Jagdstaffel 12

Jasta 12
Active	1916–1918
Country	German Empire
Branch	Luftstreitkräfte
Type	Fighter squadron
Engagements	World War I

Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 12 was a World War I "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. As one of the original German fighter squadrons, the unit would score 155 aerial victories (including three wins over observation balloons) during the war, at the expense of seventeen killed in action, eight wounded in action, and one taken prisoner of war.

Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 12 was created on 28 September 1916 from an existing ad hoc unit, Fokkerstaffel West. The new squadron mobilized on 12 October 1916 at Laon, France. It scored its first victory on 4 December 1916.joined the famous Jagdstaffel II on 2 February 1918. Jasta 12 fought through the end of the war, disbanding only after Germany's loss. The squadron was credited with 155 aerial victories, including three enemy observation balloons. In turn, they suffered 17 killed in action, 8 wounded in action, and one taken prisoner of war.

Adolf Schulte became the first ace in the squadron, on 24 March 1917. Three of the squadron's commanders, Adolf von Tutschek, Victor Shobinger, and Hermann Becker, were notable as aces as well as Staffelnführer. Also notable among the unit's fourteen aces were: Ulrich Neckel, winner of the Pour le Merite and Iron Cross;Reinhold Jörke, another Iron Cross awardee; and Paul Billik, an Iron Cross and Hohenzollern winner who was the highest scoring ace to be denied a Pour le Merite.

Jasta 12 operated Fokker D.I, Albatros D.III, Fokker Dr.I, and Fokker D.VII fighter aircraft. The common squadron paint scheme was black tails and rear fuselages with white propeller spinners and/or engine cowlings.

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