Kampfeinsitzerstaffel/Kest 1b

[Jos]

Hello all,

The story of Kest 1b starts -just like Kest 1a- of course with the creation of Kest 1 on 10-08-1916. It is very hard/ maybe impossible to get new info on Halbstaffel 1b, so we’ll have to with what is available.

Due to the increasing bombardments on German soil during the years 1914 – 1916, like the attacks on Karlsruhe (15-06-1915 & 22-06-1916) and Ludwigshafen (27-05-1915), it was obvious that something had to be done to protect cities, factories, bridges, railway stations, etc. The Heimatluftschutz needed more than B.A.K. and Flak as protection. It was expanded with Kampfeinsitzerstaffeln (Kests) – in total 9 – to reduce the bombardments.
On 10-08-1916 Kampfeinsitzer Abteilung Mannheim was renamed Kampfeinsitzerstaffel 1 (Kest 1) and was based in Mannheim-Sandhofen.

On 15-04-1917, Kest 1 was divided into two Halbstaffeln / Half-Squadrons: Kest 1a and Kest 1b. This split had to do with bringing the number of Staffeln required at the front up to standard.

In April and Mai 1917, the Allies launched offensives on the Western Front. These strong attacks required a concentrated deployment of west-based Jagdstaffeln at crucial points.
Kest 3, Kest 5, Kest 7 & Kest 8 were sent to the front to fill up the "gaps" created by moving Jagdstaffeln. Kest 3 went to Mörchingen/Morhange (Lorraine) and Kest 8 to Nieuwmunster in Flanders. Kest 5 went to Kolmar and Kest 7 to Puxieux (Mars-la-Tour).

Therefore the Heimatluftschutz was forced to split several Kests into Halbstaffeln to keep up enough number of Kampfeinsitzerstaffeln to still be able to protect the most vital places (factories, railway stations, bridges, etc.). So Kest 1 was split into Kest 1a & Kest 1b and Kest 4 into Kest 4a & Kest 4b.

[Jos]

Kampfeinsitzerstaffel 1:

10-08-1916: Formed at Mannheim-Sandhofen

10-08-1916 - 15-04-1917: Mannheim-Sandhofen

15-04-1917: Divided into Halbstaffeln Kest 1a and Kest 1b


KEST 1a:

15-04-1917 - EOW: Mannheim

29-10-1918: Reunited with Kest 1b to become Jasta 90 at Mannheim


KEST 1b:

15-04-1917: Mannheim-Sandhofen

April 1917 – 29-10-1918: Karlsruhe

29-10-1918 - EOW : Reunited with Kest 1a to become Jasta 90 at Mannheim




(More to come)

[Jos]

Victories:


Just like Kampfeinsitzerstaffel 1a the victories of Kest 1b are few. Although formed in April 1917 the victories were gained in 1918. So it took more than a year before Kest 1b scored:

• 31-05-1918: Leutnant Paul Blunk/Blunck

Blunk shot down DH4 A7825 (55 Sqn.) in flames over Karlsruhe. Crew: Lt. J.L.K. Anderson (POW/DOW) and Sgt. H. Nelle (KIA).




Nachrichtenblatt 20-06-1918: Recognitions from the Commanding General.
Commander Homeland Air Defence.

"The English squadron attacking Karlsruhe on May 31, 1918 suffered heavy losses as a result of the attention and brisk attack of Kampfstaffel 1b. I commend everyone involved, especially Leutnant (Paul) Blunk, for the showed guts."

• 25-06-1918: Sergeant Willi Rössel

Two formations of DH9s (105 Sqn. , I.F.) took off from Azelot (04.10 hrs.) to bomb the ammunition factories at Karlsruhe. On their way to their target, several planes, due engine troubles and Flak hits, had to return. In the end, seven of them reached Karlsruhe and dropped their bombs. On their way back – over Bitsch- they were attacked by 5 aircraft of Kest 1b, stationed in Saarbrücken. In the ensuing fight, the DH9 (C2170) of Lt. S.C.M. Pontin and 2/Lt. J. Arnold had to go down with engine troubles. The victory was credited to Sgt. Willi Rössel .
( Independent Force – Keith Rennles, p. 30)



(More to come)

[Graeme]

"The English squadron attacking Karlsruhe on May 31, 1918 suffered heavy losses..."

How perceptions differ.

The only casualty suffered by No 55 Squadron was D.H.4 A7825 which was seen falling in flames; Lieut John Lawrence King Anderson succumbed to wounds suffered in the combat while 101947 Sergt Herman Nelle was killed.

To offset this loss, Lieut Cecil Alchin Bridgland & 2nd Lieut Earle Richard Stewart in D.H.4 D8392 claimed an E.A. out of control south-west of Karlsruhe but as a far as I am aware, Kest 1b suffered no casualties.

Graeme

[Jos]

• 26-06-1918: Leutnant Willy Rosenstein

On this day three squadrons (104, 99 & 55) took off to bomb the railway and workshop at Karlsruhe. Of the 36 planes only 20 were able to reach Karlsruhe, the others had to return mostly due to engine troubles. After they had dropped their bombs the formations saw 10 enemy aircraft north of the town.

