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Hamburger
09-26-2010, 08:24
Jastas each had their own special paint jobs like that Jastas ace right? What are some of the famous ones besides Jasta 11? What certain planes were in a Jasta? Just single seaters? Both?
Happy Flying/Killing
Charlie

Akosion
09-26-2010, 10:47
Hi Charlie,
Phew! That's a lot of questions :-).
Jastas were single-seater formations, intended to gain air supremacy over particular parts of the front. They occasionally had a two-seater as a "hack", basically to ferry pilots on leave, carry the mail and some supplies, that sort of thing. The ideal was for the Jasta to have just one type of single-seater, but in reality it was not unusual for types to be thoroughly mixed.
Colour schemes...is where it gets tricky. Some Jastas had a particular way to paint their aircraft (like Jasta 12's white/blue Fokker DVIIs), which they combined with personal emblems to distinguish pilots; others carried a particular marking (like the orange diamond carried by Jasta 30 Pfalz D.IIIs) and allowed pilots to paint their airplane as they wished as long as that marking was visible. More often than not, the commander picked the scheme according to his own ideas. The variety is enormous.
best regards
Aris

Captain Knowitall
09-26-2010, 12:39
From the Wiki...
The Jagdstaffeln (often abbreviated to Jastas) were specialized fighter squadrons in the Luftstreitkräfte during World War I.

Background

Before April 1916, the German Military Aviation Service, (Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches) which had existed since 1912, was largely organised in small general purpose units (Feldfliegerabteilung) - although the formation of the first specialised bombing and close support units had begun during 1915. The Feldfliegerabteilung were completely subservient to the Army command to which they were attached. [1]
As a result of the superior performance of the Royal Flying Corps during the Battle of the Somme, a complete reorganisation of the German flying service took place. It was greatly expanded, renamed the Deutschen Luftstreitkräfte (reflecting a far greater degree of autonomy, although it remained an integral part of the army), and acquired a far greater number and variety of specialist units, including the first single-seater fighter units in German service, the Jagdstaffeln (literally, "hunting squadrons").[2]

Fighter aircraft in German service were initially issued in small numbers to various ordinary Feldfliegerabteilungen for escort duties. Such pioneering pilots as Max Immelmann and Oswald Boelcke pioneered the more aggressive use of the early Fokker Eindecker fighters, but there were no actual fighter units. By April 1916, the air superiority established by the Eindecker pilots had long evaporated, and a target was set to establish 37 new squadrons in the next 12 months - entirely equipped with single seat fighters, and manned by specially selected and trained pilots, to counter the fighter squadrons already successfully operated by the Royal Flying Corps and the French Aéronautique Militaire.
Boelcke, as the leading fighter pilot of the day, was called on to organise the manning, equipment and training, of the prototype for these new squadrons. This was Jasta 2 - the second of the first seven Jagdstaffeln to be established (on paper). Initially Jasta 2 was equipped with a motley collection of fighters, including the various early Fokker and Halberstadt "D" types. In September Jasta 2 began to receive the first of the superior Albatros fighters that would enable the German fighter squadrons to re-establish German air superiority in the following year. Boelcke himself was killed in an air collision on October 28 - but his tactics, especially formation flying and a combination of aggressiveness and prudence known as the Dicta Boelcke, remained the core of Jagdstaffel practice throughout the Luftstreitkräfte fighter arm for the rest of the war. Several of the pilots of Jasta 2, trained by Boelcke, became noted fighter leaders in their own right - most notably, of course, Manfred von Richthofen.[3]
By April 1917 the 37 Jastas projected a year before were in service, and had established German air superiority on the Western Front - in fact April 1917 (known ever since as Bloody April) is still regarded as the most disastrous period in the history of British military aviation. This ascendency was not to last, as new allied fighters (most famously, the S.E.5a, the Sopwith Camel, and the SPAD S.XIII) were already starting to come into service, all of which more than matched the last of the Albatros fighters to see squadron service - the disappointing D.V/D.Va.[4]
By this time, if not earlier, employment of the jagdstaffeln had become concentrated on the task of hindering the work of the Allied two-seater Corps, reconnaissance and bombing squadrons over the front itself, and German held territory. Offensive incursions by fighters any distance behind Allied lines were generally avoided, as risking a war of attrition that Germany was unlikely to win. [5][6]
Publicity surrounding the successful pilots of the jagdstaffeln rapidly established their status as elite units, and the various squadrons became associated with the different kingdoms of the German Empire. Most Jastas (eventually about 67 of them) were considered to be specifically Prussian; however other jastas were associated with the kingdoms of Bavaria, Saxony, and Wuerttemberg. The Bavarian units in particular were associated for organisational and supply purposes with the (theoretically independent) Bavarian army, which did not add to overall efficiency in these departments. [7]
In order to obtain a local and temporary air superiority larger fighter units were established, composed of several Jastas - and called Jagdgeschwader and Jagdgruppen. These units were moved from one section of the front to another, as the tactical situation demanded. The most famous of these units was Jagdgeschwader 1 - composed of Jastas 4, 6, 10 and 11, and commanded until his death by Richthofen.[8]
By March 1918 there were 80 Jagdstaffeln in the Luftstreitkräfte - most of them still entirely or partially equipped with Albatros D.Vs. Shortly after this, long overdue re-equipment with new types, most notably the Fokker D.VII, began - which for the first time since mid 1917 gave the Jastas equipment that matched their opponents'.
[edit]Personal colour schemes

