German pilot unit assignment and training.

hello everyone,

Just a quick couple questions, many of the German aces originally flew two-seaters, so when they wanted to transfer to fly single-seaters could they request a specific Jasta to be transferred to or were they randomly assigned to one to fill that units casualties? Either way, were the rules for these transfers 'set in stone' or more flexible, say by a 'case by case' basis?

Before they had joined a Jasta from flying two-seaters, did they undergo some sort of specific single-seat fighter training somewhere, or were they simply trained in single-seaters with their Jasta unit after they arrived, in the actual fighter they would fly in combat?

[rammjaeger]

Raben,

the situation would become quick chaotic if everybody would try or would allowed to come to specific units following his own agenda and not the military need.
Nevertheless double seater pilots had sometimes powerful friends or knew often pilots or commanders of Jastas. So they did write letters to those people or met them and could hope that the Jasta-leader would demand the applicants for the own Staffel.

In general the double seater pilots were retrained for fighters but that process changed in time. In early 1917 a double seater pilot was sent to a KESch (Kampf-Einsitzer-Schule) and after that to a JastaSch (Jagdstaffelschule) with specific programs. As well a good Jasta-leader would check the abilities of the newbee and try to give him additional lections if necessary (and possible unter time pressure of the front). Sometimes pilots were also retrained at aviation parks.

During the training in the schools it was not possible to know the type of the actual fighter later flown in combat. As well the most modern and often only restricted available airplanes would be flown at the front and not "wasted" for training. Finally the newbies got often the older airplanes among the available types in the Staffel (that made them easier meat too).

VBR
Rammjaeger

[Roadhog]

Dear Rabel, I know that in MvR's case, he approached a pilot in his unit named Zeumer and asked him to teach him to fly. Zeumer took Manfred on 25 training flights before he was willing to let the young man solo. Evidently the future Red Baron was a lousy student. Taken from Dale Titler's "The Day the Red Baron Died," page #52. VR, Roadhog

"Memento mori."