Jasta 18

Jasta 18
"Raven" insignia used by Jasta 18, May 1918 to the Armistice
Active	1916–1918
Country	German Empire
Branch	Luftstreitkräfte
Type	Fighter squadron
Equipment	Albatros D.Va Pfalz D.III Fokker Dr.I Fokker D.VII
Engagements	World War I

Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 18 was a "hunting squadron" (fighter squadron) of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I.

The Jasta was formed on 30 October 1916, at Halluin under 4th Armee auspices; Oberleutnant Karl von Grieffenhagen transferred in from Jasta 1 to take command. It deactivated at war's end, having existed some 25 months.

Jasta 18's Staffelfuhrer (also Jastaführer, Commanding officers) were:

A dozen flying aces served within its ranks, including Berthold, Hans Müller, Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp, Wilhelm Kühne, Paul Strähle, Harald Auffarth, Joseph Veltjens, and Johannes Klein. After Raben took command, aces such as Wilhelm Kühne and Kurt Adolf Monnington served with the unit, with Hans Müller among those who moved from Jasta 15 along with Raben. During the course of the war, the Jasta suffered eight killed in action, eleven wounded, and one taken prisoner.

Its initial operational aircraft was the Albatros D.III fighter and sometime later, the Fokker Dr.I triplane. Its theater of operations was the Western Front.

The new unit mobilized on 8 January 1917. Fifteen days later, it was credited with the first of its 112 confirmed victories during the war. It moved to Marckebeke and Harlebeke airfields. On 23 November 1917, it moved to Avelin to work for the 6th Army.