German aircraft left the factory in a standard finish - although this differed from one manufacturer to another. Initial clear varnish on both fabric and wooden surfaces had changed by 1916 to various camouflage schemes. In the Jagdstaffeln, however, this gave way to a riot of colour, as individual pilots took to repainting their machines to their own personal preferences.
In January 1917, when he took over Jasta 11 as its new commander, Richthofen celebrated by painting his Albatros red. His squadron followed suit - all painting at least part of their machines red - while reserving to their commander the distinction of an all-red machine.
Other Jastas soon adopted the same fashion - until few German fighters flew entirely in the original manufacturers' finish - their fuselages in particular at least sporting their pilots' personal monogram, or perhaps his favourite colour(s) - even if the wings remained in camouflage. A squadron theme was sometimes followed, with all or most machines decorated in similar colours, or with similar motifs - but generally personal fancy seems to have been the order of the day.[9]
More than one pilot (on both sides) recorded that the resulting contrast with the plain khaki brown of the RFC fighters was helpful to all involved in rapidly distinguishing friend from foe in the hurly burly of a dogfight. It also may well have visually aided the accreditation of air victories claimed by individual German fighter pilots.

Famous Jastas

Jasta 1
Jasta 2
Jasta 11

Captain Knowitall
09-26-2010, 12:46
Jagdstaffel 1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Jasta 1)
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 1 (commonly abbreviated as Jasta 1) was a fighter squadron of the Luftstreitkräfte, which was a forerunner to the Luftwaffe. Jasta 1 was founded on 22 August 1916, using single seat fighters drawn from First Army. It was one of the first wave of dedicated fighter squadrons founded as a result of Oswald Boelcke's espousal of massing fighter air power.[1] Leopold Reimann scored the first of its 138 aerial victories two days later.[2][3] It served on the Western Front until September 1917, transferred directly to the Italian Front to serve until March 1918, then returned to France for the rest of the war.[4]

Aircraft

Jasta 1 was originally equipped with a melange of aircraft, including Fokker D.Is, Albatros D.II fighters, at least one Albatros D.I, a Fokker E.IV, a captured Nieuport 16, Albatros D.IIIs, and Halberstadt D.IIIs.[5][6]
[edit]Commanding officers

Its eight Staffelführers included Hauptmann Martin Zander, Oberleutnant Erich Hahn, Oberleutnant Hans Kummetz (on two occasions), Otto Deindl, Armbrecht (twice), Walter Korte, Bruno von Voight, and Rittmeister Kurt-Bertram von Döring.[7]
[edit]Personnel

Besides the experienced pilots transferred in from Abwehr Kommando Nord/Kampfeinsitzerstaffel B, other two-seater pilots under 1. Armee were also posted to the fledgling unit.[8]
Among the 18 aces in the World War I ranks were Hans von Keudell, Kurt Wintgens, balloon buster Hans von Freden, Gustav Leffers, Walter Höhndorf, and Leopold Reimann. The squadron's casualties for the war were twelve killed in action, one killed in a flying accident, four wounded in action, and one captured.[9]
[edit]Claims and victories

