded on 14 December 1916 at FEA 10 at [[Böblingen]]. Oberleutnant Lang from [[Jasta 11]] was assigned to command it. After Leutnant Lang's reassignment, the squadron would have three commanders killed in combat within four months. Leutnant [[Emil Thuy]] then took over, and helmed the squadron throughout war's end.{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=41}}

==Commanding officers (''[[Staffelführer]]'')== # [[Oberleutnant]] Rudolf Lang. Appointed from [[Jasta 11]] on 20 January 1917 – transferred out on 27 April 1917. # Leutnant [[Karl Emil Schäfer|Karl Schäfer]]. Transferred in from Jasta 11 on 27 April 1917 – 5 June 1917{{KIA2}}. # [[Hauptmann]] [[Otto Hartmann (aviator)|Otto Hartmann]]. Transferred in from [[Jasta 18]] on 8 June 1917 – 3 September 1917{{KIA2}}. # Oberleutnant Werner Jahns. Assigned on 6 September 1917 – 24 September 1917{{KIA2}}. # Leutnant Emil Thuy. Transferred in from [[Jasta 21]] on 26 September 1917 – 11 November 1918.<ref name="theaerodrome">{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta28.php |title=Jasta 28 |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=24 December 2015}}</ref>

==Aerodromes== # Böblingen, [[Kingdom of Württemberg]]: 14 December 1916 – 23 January 1917 # Marcke (near [[Courtrai]]), Belgium: 24 January 1917 – 25 March 1917 # [[Wasquehal]]: 26 March 1917 – 26 August 1917 # [[Varsenare]], Belgium: 27 August 1917 – 13 November 1917 # [[Jabbeke]], Belgium: 13 November 1917 – 25 November 1917 # Wynghene: 25 November 1917 – 7 December 1917 # Varsenare, Belgium: 7 December 1917 – 5 February 1918 # Wynghene: 5 February 1918 – 1 March 1918 # [[Iseghem]]: 1 March 1918 – 21 March 1918 # [[Abeele]], Belgium: 21 March 1918 – 29 March 1918 # [[Iseghem]]: 29 March 1918 – 5 June 1918 # [[Ennemain]], France: 6 June 1918 – 7 July 1918 # [[Neuflize]], France: 8 July 1918 – 10 August 1918 # Mons-en-Chaussée: 11 August 1918 – 12 August 1918 # Neuflize: 13 August 1918 – 24 August 1918 # [[Cantin]], France: 25 August 1918 – 30 September 1918 # [[Beuvry]], France: 1 October 1918 – 12 October 1918 # [[Chièvres]], Belgium: 13 October 1918 – 3 November 1918 # Champles, Waterloo: 4 November 1918 – 11 November 1918<ref name="theaerodrome"/>

==Notable members== Karl Schäfer, ''[[Pour le Mérite]]'', [[Royal House Order of Hohenzollern]], [[Iron Cross]], transferred into the commander's slot with 23 victories, and scored seven more with the squadron before his death.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/schafer2.php |title=Karl Emil Schäfer |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=24 December 2015}}</ref>

[[Max Ritter von Müller (aviator)|Max von Müller]]'s maiden victory for his new squadron was followed by 23 more, including three over British aces, before he transferred to command of [[Jasta 2]]; he would end the war with the ''Pour le Mérite'', Iron Cross, and [[Military Order of Max Joseph]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/muller3.php |title=Max Ritter von Müller |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=24 December 2015}}</ref>

[[Carl Bolle (flying ace)|Carl Bolle]] became an ace early on with the squadron, before moving on to Jasta 2, winning the ''Pour le Mérite'', Hohenzollern, and Iron Cross.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/bolle.php |title=Karl Bolle |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=24 December 2015}}</ref>

[[Ernst Hess]] had scored one of the earlier aerial victories in history to start his string on 5 January 1916; he scored a dozen times with Jasta 28, and had earned the Hohenzollern and Iron Cross before his death in action.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/hess.php |title=Ernst Hess |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=24 December 2015}}</ref>

[[Karl Christ]], who scored the Jasta's final victory, earned an Iron Cross and went on to serve in the World War II ''Luftwaffe''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/christ.php |title=Karl Christ |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=24 December 2015}}</ref>

[[August Hanko (military personnel)|August Hanko]] won a [[Military Merit Cross (Prussia)|Military Merit Cross]] as an enlisted man, was commissioned, and went on to command [[Jasta 64]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/hanko.php |title=August Hanko |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=24 December 2015}}</ref>

[[Otto Hartmann (aviator)|Otto Hartmann]]'s short reign in the squadron brought this old soldier acedom and an Iron Cross.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/hartmann.php |title=Otto Hartmann |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=24 December 2015}}</ref>

[[Emil Thuy]] transferred in from Jasta 21 and headed Jasta 28 for the last 13 of the 20 months it existed; he ended the war with the ''Pour le Mérite'', Hohenzollern, and Iron Cross.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/thuy.php |title=Emil Thuy |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=24 December 2015}}</ref>{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=41}}<ref name="theaerodrome"/>

==Aircraft== Jasta 28 was known to use [[Albatros D.III]] and [[Albatros D.V]] fighter aircraft.<ref name="theaerodrome"/>

==Operations== Jasta 28 began its battle career on the ''[[4th Army (German Empire)|4 Armee]]'' front at Marcke on 24 January 1917. It moved to support of ''[[6th Army (German Empire)|6 Armee]]'' on 26 March 1917. The new squadron flew its first combat patrol on 2 April; its first win came five days later. On 27 August, Jasta 28 moved to Varssenaere, and back to support of ''4 Armee''. They would remain there until 6 June 1918, when they moved to Ennemain and support of ''[[2nd Army (German Empire)|2 Armee]]''. A month later, on 8 July, they were off to Neuflize, and support of ''[[1st Army (German Empire)|1 Armee]]''. On 25 August, the Jasta moved to Cantin to support the ''[[17th Army (German Empire)|17 Armee]]''. It ended the war in this assignment.{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=41}}

==References== {{reflist}} ;Bibliography * {{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}}

[[Category:Jagdstaffeln|28]] [[Category:Military units and formations established in 1916]] [[Category:1916 establishments in Germany]] [[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1918]]