Jasta 32

Jasta 32
Active	1916–1918
Country	German Empire
Branch	Luftstreitkräfte
Type	Fighter squadron
Engagements	World War I

Royal Bavarian Jagdstaffel 32, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 32, was a "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the German Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The unit would score 41 aerial victories during the war, including four enemy observation balloons. In turn, they would suffer the expense of eight killed in action, five killed in flying accidents, four wounded in action, two injured in accidents, and one taken prisoner of war.

Royal Bavarian Jagdstaffel 32 was formed on 14 December 1916 at FEA 9 in Darmstadt. It was operational by 22 February 1917. It would not score its first aerial victory until 4 July 1917. By September, it had been assigned to Jagdgruppe von Braun.

Jasta 32 moved to the 17 Armee front in March 1918 as part of Jagdgruppe 8. A change to Jagdgruppe 4 followed in September 1918. It ended its war in support of 2 Armee. The squadron disbanded ten days after war's end, on 21 November 1918, at FEA 2, Fürth.

Rudolf Windisch was the most notable of the aces who served in Jasta 32. He won his second through eighth victories with the squadron, before he left to command Jasta 66 and win the Pour le Mérite ("The Blue Max"). He was unique in that he was the only pilot of the war to win the Prussian Order of the Crown, Fourth Class with Swords.

Eduard Ritter von Schleich was another Blue Max winner; he either commanded Jasta 32 or the Jagdgruppes (fighter wings) to which it belonged, for almost a year of the squadron's short existence, although he won no victories flying with the unit.Hans Böhning was another honoured ace who commanded the unit without scoring, although his window of opportunity was only ten days.

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