Kurt Wintgens was Jasta 1's first ace, having claimed 13 kills while flying the Fokker Eindecker before joining the unit. He claimed 6 more before being downed and killed by Alfred Heurtaux of Escadrille N.3 in September 1916.
Vfw. Paul Bona claimed six victories December 1916-May 1917. He was killed in a crash in June 1917. Oberleutnant Hans Kummetz achieved 7 claims in a year of command before being killed in combat with Camels of No. 45 Squadron in Italy early in 1918.
The squadron claimed 138 victories, with 107 of those confirmed.[10]
[edit]Sources of information

^ http://www.jastaboelcke.de/birth_of_jasta2.htm Retrieved 31 January 2010.
^ http://www.crossandcockade.com/pdf/Jasta1.pdf Retrieved 31 January 2010.
^ http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.flieger-album.de/geschichte/portraits/jentschkurt.php%3Fcmd_sh%3DPortrait_Jentsch_Kurt%26page%3D%26mode%3Dnew&ei=xX9mS4riC5KotgOsieWdAw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CB0Q7gEwCTgo&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522jagdstaffel%2B1%2522%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D40 Retrieved 31 January 2010.
^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta1.php Retrieved 31 January 2010.
^ Early German Aces of World War I. pp. 71–72.
^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta1.php Retrieved 31 January 2010.
^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta1.php Retrieved 31 January 2010.
^ Early German Aces of World War I. p. 71.
^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta1.php Retrieved 31 January 2010.
^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta1.php Retrieved 26 February 2010.
[edit]References

Early German Aces of World War I. Greg VanWyngarden, Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing, 2006. ISBN 1841769975, 9781841769974.

Captain Knowitall
09-26-2010, 12:48
Jagdstaffel 2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Jasta 2)
Jasta 2 (known as Jasta Boelcke) was one of the best-known German Luftstreitkräfte Squadrons in World War I. It was founded by the great aerial tactician Oswald Boelcke, and was the incubator of several notable aviation careers.

Formation

As one of the very first Jastas, Jasta 2 had no parent unit and there was therefore no mass transfer of personnel from existing staffeln. Assigned to the German 1st Army, the unit was created with the intention that Hauptmann Oswald Boelcke would be its leader. Jasta 2 was formed on 10 August 1916 at Bertincourt. Boelcke was ordered to return from an inspection tour of south-eastern theatres of the War to take command and arrived back on the Western Front later that month.
After Max Immelmann's death, Kaiser Wilhelm II had ordered Boelcke grounded for a month to avoid losing him in combat soon after Immelman. He had become such an important hero to the German public, as well as such an authority on aerial warfare, that he could not be risked.[1][2] Given a choice between a desk job and a tour of the Middle East, Boelcke downed a Nieuport over Douaumont on 27 June and reported to headquarters. Boelcke was detailed to share his expertise with the head of German military aviation. The German air force was being reorganized into the Luftstreitkräfte in mid-1916; this reorganization was inspired by Boelcke.[3] At this time, Boelcke codified his Dicta. He also shared his views on creation of a fighter arm, and the organization of fighter squadrons.[2][4]
Boelcke was sent on a tour of the Balkans. He transited Austria to visit Turkey. Upon his return swing, he visited Bulgaria and the Russian Front. Boelcke would be visiting Wilhelm in Kovel when he received a telegram from the head of German aviation, Feldflugchef (Aviation Chief of Staff) Oberstleutnant Hermann von der Lieth-Thomsen, appointing him to raise, organize and command Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 2.[5] He was given permission to choose his own pilots to form a fighter squadron.[2][3] Among his first selections upon his return were Manfred von Richthofen, Erwin Böhme and Hans Reimann.[3]
[edit]Principal Operational Activities

