Jagdstaffel 56

{{Infobox military unit |unit_name= Jasta 56 |image= |caption= |dates=1918 |country= [[Kingdom of Prussia]], [[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 Prussian Jagdstaffel 56''', commonly abbreviated to '''Jasta 56''', was a "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the ''[[Luftstreitkräfte]]'', the air arm of the [[Imperial German Army]] during [[World War I]]. The squadron would score 63 aerial victories during the war. The unit's victories came at the expense of seven [[killed in action]], four [[wounded in action]], two injured in accidents, and one taken prisoner of war.{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=49}}

==History== [[File:DVa2.jpg|left|thumb|An Albatros D.V (serial unknown). The D.V was the original equipment for Jasta 56.]] Jasta 56 began at [[Paderborn]]'s [[Glossary of German military terms#G|Geschwader]] School on 20 October 1917, but was not officially established until 1 January 1918. Its first personnel reported in on 9 January 1918. It was assigned to ''[[2nd Army (German Empire)|2 Armee]]'' on the 14th; it first saw combat on 9 February 1918. The new squadron scored first blood on the 19th. On 11 April 1918, it was consolidated into ''[[Jagdgruppe 6]]'' and moved to support ''[[4th Army (German Empire)|4 Armee]]'', remaining in that posting until war's end.{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=49}}

==Commanding officers (''[[Staffelführer]]'')== * [[Franz Schleiff]]: 9 January 1918 – 27 March 1918{{WIA}} * [[Dieter Collin]]: 4 April 1918 – 13 August 1918{{KIA2}} * [[Ludwig Beckmann]]: 13 August 1918 – war's end{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=49}}

==Duty stations== * [[Neuvilly]], France: 14 January 1918 * Mons-en-Chausee: 26 March 1918 * [[Ingelmunster]], Belgium: 11 April 1918 * [[Rumbeke]] East, Belgium: 5 May 1918 * Croulshouten: 30 September 1918{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=49}}

==Notable personnel== * Franz Schlieff * Dieter Collin * Ludwig Beckmann * [[Franz Piechulek]]{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=49}}

==Aircraft== [[File:Fokker D VII 2.jpg|thumb|A Fokker D VII (not in Jasta 56 livery.]] Flying [[Albatros D.V]]a fighters from January 1918, the Jasta was re-fitted with [[Fokker D.VII]]s during May 1918. The unit's marking for aircraft featured yellow nose and [[vertical stabilizer]], white rudder, with a blue [[fuselage]].{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=49}}

==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|56]] [[Category:Military units and formations established in 1918]] [[Category:1918 establishments in Germany]] [[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1918]]