“Kest 1b were stationed at Karlsruhe, and with prior warning of an attack through the improving network of home defence communications, the fighters had climbed up to the bombers and were ready to attack. Kest 1b engaged the two flights of 55 Squadron in a running battle as they headed south-west, straight for the lines. As they approached Haguenau, DH4 (A8073), flown by 2/Lt. F.F.H. Bryan and his observer Sergeant A. Boocock was seen to go down under control. They landed in a field south of Saverne.”
Both men became p.o.w. Leutnant Willy Rosenstein was credited with his third victory.
( Independent Force – Keith Rennles (p.35)




Koflheim. 26-08-1918

On 26-08-1918 (sic, has to be 26-06-1918) Leutnant der Reserve (Willy) Rosenstein also shot down 1 D.H. 4. Since 01-03-1918 the whole Staffel is mobile.

• 16-09-1918: Unteroffizier Hönle



Koflheim 16-09-1918

Kest 1b. On 16.9. 3 aircraft of the Staffel came into fighting contact, whereby Unteroffizier Hönle downed his second opponent near Gommersheim. On 16.9. there was a staggered attack by 5 and 6 enemy aircraft on Mannheim with an interval of half an hour. Since the enemy had a new type of engine in their planes and was flying at a very high altitude, only two planes from the Staffel managed to shoot from a greater distance, without achieving any visible success. The own planes were inferior to the enemy in terms of climbing ability and speed. (Geschichte des Heimatluftschutzes vom August 1918 bis Demobilmachung 1918)


• 25-09-1918: Leutnant Keisze

On this day 110 Sqn. took off with 12 DH9’s in 2 formations to bomb the railways and factories at Frankfurt. Before the squadron reached Frankfurt, one DH9a was downed by Gefr. Meyer of Jasta 3 near Saaralben/Sarralbe. It was his first victory of a final 2.

While reaching the south of Frankfurt 110 Sqn. met enemy aircraft of Kest 1b and Kest 9. However, they continued and dropped their bombs and then headed home, but a strong wind was pushing them eastwards.

- Leutnant Keisze of Kest 1b was awarded a DH9a near Mannheim, maybe DH9 E9960 of Lt. C.B.E. Lloyd (Inj.) (POW) & 2/Ltn. H.J.C. Elwig (POW).
After crash-landing the men burned their aircraft and tried to reach the lines, but due to exhaustion 2 days later they surrendered to two soldiers who walked along the road. (Read their story in the pilots part of Kest 1b at the name Keisze).

- Vizefeldwebel Gott of Kest 9 was awarded a DH9a at Darmstadt.

These 2 victories were most probably scored against 110 Sqn because no other DH squadron went past Mannheim. On this day 55 Sqn were the closest but only went as far as Kaiserslautern. (Independent Force – Keith Rennles, p. 149)



Not sure that all the men in the photo above belonged to Kest 1b

(More to come)

[Graeme]

16 September 1918:

No 55 Squadron bombed Mannheim on this date and lost D.H.4 F5712, crewed by Lieut William Earle Johns & 2nd-Lieut Alfred Edward Amey. Johns, later the author of the 'Biggles' books, was taken prisoner; Amey was unfortunately killed.

25 September 1918:

No 110 Squadron reported numerous casualties incurred during a bomb raid to Frankfurt:

2nd-Lieut Norman Nelson Wardlaw (Ok) & 217338 Sergt Walter Herbert Neighbor (Kia) in D.H.9A E8420 - shot up on bomb raid Frankfurt

57318 Sergt Hermon William Tozer (Kia) & 212033 Sergt Wilfred Platt (Kia) in D.H.9A E8422 - missing on bomb raid Frankfurt

Lieut Charles Bynon Ellis Lloyd (Pow) & 2nd-Lieut Henry James Cecil Elwig (Pow) in D.H.9A E9660 (presentation machine 'Hyderabad No.9') - attacked by three E.A., shot one down but aileron controls shot away then ran out of fuel and crashed in the Vosges; crew set fire to machine

Lieut Herbert James Cockman DFC (Wia) & 2nd-Lieut Cornelius Henry Bowman Stevenson (Ok) in D.H.9A F1000 - combat with many E.A. bombing Frankfurt; force landed and wrecked

Capt Arthur Lindley (Pow) & Lieut Charles Ranson Gross (Pow) in D.H.9A F1030 - missing on bomb raid Frankfurt

Lieut Leonard Stopford Brooke (Pow) & 2nd-Lieut Alexander Provan (Kia) in D.H.9A F992 (presentation machine 'Hyderabad No.8') - missing on bomb raid Frankfurt

Lieut Rudolph Paul Brailli (Ok) & Lieut Robert Francis Casey (Wia) in D.H.9A F993 - combat with many E.A. bombing Frankfurt, shot down two then force landed Epinal

In all, the squadron claimed to have shot down six of their attackers, one destroyed and the others out of control; I have not identified any corresponding German losses.

In his log for Jasta 3, Rick Duiven identified Meyer's victim as 'F.992, 110 Sqn IAF, Lt. L.S. Brooke, KIA & 2/Lt. F. Provan, KIA' but I'm not sure how he arrived at that conclusion.

Graeme

[Jos]

Hello Graeme,

Thanks for your info. Is really appreciated.

Jos


This is where the pilot part starts. Please, take notice that several pilots served in more than 1 Kampfeinsitzerstaffel. For the sake of completeness I include these pilots in every Kest in which they served.







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[Jos]

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[Jos]

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[Jos]

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