[edit]1916
Boelcke was appointed commander of Jasta 2 on 30 August 1916. The unit utilised the empty buildings vacated by FFA 32 in the Vélu Woods. As of 27 August the fledgling Jasta had three officers and 64 other ranks on strength, but no aircraft.
The first aircraft arrived on 1 September; two Fokker DIIIs and an Albatros D.I. By 8 September there were eight pilots on strength, including Manfred von Richthofen and Erwin Böhme. Three days later, Böhme noted he was pushing for permission to use his castoff Halberstadt, since Boelcke had a Fokker; there seemed to be four airplanes in the squadron by then.[6] On 16 September, Boelcke's new squadron received five new Albatros D.Is for the pilots, and an improved Albatros D.II for the Staffelfuhrer.[7]Boelcke promptly put the new planes in the air on the first-ever fighter unit effort to gain local air superiority. At 1300 hours 16 September, Boelcke and five of his pilots took off; they intercepted a British bombing raid on Marcoing Railway Station. While Boelcke held aside, his five tyros bounced a British formation of 14 planes, broke it up, and shot down two. The master himself added another.[8] That night, a German army tradition was ditched and a new German air force custom established when the enlisted men were invited into the Jasta's social center.[9]
Boelcke shot down ten Royal Flying Corps planes in his first month with Jasta 2, September 1916. He would fly a solo mission in the morning and return to his "cubs" for afternoon training.[10] However, in contrast to his freebooting style, his pilots always flew in disciplined formations in practice, and he repeatedly drilled them in his tactics. Among them were his famed combat rules, called "Boelcke's Dicta", which were the first systematic analysis of air combat and continued to be applicable through World War II.[citation needed] Boelcke's attitude is best expressed in his own words: "Everything depends on sticking together when the Staffel goes into battle. It does not matter who actually scores the victory as long as the Staffel wins."[citation needed] He not only preached this doctrine to his own "cubs"; he proselytized throughout the Luftstreitkräfte. He wrote upon his ideas, sketched them out, and delivered them in person to other aerodromes. Thus, Jasta 2 became the birthplace of fighter aviation tactics.[11]
Boelcke was killed on 28 October 1916 and Oblt. Stefan Kirmaier was posted in to command the Jasta in November. When Kirmaier was killed on 22 November, Hpt. Franz Walz arrived from Jasta 29 a week later. Jasta 2 was re-named Jasta Boelcke on 17 December in honor of their former commander.
[edit]1917
The unit's 100th claim was during February 1917, and the Jasta then moved to Eswars on 14 March, before arriving at Pronville soon after. Walz left for Jasta 34 in June 1917 and the new commander was Lt. Fritz Otto Bernert from Jasta 6.
[edit]1918
Jasta 2 became part of the new Jagdgeschwader 3 in February 1918, under the command of Bruno Loerzer.
Jagdstaffel 2 became the second highest scoring fighter unit (behind Jasta 11); it would end the war with 25 aces among its ex and current members, a total of 336 victories and a casualty list of only 44; 31 killed, 9 wounded, 2 prisoners of war, and 2 killed in accidents. [12]
Jasta 2 markings were usually black and white tailplanes and elevators (top and bottom)- one side black, one side white. [13]
[edit]Staffelführers (Commandants)

Hauptmann Oswald Boelcke (27 August to 22 September 1916)
Oberleutnant Günther Viehweger (acting) (22 September to 23 September 1916)
Hauptmann Oswald Boelcke (23 September 1916 to 28 October 1916)
Oberleutnant Stefan Kirmaier (30 October to 22 November 1916)
Oberleutnant Karl Bodenschatz (acting) (22 November to 29 November 1916)
Hauptmann Franz Walz (29 November 1916 to 9 June 1917)
Oberleutnant Fritz Otto Bernert (9 June to 28 June 1917)
Leutnant Otto Hunzinger (acting) (28 June to 29 June 1917)
Oberleutnant Fritz Otto Bernert (29 June to 18 August 1917)
Leutnant Erwin Böhme (18 August to 29 November 1917)
Leutnant Eberhard Fr. von Gudenburg (acting) (29 November to 13 December 1917)
Leutnant Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp (13 December 1917 to 6 January 1918)
Leutnant Max Ritter von Müller (acting) (6 January to 9 January 1918)
Leutnant Theodor Cammann (acting) (9 January to 26 January 1918)
Leutnant Otto Walter Höhne (26 January to 20 February 1918)
Leutnant Karl Bolle (20 February to 4 September 1918)
Leutnant Otto Löffler (acting) (4 September to 18 September 1918)
Oberleutnant Karl Bolle (18 September 1918 to Disbandment)
[edit]Personnel

Some of the jasta's 25 aces rose to command. Among those that did not, the following were especially notable:
1. Paul Bäumer
2. Karl Bolle
3. Werner Voss
4. Ernst Bormann
5. Manfred von Richthofen
6. Hermann Frommherz
7. Karl Gallwitz
8. Hans Imelmann
9. Leopold Reimann
10. Adolf von Tutschek
11. Dieter Collin
[edit]Notes

