Feldflieger-Abteilung 30

[jager1]

Does anyone have any information on Feldflieger-Abteilung 30 during 1916/17

I'm especially after info on where they had their bases. They seem to have been a recon. unit but also with a fighter unit (although I don't know how many aircraft), but am I correct in that they would have been a larger unit than those FFA on the Western Front? They also seem to have served with Bulgarian and Turkish units but were these independant of each other or in co-operation.

Really looking forward to someone bringing out a book covering all German units Service and strength

Jager1

[agblume]

Hello Jager1, Here is what I have on FFl.Abt.30. They were formed at FEA 11 at Rheydt on 01.08.1914. Served in the Lille sector until mid-November. On 18.11.1914 they moved to Galicia and were stationed at Munkacs until at least mid-late January 1915. Dates are uncertain, but they flew from airfields at Smenovich, near Lemberg, Kolomea, Snyatin and Czernowitz as the Austro-German campaign continued its forward movement from May - October 1915.

In September 1915 they were transferred to the 11.Armee and the Serbian campaign, first at Wershetz, then Leskovac, then in December to Drama as Vorkommando Staffel (2 scouts, 3 two-seaters). In December 1915 planes and crews from FFl.Abt.1 and FFl.Abt.30 and Flugpark II at Uskub, plus some seaplanes were sent to Xanthi as FL.Abt.Xanthi.

During August 1916 as the Bulgarians moved forward on the Struma River sector FL.Abt.Xanthi moved forward to Drama, leaving seaplanes behind at Xanthi. The unit then became Vorkommando Fl.Abt.30 and remained at Drama until FFl.Abt.20 replaced it. In October 1916 they were known at Hudova, with a fighter staffel at Drama. On 11.01.1917 the unit was redesignated as Fl.Abt.30. During March 1917 they served with the Turkish XX Army Corps. They were still at Hudova on the Macedonia Front until at least late June 1918. I have lost track of them after that. It is likely they flew alongside Bulgarian aviation units, but the Turks had no aviation units on either the Serbian or Macedonian Fronts.

Any further information on this unit would be very much appreciated.
Best regards, agblume

[jager1]

Many thanks for that info agblume, its a great help and I'll certainly let you know anything else I find -hopefully some of our fellow formites may be able to help.

Jager1