#jasta 18

[deutschland-im-krieg]

Fokker D.VIIs of Jasta 15, August 1918. Jasta 15 had one of the most unusual histories of the Kaiser's Luftstreikräfte. After assuming command of JG II in March, 1918, Hauptmann Rudolph Berthold tried to have his old unit, Jasta 18, attached to JG II. After failing to do so, he then arranged to have all of Jasta 18’s flying personnel swapped out with those of Jasta 15, a unit already attached to JG II. With them, the former pilots of Jasta 18 brought their unit’s colours – blue fuselages and red noses. Pictured from front to back are: 11 victory ace Leutnant d R Hugo Schafer, 35 victory ace Leutnant d R Josef Veltjens, 44 victory ace Hauptmann Rudolph Berthold, 25 victory ace Leutnant Oliver von Beaulieu-Marconnay and 6 victory ace Vizefeldwebel Gustav Klaudat. 121 victories from these five experten. For more, see my Facebook group - Eagles Of The Reich

[pinturas-gran-guerra-aire]

1917 Jasta 18 on the Hunt - Peter Robichaud

Depicting Josef Veltjens with arrow motif and Paul Strahle with battle axe, attacking French Nieuport 17s over the front.

[hjmarseille]

Hauptmann Berthold returned to his cherished Jasta 18 in the first week of March 1918, although he was still far from healthy. Here, Berthold smiles gamely from the back seat of his car, in spite of festering wounds in his right arm. A happy Josef Veltjens is seen just behind Berthold (Rahn Collection, NMUSAF)

Photo and caption featured in Osprey Aviation Elite Units • 40 Jasta 18 The Red Noses by Greg VanWyngarden