^ http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/boelcke.htm
^ a b c http://www.geocities.com/aw3aw3/dicta.htm
^ a b c http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/biographies/MainBiographies/B/boelcke/2.html
^ Early German Aces of World War I. p. 63, 69–70.
^ Early German Aces of World War I. p. 69.
^ Early German Aces of World War I. p. 75.
^ Early German Aces of World War I. p. 77.
^ Pusher Aces of World War 1. p. 41.
^ Pusher Aces of World War 1. p. 42.
^ Early German Aces of World War I. p. 76.
^ http://www.acepilots.com/wwi/ger_boelcke.html
^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta2.php Retrieved on 28 April 2010.
^ 'Above the Lines' Franks, Bailey and Guest page 29-30
[edit]References

Franks, Norman (2004). Jasta Boelcke. London: Grub Street. ISBN 190410768.
Guttman, Jon (2009). Pusher Aces of World War 1. Osprey Publishing Co. ISBN 1846034175, 9781846034176.
van Wyngarden, Greg (2006). Early German Aces of World War 1. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 1841769975.

Captain Knowitall
09-26-2010, 12:56
Jagdstaffel 11
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Jasta 11)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-2004-0430-501%2C_Jagdstaffel_11%2C_Manfred_v._Richthofen.jpg
Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen and Jasta 11
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 11 ("No 11 Fighter Squadron") was founded on 28 September 1916 from elements of 4 armee's Keks 1, 2 and 3 and mobilized on 11 October as part of the German Air Service's expansion program, forming permanent specialised fighter squadrons, or "Jastas". It became the most successful fighter squadron in the German Air Service.

Founding

Jasta 11's first commander was First Lieutenant (Oberleutnant) Rudolf Lang, from its mobilization at Brayelles, until 14 January 1917. Jasta 11's first months of operations were very undistinguished.
It was not until the appointment of 24-year-old Cavalry Captain (Rittmeister) Manfred von Richthofen on 16 January 1917 as Commanding Officer that the unit commenced its path to fame and immortality. Von Richthofen, later known as the Red Baron (due to the practice of painting his aircraft red for easy identification during combat) was already an able tactical pilot and ace following several months of service in Jasta 2 and became a highly effective unit commander who led his pilots by example. He already had 16 victories[1] and was awarded the Pour le Merite just before he assumed his command.[2]
The unit was first based at Douai-Brayelles and then Roucourt for operations over the 6 Armee on the Arras front, the Jasta were equipped with various models of the excellent Albatros sesquiplane fighter. Between 22 January 1917 and the end of March the Jasta claimed some 36 victories. The beginning of the Battle of Arras in early April meant a higher number of targets, with Jasta 11 logging 89 claims for aircraft destroyed in April (from a total of 298 made by all German fighter units for the month.) This decimation of the Royal Flying Corps became termed 'Bloody April'.
The Jasta's performance is all the more extraordinary as the unit usually flew in small flights of six or fewer. Significant 'scorers' in the unit that April were Manfred von Richthofen (21 claims), Lt. Kurt Wolff (22), Lt. Karl Schäfer (15), Manfred's brother Lothar (15) and NCO pilot Sebastian Festner (10).

Members:
Cavalry Captain (Rittmeister) Manfred von Richthofen
First Lieutenant (Oberleutnant) Rudolf Lang
Lt. Kurt Wolff
Lt. Karl Schäfer
Lothar von Richthofen
Wilhelm Reinhard
Sebastian Festner
Erich Rüdiger von Wedel
Hans Wolff
Willi Gabriel
Werner Steinhäuser
Karl Allmenröder
Eberhard Mohnicke
Wolfram von Richthofen
Gisbert-Wilhelm Groos
Erich Just
Friedrich T. Noltenius
Alfred Niederhoff
Hans-Georg von der Osten
Edgar Scholtz
Hans Weiss
Siegfried Gussmann
Otto Brauneck
Hermann Göring
Carl-August von Schoenebeck
Ernst Udet
Richard Wenzl[4]

