Jagdstaffel 23

Royal Bavarian Jagdstaffel 23b was a World War I "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the Luftstreitkräfte, which was the forerunner to the Luftwaffe. As one of the original German fighter squadrons, the unit would score a minimum of 63 verified aerial victories. They scored twelve wins over enemy observation balloons as a squadron.

In turn, their casualties for the war would amount to 14 pilots killed in action, one killed in a flying accident, nine wounded in action, and two taken prisoner of war.

History
Royal Saxon Jagdstaffel 23 was established on 25 October 1916 at Metz-Frescaty. It would not gain a commanding officer until 17 November. The jagdstaffel finally came ready for action on the last day of the year. The following day, 1 January 1917, Jasta 23 moved into action at Puxieux. It would not score its first win until 14 February. On 4 July 1917, it was officially designated a Bavarian squadron. It joined the Bavarian Jagdgeschwader IV under command of Eduard Ritter von Schleich on 10 October 1918, and served there for the last month of the war.

Staffelführers (Commanding officers)
17 November 1916 - 4 August 1917
 * Paul Backhaus

4 August 1917 - WIA 29 May 1918
 * Otto Kissenberth

2 June 1918 - WIA 29 June 1918
 * Heinrich Seywald

2 July 1918 -WIA 19 July 1918
 * Fritz Krautheim (WIA)

19 July 1918 - 11 November 1918
 * Heinrich Seywald

Aerodromes
1.	Armee-Abteilung Strantz: 25 October 1916 - 1 January 1917

2.	Pusieux, Mars-la-Tour: 1 January 1917 - 14 April 1917

3.	Erlon, France: 16 April 1917 - 14 July 1917

4.	Jametz, France: 20 July 1917 - 24 November 1917

5.	Saint-Mard, France: 24 November 1917 - 4 February 1918

6.	Aniche: 6 February 1918 - 16 March 1918

7.	Émerchicourt, France: 17 March 1918 - 27 March 1918

8.	Bapaume, France: 27 March 1918 - 18 April 1918

9.	Epinoy, France: 18 April 1918 - 27 August 1918

10.	Lieu-St.-Armand: 27 August 1918 - 25 September 1918

11.	Bühl, Germany: 27 September 1918 - 8 October 1918

12.	Harmignies, Belgium: 13 October 1918 - 5 November 1918

13.	Fleurs, France: 5 November 1918 - 11 November 1918

Notable members

 * Otto Kissenberth Pour le Merite, Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Iron Cross


 * Balloon buster Friedrich Ritter von Röth Pour le Merite, Hohenzollern, Iron Cross, Military Order of Max Joseph


 * Michael Hutterer Iron Cross


 * Theodor Rumpel Iron Cross


 * Johannes Janzen Iron Cross

Other aces serving in the unit were Karl Schattauer, Heinrich Seywald, Albert Haussmann, Max Gossner, and Albert Dietlen.

Aircraft
Initial equipment for Jasta 23 was the Albatros D.II fighter. Later, it would be refurnished with Pfalz D.XII and Roland D.VIa fighters.

Operations
Jasta 23 was formed in the Armee-Abteilung Strantz Sector. On 16 April 1917, it moved to the 7th Armee Sector. Its next move, on 18 July, saw it assigned to 5th Armee.

In February 1918, it moved to support 17th Armee at Aniche. On 27 September, it moved to the Armee-Abteilung A Sector; shortly thereafter, on 8 October, it moved on to work for 2nd Armee until war's end.