Description

A history of Royal Prussian Jagdgeschwader Nr III, the third of Germany's vaunted fighter wings to be formed during World War 1.

Commanded by the Pour le Mérite winner and well-respected ace Hauptmann Bruno Loerzer for its entire existence, it was composed of the celebrated Jasta 'Boelcke', along with Jagdstaffeln 26, 27 and 36. Equipped largely with the new Fokker triplane, these four units would play an important role in the Kaiserschlacht as part of the 17. Armee. JG III flew all the key German fighter types in World War 1, namely the Albatros D III and D Va and Fokker Dr I triplane and D VII.

As Germany's fortunes waned in the summer of 1918, the aces of JG III nonetheless did their best to stem the tides of British, French and later American aircraft they encountered. Aces such as Carl Bolle, Paul Bäumer, Heinrich Bongartz, Hermann Frommherz, Rudolf Klimke and the infamous Hermann Göring all carved their names in the record books flying in this formidable formation.

This book examines the tactics, achievements and personalities of one of the deadliest of Germany's aerial units.

Table of Contents

Origins and Background
Kaiserschlacht
The Tide Turns
September Success Story
Bitter End

Appendices
Colour Plates Commentary
Index

Product details

Published 20 Jan 2016
Format Ebook (Epub & Mobi)
Edition 1st
Extent 96
ISBN 9781472808455
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 80 b/w; 40 col
Series Aircraft of the Aces
Short code ACE 128
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Greg VanWyngarden

Greg VanWyngarden has had a lifelong interest in W…

Cover illustrator

Mark Postlethwaite

Mark Postlethwaite was born in Leicestershire in 1…

Illustrator

Harry Dempsey

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