Jagdstaffel 34

{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Jagdstaffel'' 34}} {{Infobox military unit |unit_name=Jasta 34 |image=[[File:Albad3.jpg|300px|Albatross D.III]] |caption=Albatross D.III |dates=1917–1918 |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 Bavarian ''Jagdstaffel'' 34''', commonly abbreviated to '''Jasta 34''', 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 89 confirmed aerial victories during the war, including three enemy [[observation balloons]]. In turn, they would suffer eleven [[killed in action]], one killed in a flying accident, five [[wounded in action]], one injured in an accident, and five taken [[prisoner of war]].{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=43}}

==History== Jasta 34 was founded on 20 February 1917 at FEA 1, [[Altenburg]]. It made its first combat forays on 18 March in the [[Armee-Abteilung C|''Armee-Abteilung'' C]] Sector; six days later, the new squadron's first victories were scored by [[Eduard Ritter von Dostler]] and [[Hans Ritter von Adam|Hans von Adam]]. On 17 July 1917, it was officially designated as a squadron belonging to the [[Kingdom of Bavaria]]. The new unit would serve through war's end, and be disbanded with the rest of the German air force.{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=43}}

==Commanding officers (''[[Staffelführer]]'')== # Eduard von Dostler: 20 February 1917 – 9 June 1917 # [[Franz Walz]]: transferred in from [[Jasta 2]] on 9 June 1917 – transferred out on 19 June 1917 # [[Robert Ritter von Greim]]: 19 June 1917 – 11 November 1918{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=43}}

==Aerodromes== # Altenberg: 20 February 1917 – 25 February 1917 # [[Mars-la-Tour]]: 25 February 1917 – 5 September 1917 # [[Lyon – Mont Verdun Air Base|Mont Verdun]]: 5 September 1917 – 19 October 1917 # [[Cuirieux]]: 19 October 1917 – 22 November 1917 # [[Chenois]], Virton: 22 November 1917 – 15 March 1918 # [[Le Cateau-Cambrésis|Le Cateau]]: 16 March 1918{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=43}} – 27 March 1918 # [[Vraignes-en-Vermandois|Vraignes]]: 27 March 1918 – 12 April 1918 # [[Foucaucourt-en-Santerre|Foucaucourt]]: 18 April 1918 – 31 July 1918 # [[Saint Christ]]: 31 July 1918 – 11 August 1918 # [[Hervilly]]: 11 August 1918 – 29 August 1918 # [[Séranvillers]]: 29 August 1918 – 4 September 1918 # [[Bévillers]]: 5 September 1918 – 30 September 1918 # [[Escarmain]]:{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=43}} 1 October 1918 – 7 October 1918 # [[Givry, Hainaut|Givry]]: 7 October 1918 – 25 October 1918 # [[Gosselies]], Charleroi: 25 October 1918 – 11 November 1918 # [[Thionville|Diedenhofen]]: 11 November 1918<ref name="theaerodrome.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta34.php |title=Jasta 34 |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=23 December 2015}}</ref>

==Notable members== [[Robert Ritter von Greim]] and [[Eduard Ritter von Dostler]] commanded the squadron for virtually its entire existence. Both aces won the ''[[Pour le Mérite]]'' ("Blue Max"); both also were knighted by being awarded the [[Kingdom of Bavaria]]'s most prestigious medal, the [[Military Order of Max Joseph]]. Additionally, Greim's 27 victories were about a third of the squadron's total.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/greim.php |title=Robert Ritter von Greim |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=23 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/dostler.php |title=Eduard Ritter von Dostler |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=23 December 2015}}</ref>

Hans Ritter von Adam won both the [[Iron Cross]] and the Max-Joseph.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/adam.php |title=Hans Ritter von Adam |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=23 December 2015}}</ref> [[Heinrich Geigl]] won the [[House Order of Hohenzollern]], and the Iron Cross.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/geigl.php |title=Heinrich Georg Geigl |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=23 December 2015}}</ref> [[Max Kahlow]], [[Rudolf Stark]], and [[August Delling]] all became aces with Jasta 34 and were awarded an Iron Cross apiece.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/kahlow.php |title=Max Kahlow |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=23 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/stark.php |title=Rudolf Stark |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=23 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/delling.php |title=August Delling |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=23 December 2015}}</ref>

Johann Pütz and Alfons Scheicher were two more aces who served with the squadron.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/putz.php |title=Johann Pütz |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=23 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/scheicher.php |title=Alfons Scheicher |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |access-date=23 December 2015}}</ref>

==Aircraft== Jasta 34 was founded with [[Albatros D.III]]s, on 20 February 1917.{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=43}} By 6 March 1918, they were operating [[Albatros D.V]] and Albatros D.Va fighters. The following month, on 10 April, they received [[Fokker Dr.I]] triplanes and [[Pfalz D.III]]s. On 15 June 1918, they took [[Fokker D.VII]]s on strength. Near the end of August, they also received some [[Pfalz D.XII]]s.{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=43}} The unit's aircraft markings featured white or silver tails and rear fuselages.{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=43}}

==Operations== Jasta 34's initial assignment was in the [[Armee-Abteilung C|''Armee-Abteilung'' C]] Sector; they were stationed at Mars-le-Tour. They moved to support ''[[5th Army (German Empire)|5 Armee]]'' on 5 September 1917. By 16 March 1918, the squadron was supporting ''[[2nd Army (German Empire)|2 Armee]]'' from the aerodrome at Le Cateau; it would continue to support ''2 Armee'' through a flurry of a dozen airfield changes as the war wound to a finish, and the aviation unit consequently disbanded.{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=43}}

==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|34]] [[Category:Military units and formations established in 1917]] [[Category:1917 establishments in Germany]] [[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1918]] [[Category:Military units and formations of Bavaria]]