# Jagdstaffel 46

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Jasta 46 Active 1917–1918 Country German Empire Branch Luftstreitkräfte Type Fighter squadron Engagements World War I

Military unit

**Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 46** was a "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 20 confirmed aerial victories over enemy observation balloons,[1] plus thirty more over enemy aircraft.[2] The *Jasta* paid a price of ten killed in action, one lost in a flying accident, six wounded in action, and three injured in accidents.[1][2]

## History

Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 46 was formed at FEA [Graudenz](/source/Graudenz) on 11 December 1917. It mobilized on Christmas Day, under command of *Leutnant* [Rudolf Matthaei](/source/Rudolf_Matthaei), brought in from [Jasta 5](/source/Jasta_5) for that purpose. It scored its first aerial victory on 12 February 1918. After Matthaei's death, a new commander was imported from [Jasta 39](/source/Jasta_39), only to be [killed in action](/source/Killed_in_action). Leutnant Creutzmann was then assigned in from [Jasta 43](/source/Jasta_43) and survived and served until war's end.[1]

## Commanding officers (*[Staffelführer](/source/Staffelf%C3%BChrer)*)

1. Rudolf Matthaei: 25 December 1917 – 17 April 1918 (Killed in flying accident)

1. Josef Loeser: 23 April 1918 – 3 June 1918 [(KIA)](/source/Killed_in_action)

1. [Otto Creutzmann](/source/Otto_Creutzmann): 5 June 1918 – 11 November 1918[2]

## Aerodromes

1. Graudenz: 11 December 1917 – 29 December 1917

1. [Ascq](/source/Ascq), [Lille](/source/Lille), France: 29 December 1917 – 12 March 1918

1. [Bévillers](/source/B%C3%A9villers), France: 12 March 1918 – 23 March 1918

1. [Liéramont](/source/Li%C3%A9ramont), France: 23 March 1918 – 31 July 1918

1. [Moislains](/source/Moislains), France: 31 July 1918 – October 1918

1. [Villers-Sire-Nicole](/source/Villers-Sire-Nicole), France: October 1918 – 11 November 1918[2]

## Notable members

- [Oskar Hennrich](/source/Oskar_Hennrich) [MMC](/source/Military_Merit_Cross_(Prussia)), [Iron Cross](/source/Iron_Cross), top ace in squadron and [balloon buster](/source/Balloon_buster) ace.[3]

- [Robert Heibert](/source/Robert_Heibert): MMC, Iron Cross.[4]

- [Helmut Steinbrecher](/source/Helmut_Steinbrecher): Iron Cross, first pilot to successfully deploy a parachute in combat.[5]

- [Otto Creutzmann](/source/Otto_Creutzmann): Iron Cross.

- Rudolf Matthaei: Iron Cross.[6]

## Aircraft

The Jasta flew the [Albatros D.Va](/source/Albatros_D.V) and [Pfalz D.IIIa](/source/Pfalz_D.III), but the [Fokker D.VII](/source/Fokker_D.VII)[2] was the predominant aircraft used by the squadron.

## Operations

After going operational on 25 December 1917, the Jasta became part of [Jagdgruppe Nord](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jagdgruppe_Nord&action=edit&redlink=1)[1] four days later.[2] JG Nord, founded in January 1918, also contained [Jasta 18](/source/Jasta_18) (before [Rudolf Berthold](/source/Rudolf_Berthold)'s departure) and [Jasta 57](/source/Jasta_57), and was tasked to *[6th Armee](/source/6th_Army_(German_Empire))*.[1]On 12 March 1918,[2] Jasta 46 transferred to *[Jagdgruppe 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jagdgruppe_2&action=edit&redlink=1)*, joining [Jasta 5](/source/Jasta_5) there. Jasta 46 would anchor JG 2 through war's end, even as [Jasta 37](/source/Jasta_37) joined the *Gruppe*.[1]

## Surviving aircraft

The only known surviving aircraft from Jasta 46 in the 21st century appears to be the restored [Albatros D.Va](/source/Albatros_D.V) owned by the Smithsonian's [National Air and Space Museum](/source/National_Air_and_Space_Museum), noted as being from Jasta 46 due to the squadron's characteristic pine green and yellow diagonal striping on the rear fuselage and tail surfaces uncovered through restoration and vintage photos.[7]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFranksBaileyGuest199346_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFranksBaileyGuest199346_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFranksBaileyGuest199346_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFranksBaileyGuest199346_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFranksBaileyGuest199346_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEFranksBaileyGuest199346_1-5) [Franks, Bailey & Guest (1993)](#CITEREFFranksBaileyGuest1993), p. 46.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-theaerodrome_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-theaerodrome_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-theaerodrome_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-theaerodrome_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-theaerodrome_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-theaerodrome_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-theaerodrome_2-6) ["Jasta 46"](http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta46.php). *The Aerodrome*. 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Oskar Hennrich"](http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/hennrich.php). *The Aerodrome*. 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Robert Heibert"](http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/heibert.php). *The Aerodrome*. 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Helmut Steinbrecher"](http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/steinbrecher.php). *The Aerodrome*. 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Rudolf Matthaei"](http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/matthaei.php). *The Aerodrome*. 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Albatros D.Va"](https://web.archive.org/web/20151221083726/http://airandspace.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?object=nasm_A19500092000). *National Air and Space Museum*. 2015. Archived from [the original](http://airandspace.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?object=nasm_A19500092000) on 21 December 2015. Retrieved 19 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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jagdstaffel 46](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagdstaffel_46) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagdstaffel_46?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.