Jasta 17

Jasta 17
Active	1916–1918
Country	German Empire
Branch	Luftstreitkräfte
Type	Fighter squadron
Part of	Jagdgruppe Nord
Engagements	World War I

Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 17 was a "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 101 aerial victories (including fourteen wins over enemy observation balloons) during the war, with another 22 of the squadron's claims going unconfirmed.

The Jasta paid a price of ten killed in action, two lost in flying accidents, six wounded in action, and three injured in accidents.

Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 17 was formed at Army Flugpark 5 on 23 October 1916. It absorbed the pre-existing ad hoc KEK Metz. In August 1917, they became part of Jagdgruppe Nord along with Kest 8, Jasta 2, Jasta 20, and Jasta 28. In March 1918, it was collated with Jasta 22 and Jasta 63 into Jagdgruppe II; their former commander, Rittmeister von Brederlow succeeded to its command a bit later. By Summer 1918, Jasta 17 anchored JGr II, while the other squadrons in the group became Jasta 48, Jasta 53, and Jasta 61. Jasta 17 fought until war's end. Two days later, they relocated to FEA 5, Hannover. On 7 December 1918, they disbanded.

Julius Buckler was the predominant ace of Jasta 17. He entered the unit as an enlisted man, scored its first victory on 17 December 1916, won the Military Merit Cross, rose through the ranks to be commissioned an officer,and became not only its leading ace but one of the leading German aces over all. To top it off, he won the Pour le Merite, was probably the only German ace to be wounded seriously enough times to receive the Golden Wound Badge, and became the squadron's final Staffelführer.

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