Jagdstaffel 68

{{Infobox military unit |unit_name= Jasta 68 |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 68''', commonly abbreviated to '''Jasta 68''', 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 over 40 aerial victories during the war, [[balloon buster|including ten observation balloons downed]]. The unit's victories came at the expense of nine killed in action, and two wounded in action.{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=52}}

==History== On 1 February 1918, Jasta 68 was founded at ''Fliegerersatz-Abteilung'' ("Replacement Detachment") 3, [[Gotha]], Germany. Nine days later, the new squadron went operational when it was posted to ''[[18th Army (German Empire)|18th Armee]]''. CO [[Fritz Pütter]] scored the first aerial victory on 18 March 1918. Ten days later, Jasta 68 joined ''Jagdgruppe Nord''. The Jasta was transferred to ''[[1st Army (German Empire)|1 Armee]]'' on 5 July 1918. On 13 September 1918, Jasta 68 was posted to ''[[5th Army (German Empire)|5 Armee]]''. The squadron would serve until its disbandment on 6 December 1918.{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=52}}

==Commanding officers (''[[Staffelführer]]'')== * [[Fritz Pütter]]: 1 February 1918 – 22 June 1918 * Paul Schwirzke: 22 June 1918 – 14 July 1918 * Fritz Pütter: 14 July 1918 – 16 July 1918{{KIA2}} * Paul Schwirzke: 16 July 1918 – 9 August 1918 * Rudolf Otto: 9 August 1918{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=52}}

==Duty stations== * Delinghe Ferme: 19 February 1918 * [[Beauvais]]: France: 25 March 1918 * [[Balatre]], France: 28 March 1918 * St-Remy-West: 5 July 1918 * [[Semide]], France: 13 September 1918 * Prentin: 15 September 1918{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=52}}

==Notable personnel== * Fritz Pütter * [[Wilhelm Seitz]] * [[Wilhelm Stör]]{{sfnp|Franks|Bailey|Guest|1993|p=52}}

==References== {{reflist}} ;Bibliography * {{cite book |first1=Norman |last1=Franks |authorlink1=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|68]] [[Category:Military units and formations established in 1918]] [[Category:1918 establishments in Germany]] [[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1918]] {{wwi-air}}