# Jagdstaffel 31 > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jagdstaffel_31 > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jagdstaffel_31.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagdstaffel_31 > Source revision: 1333651442 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Jasta 31 Albatros of Jasta 31 Active 1916–1918 Country German Empire Branch Luftstreitkräfte Type Fighter squadron Engagements World War I Military unit **Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 31** was a World War I "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the *[Luftstreitkräfte](/source/Luftstreitkr%C3%A4fte)*, the air arm of the [Imperial German Army](/source/Imperial_German_Army) during [World War I](/source/World_War_I). As one of the original German fighter squadrons, the unit would score 35 verified aerial victories, including five wins over enemy [observation balloons](/source/Observation_balloons).[1] In turn, their casualties for the war would amount to nine pilots [killed in action](/source/Killed_in_action), two dead in aircraft accidents, six [wounded in action](/source/Wounded_in_action), and two injured in accidents.[1] ## History/Operations A Jasta 31 Albatros D.III on display to visitors. Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 31 was formed on 14 December 1916 at [Breslau](/source/Breslau), the site of the FEA II training unit in the [3rd Armee](/source/3rd_Army_(German_Empire)) Sector. It was mobilized into action on 7 February 1917. Its first victory was scored on 3 March 1917 by *Staffelführer* Albert. On 11 September 1917, it left the [Western Front](/source/Western_Front_(World_War_I)) for service in Italy. Between 25 October 1917 and 20 February 1918, it racked up 14 victories in Italy. It was then shifted back to the Western Front on 7 March, and there completed its war.[1] It returned from there toward the end of February 1918, and returned to the Western Front. It fought through to war's end, and was disbanded along with the rest of the *Luftstreitkräfte*.[1] ## Commanding officers (*[Staffelführer](/source/Staffelf%C3%BChrer)*) 1. Leutnant Werner Albert: Unknown date – 10 May 1917 [(KIA)](/source/Killed_in_action) 1. [Oberleutnant](/source/Oberleutnant) Gunther Viehweger: transferred in from [Jasta 17](/source/Jasta_17) on 10 May 1917 – transferred out on 6 September 1917 1. Leutnant Zech: transferred in from [Jasta 1](/source/Jasta_1) on 6 September 1917 – promoted out of unit on 18 May 1918 1. Oberleutnant Robert Blumenbach: transferred in from [Jasta 12](/source/Jasta_12) on 18 May 1918 – 2 October 1918 1. [Hauptmann](/source/Hauptmann) Eduard Seldner: transferred in from [Jasta 37](/source/Jasta_37) on 2 October 1918 – 17 March 1919?[2] ## Aerodromes 1. [Mars-sous-Bourcq](/source/Mars-sous-Bourcq), France: 8 February 1917 – Unknown date[2] 1. Italy: 11 September 1917 – Late February or early March 1918 1. [Western Front](/source/Western_Front_(World_War_I)): 7 March 1918 – ca 11 November 1918[1] ## Notable members One member of Jasta 31 was a recipient of the [Royal House Order of Hohenzollern](/source/Royal_House_Order_of_Hohenzollern) and [Iron Cross](/source/Iron_Cross): - [Richard Wenzl](/source/Richard_Wenzl)[3] Two members were Iron Cross winners: - [Sylvester Garsztka](/source/Sylvester_Garsztka)[4] - [Fritz Jacobsen](/source/Fritz_Jacobsen)[5] Two other aces served with the squadron: - Alwin Thurm[6] - Kurt Jacob[1][7] ## Aircraft Jasta 31 used the [Albatros D.III](/source/Albatros_D.III), D.III (OAW), [Albatros D.V](/source/Albatros_D.V) and Roland D.II fighters.[2] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFranksBaileyGuest199342_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFranksBaileyGuest199342_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFranksBaileyGuest199342_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFranksBaileyGuest199342_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFranksBaileyGuest199342_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFranksBaileyGuest199342_1-5) [Franks, Bailey & Guest (1993)](#CITEREFFranksBaileyGuest1993), p. 42. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-theaerodrome_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-theaerodrome_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-theaerodrome_2-2) ["Jasta 31"](http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta31.php). *The Aerodrome*. 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Richard Wenzl"](http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/wenzl.php). *The Aerodrome*. 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Mieczyslaw Sylwester Garsztka"](http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/garsztka.php). *The Aerodrome*. 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Fritz John Jacobsen"](http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/jacobsen.php). *The Aerodrome*. 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Alwin Thurm"](http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/thurm.php). *The Aerodrome*. 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Kurt Jacob"](http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/jacob.php). *The Aerodrome*. 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015. **Bibliography** - [Franks, Norman](/source/Norman_Franks); 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](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-948817-73-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-948817-73-1). v t e Jastas of the Imperial German Army Air Service Prussian 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 25 26 27 29 30 31 33 36 37 38 39 41 42 43 45 46 48 49 50 51 52 53 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 73 74 75 81 82 83 85 86 87 88 89 90 Bavarian 16 23 32 34 35 76 77 78 79 80 Saxon 21 22 24 40 44 54 72 Württembergian 28 47 64 84 v t e Aviation in World War I People and aircraft Commanders Aces (accuracy) Aircraft of the Entente Powers Aircraft of the Central Powers Zeppelins Campaigns and battles Strategic bombing German Cuxhaven Bombing of cities Aerial reconnaissance Fokker Scourge Zonguldak Istanbul Flight over Vienna Bloody April Battles Entente Powers air services Belgian Air Component British air services Royal Flying Corps Royal Naval Air Service Royal Air Force Australian Flying Corps Canadian Air Force (1918–1920) French Air Service Imperial Russian Air Service Royal Italian Air Corps Romanian Air Corps Serbian Air Force United States Army Air Service Greek air services Army Air Service Naval Air Service Japanese air services Imperial Japanese Army Air Service Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service Central Powers air services Imperial German Air Service Austro-Hungarian Imperial and Royal Aviation Troops Ottoman Aviation Squadrons Bulgarian Army Aeroplane Section --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jagdstaffel 31](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagdstaffel_31) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagdstaffel_31?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.