Incorporation into JG I
On 26 July 1917, Jasta 11 became part of Jagdgeschwader 1 - a collection of four Jastas into one administrative and highly mobile tactical force. Richthofen was promoted to command JG I, which was the second fighter wing in the history of military aviation.[citation needed] It was dubbed 'Richthofen's Flying Circus' because it mimicked a circus's logistics by using dedicated railway trains to transport it to forward airfields, and because of its vividly painted aircraft.
In September 1917, Jasta 11 would be equipped with Fokker Dr.I triplanes. It would operate these until April–May 1918, when it received the Fokker D.VIIs it would use until war's end.
Manfred von Richthofen remained Jasta commander until 26 June 1917, when his deputy, Leutnant Karl Allmenroeder took over. Following the latter's death the next day, former Jasta 11 pilot Leutnant Kurt Wolff took over after his transfer back from Jasta 29. After Wolff was wounded in September, Oberlt. Wilhelm Reinhard took charge until Wolff returned. Soon after Wolff was killed in action on 15 September, thereafter Lothar took command. Jasta 11 would then have a bewildering succession of other temporary commanding officers, especially when Lothar was frequently away from the front recovering from wounds. Oberleutnant Erich Rüdiger von Wedel was the last Staffelführer, from September 1918 until the end of the war. The Jasta was demobilised at Darmstadt on 16 November 1918.
Jasta 11 eventually became the highest scoring German Jasta of World War I, with 350 claims. The first was scored on 23 January 1917, the 100th on 23 April, the 200th on 17 August, the 250th on 2 April 1918, and the 300th on 28 June 1918. (By comparison, the British 56 Squadron claimed 427.)
It numbered no fewer than twenty aces among its ranks, and "graduated" pilots to command numerous other Jastas in the German Air force. In return it suffered 17 pilots killed, 2 POW, and 2 killed in flying accidents. Its loss rate was thus less than one-tenth of its opponents, although it also suffered 19 wounded in action.

External links
Jasta 11 page at theaerodrome.com

References

1 ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/richthofen2.php
2 ^ http://www.pourlemerite.org/
3 ^ 'Above the Lines' Franks, Bailey & Guest , (grub street, 1993)
4 ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta11.php
Richthofen's Circus': Jagdgeschwader Nr 1. Greg VanWyngarden, Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1-84176-726-3, 9781841767260.

Captain Knowitall
09-26-2010, 13:04
It should be noted that with Jagdstaffel 2 (Jasta 2) for a period of time, the entire squadron would paint their aeroplanes tail sections all white or a combination of white and black. It depended on who was in command at the time. IIRC, the first commander had all of the tail sections painted white. Then that was changed to white/black.

For the most part, it was up to the commanding officer of the Jasta to dictate what if any special paint scheme was to be implemented.

In some pilots preferances one side of the vertical tail would be painted white while the elevator section would be painted black on that same side. This would present a quasi- checker board or alternating white/black pattern on the tail.
Some would paint alternating white and black stripes on the entire tail surfaces where others would just paint the elevator section in alternating stripes.

Captain Knowitall
09-26-2010, 13:06
I hope this helps Hamburger Charlie...

Hamburger
09-28-2010, 16:40
Oh, it does!

Dom S
09-28-2010, 17:11
Berthold's blue birds are definitely worth a mention too - there's an excellent Osprey book on them with all the detail you could want, but the potted version is that when Berthold took over JG2, each squadron had its aircraft (mainly Fokker D.VIIs and SSW D.IIIs) fuselages painted a squadron colour at the front, and blue at the back, The squadron colours were:

Jasta 12 - White
Jasta 13 - Green
Jasta 15 - Red (The Wings Of War Schafer D.VII is from this squadron.)
Jasta 19 - Yellow

Dom.

Link to the book's page on Osprey's site - it's out of print at the mo, but very easy to find second hand - got mine through Abebooks:
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/store/Jagdgeschwader-Nr-II-Geschwader-%E2%80%98Berthold%E2%80%99_9781841767277

Captain Knowitall
09-29-2010, 00:56
I found this site as well.
http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/aircraft-articles/23234-national-markings.html?garpg=10

Captain Knowitall
10-08-2010, 03:48
@ Dom, Yes Osprey's are a great reference for colour plate and actual photo's. Tis a shame that a goodly number of their books are now out of print. IMHO should still be printed as historical reference materials for education.
Just my 2 Quid's worth.

Dom S
10-08-2010, 08:03
The aircraft books at least remain very readily available - some of the older men-at-arms titles go for silly prices, but when it comes to WWI aircraft subjects, I've yet to have any real problems tracking down out of print ones through either Amazon or Abe books for something close to the regular in-print price.