Jagdstaffel 30

{{infobox military unit |unit_name= Jasta 30 |image= |caption= |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_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 30''', commonly abbreviated to '''Jasta 30''', was a "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the ''[[Luftstreitkräfte]]'', the air arm of the [[Imperial German Army]] during [[World War I]]. The unit would score a minimum of 63 aerial victories during the war, at the expense of twelve killed in action, six [[wounded in action]], and two taken [[prisoner of war]].{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|pp=41–42}}<ref name="theaerodrome">{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta30.php |title=Jasta 30 |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=18 December 2015}}</ref>

==History== [[File:Halberstadt D.II trailing edge droop.jpg|left|thumb|Jasta 30 originally flew Halberstadt D.II fighters like this.]] Jagstaffel 30 was formed on 14 December 1916 at [[Breslau]], and mobilized for action on 21 January 1917 at [[Phalempin]]. Its first victory came on 1 March, being scored by its new commander, [[Hans Bethge (aviator)|Hans Bethge]]. It served through the [[German Empire]]'s defeat and dissolution.{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=41}}

==Commanding officers (''[[Staffelführer]]'')== # Hans Bethge: Transferred in from [[Jasta 1]]{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=41}} on 15 January 1916 – 10 November 1917 # Kurt Preissler: 10 November 1917 – 10 December 1917 # Hans Bethge: 10 December 1917 – 15 January 1918 # Kurt Preissler: 15 January 1918 – 19 January 1918 # Hans Bethge: 19 January 1918 – 17 March 1918{{KIA2}} # Kurt Preissler: 19 March 1918<ref name="theaerodrome"/> – transferred to staff of [[Jagdgruppe II]] on 16 April 1918{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=41}} # [[Hans-Georg von der Marwitz]]: 17 April 1918<ref name="theaerodrome"/> – 17 June 1918{{WIA}}{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=41}} # Hans Eggers: 17 June 1918 – 21 June 1918<ref name="theaerodrome"/> # Richard Flashar: Transferred from [[Jagdgruppe III]]{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=41}} on 21 June 1918 – 1 July 1918<ref name="theaerodrome"/> # Kurt Müller: Transferred from [[Jasta 24]]{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=41}} on 1 July 1918 – 25 July 1918 # Hans-Georg von der Marwitz: 25 July 1918 – 1 August 1918 # Hans Holthusen: 1 August 1918 – 14 August 1918 # Hans-Georg von der Marwitz: 15 August 1918 – 11 November 1918<ref name="theaerodrome"/>

==[[Aerodromes]]== # Breslau (now in Poland): 14 December 1916 – 25 January 1917 # Phalempin, France: 25 January 1917 – 9 August 1918 # [[Moislains]]: 9 August 1918 – 10 August 1918 # Phalempin: 10 August 1918 – 19 August 1918 # [[Avelin]]: 19 August 1918 – 30 September 1918 # [[Baisieux]]: 30 September 1918 – 15 October 1918 # [[Avaing]]: 15 October 1918 – 11 November 1918<ref name="theaerodrome"/>

==Notable personnel== Hans Bethge and Hans-Georg von der Marwitz scored about half the squadron's aerial victories between them. Both of them were recipients of the [[Royal House Order of Hohenzollern]] and the [[Iron Cross]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/bethge.php |title=Hans Bethge |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=18 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/marwitz.php |title=Hans-Georg von der Marwitz |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=18 December 2015}}</ref> [[Joachim von Bertrab]], an Iron Cross winner, was noted for having shot down two pairs of enemy aircraft in a single day; one pair consisted of two [[Martinsyde G.100|Martinsyde Elephants]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/bertrab.php |title=Joachim von Bertrab |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=18 December 2015}}</ref> ''[[Pour le Mérite]]'' winner [[Hans-Joachim Buddecke]] also served with Jasta 30.<ref name="theaerodrome"/><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/buddecke.php |title=Hans-Joachim Buddecke |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=18 December 2015}}</ref>

==Aircraft== [[File:Pfalz.jpg|thumb|right|Pfalz D.IIIs would come into service with the Jasta in August 1917.]] The [[Pfalz D.III]] was introduced into service in August 1917. It was rugged and reliable, though mediocre in performance.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.theaerodrome.com/aircraft/germany/pfalz_diii.php |title=Pfalz D.III |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=18 December 2015}}</ref> It was still being used by Jasta 30 as late as 17 March 1918, when Hans Bethge was killed while flying one.<ref name="theaerodrome"/> The [[Halberstadt D.II]] was brought into service in the summer of 1916, to be followed shortly by the [[Halberstadt D.III]] used by Jasta 30. The Halberstadts were usually succeeded by newer [[Albatros Flugzeugwerke|Albatros]] aircraft, with the Halberstadts relegated to use as trainers.<ref name="theaerodrome"/><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.theaerodrome.com/aircraft/germany/halberstadt_dii.php |title=Halberstadt D.II |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=18 December 2015}}</ref>

==Operations== Jasta 30's only verified operational commitment was to the [[6th Army (German Empire)|6th Armee]].{{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|30]] [[Category:Military units and formations established in 1916]] [[Category:1916 establishments in Germany]] [[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1918]]