Jagdstaffel 13 Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 13 was a World War I " hunting group " ( i . e . , fighter squadron ) of the " Luftstreitkräfte " , which was the forerunner to the Luftwaffe . The unit would score 108 aerial victories during the war , at the expense of twelve killed in action , one killed in a flying accident , two wounded in action , and two taken prisoner of war . History . Jasta 13 was formed on 16 September 1916 . Its founding personnel came from the Fokkerstaffel attached to FFA 9 , and from other aviation units in the area of " Armee - Abteilung " C . They were operational by 15 October 1916 . After extensive campaigning within France , including the German Spring Offensive 1918 , the squadron became a sort of " fire brigade " on loan to various Armees and rotated frequently among airfields . It retreated with the German forces , eventually being stationed in Luxembourg , and finally back in Germany . They demobilized at FEA 14 , Halle - an - der - Salle , Germany by the end of November 1918 . Staffelführer s ( Commanding officers ) . 1 . Oberleutnant Erhard Egerer : ca 16 September 1916 – 26 December 1916 2 . Eduard Ritter von Dostler : 27 December 1916 – ca 19 February 1917 3 . Leutnant de Reserves Wolfgang Güttler : ca 20 February 1917 – KIA 29 October 1917 4 . Oberleutnant Alex Thomas : 21 February 1918 – 1 May 1918 5 . Leutnant de Reserves Wilhelm Schwartz : 1 May 1918 – WIA 15 June 1918 6 . Leutnant Franz Büchner : 15 June 1918 – 11 November 1918 Personnel . A number of notable aces flew with Jasta 13 . Indeed , four of the Staffelführers were renowned aces . Eduard Ritter von Dostler won a Pour le Merite and a knighthood ; Guttler , Thomas , and Buchner were all decorated for their services . The squadron also contained other decorated aces who did not succeed to its command , in Kurt Hetze , Reinhold Jörke and balloon buster Hans Martin Pippart . Aircraft and operations . Early aircraft assigned to Jasta 13 are unknown , though its foundation from a Fokkerstaffel strongly hint of Fokker Eindekker s . It later operated the Fokker Dr . I triplane , and ended the war using mostly Fokker D . VII s . Jasta 13 did not score its first victory until 22 January 1917 . In Spring 1917 , the squadron was assigned to support of 7th Armee . In September , it joined Jagdgruppe von Braun , along with Jasta 14 , Jasta 16 , Jasta 21 , Jasta 22 , Jasta 23 , Jasta 32 , and Jasta 34 . In February 1918 , it was assigned to Jagdgruppe II at Marle , along with Jasta 12 , Jasta 15 , and Jasta 19 . When the German March offensive began , Jasta 13 was shifted to 18th Armee , and lived an itinerant existence , being moved among various airfields . By June , it had been assigned to 1st Armee at Mesnil . The squadron then became an itinerant unit , supporting at various times 2nd Armee , 3rd Armee , 1st Armee again , and 5th Armee . The squadron moved to its last base at Trier the day before the armistice . References . " Above the Lines : The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service , Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps , 1914 - 1918 " . Norman L . R . Franks , Frank W . Bailey , Russell Guest . Grub Street , 1993 . ISBN 0 - 948817 - 73 - 9 , ISBN 978 - 0 - 948817 - 73 - 1 .