KEST's and Jasta's

Pips · 17 August 2006, 12:16 AM

Did the development of the Kest parallel that of Jasta's? Or was the creation of these units later in the war? Were they purely fighter units like Jasta's? Was their pilot compliment the same as a Jasta?

I understand from another post that Kest's were located within Germany for home defence. Was their equipment any different to front line Jasta's on the Western front? For example did they receive new aircraft before those units at the Front? And was a pilot posted to a Kest for a rest, like Home Defence in Britain?

Any info anyone can shed on these units would be greatly appreciated.

cspellman · 17 August 2006, 07:51 AM

Cobby, I went back and looked in the 1998 forum archives about Kests because I recalled there being a thread about it when I used to post here all those years ago. Lo and behold, I found a thread I myself started on the topic. Here is the link:

German Home Defense Squadrons?

That one is a bit vague but this one from last year is more detailed:

Kests in frontline action?

Pips · 17 August 2006, 03:04 PM

Thanks for those links cspellman. They provide some information, but the whole Kest thing is still very sketchy.

Is there anything specifically written in English on the subject? Be it books, magazine articals whatever? Or does one have to look for books dealing with the Independant Air Force and draw information from that?

cspellman · 17 August 2006, 03:23 PM

Somewhere in my library of books I have a good book about the British air offensive and its got alot about the Kests. I will need to find it when I get home next month.

Dan_San_Abbott · 17 August 2006, 06:42 PM

Cobby;
The Kampfeinsitzerstaffeln (Kest) Single seater Battle Flights) Nr.1 through 6 were formed in August 1916. Kest 7-9 were formed February 1917. Kest 1 and Kest 4 were divided on 15 April 1917 becoming Kest 1a and Kest 1b and Kest 4a and Kest 4b.
In 1918, Kest 3 and Kest 8 served on the Front with Jagdstaffeln forming Jagdgruppen.
In 1916, the Kest were equipped with Fok.E.III and Fok.E.IV along side Fok.D.II and Fok.D.III machines. In 1917 they were equipped Alb.D.II and D.III aircraft and later the Alb.D.V. In 1918 they were equipped with Alb.D.V, Pfalz D.III, Fok.DR.I and later the early Fok.D.VII machines The Pfalz D.VIII and the SSW.D.III equipped Kest 1,2,3,4,5, 6 and 8.
On 29 October 1918 the Kest were redesignated Jasta 82 to 90.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

Pips · 17 August 2006, 07:32 PM

Salute Dan San for that information. Detailed as always.

It's an interesting term KEST (Single seater Battle Flights). Their formation would have been around the same time as that planned for the first Jasta's. But from the meaning of the name one would gather that the purpose was different to that of the Jasta. If that's so what was the purpose of these formations?

Dan_San_Abbott · 18 August 2006, 03:57 PM

Cobby:
I think the tired front line pilots were sent to the Kest units. Although they saw action almost daily, it was not as intense. They were fighting British and French bombing aircraft. which for the generally inferior to the German aircraft used by the Kest. 1918, was a different matter, the D.H.4, Breguet 14 could fend fairly well for themselves.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

mikec · 24 August 2006, 08:27 AM

Continuing the theme of the Kests' impact: on page 17 of the Osprey publication "German Air Forces 1914 - 18 it claims;

Quote:

"All ..[confirmed victory].. records for Jastas 48,82, 84w, 85,86,87,88,89 & 90 appear to have been lost"

Is that indeed the case?

I ask since I have also seen it stated that the Kests only had 36 confirmed victories over a 2 year period. These two statements would seem to be contradictory, (or at least paradoxical), assertions; insofar as that if the relevant records don't exist, how can any authoritative statement as to the collective or individual performance of the Kest be made?

Thanks.

Rick · 24 August 2006, 09:42 AM

I can only add that I also show 36 victories for the KEST's, but one of them is a little "iffy" as I only have "Oct18" for the date. (I think AE Ferko only had 35.) As for Jasta 48, see OTF Vol. 19, No. 2, Summer 2004. FWIW. R.

StephenLawson · 24 August 2006, 12:31 PM

No! All records of the Kest units were not lost. The US National Archives has beau coup records of many former German units in 1918. Some have been translated at least partially. Case in point the partial war diary for Kest 1a. See Cross & Cockade Intl. 22 #2 1991 “Kest 1a - a thirty two day Tour of Duty.”