COs of Kasta 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 in June 1916

Buddecke · 17 November 2007, 05:25 AM

Hello,
can anyone help me to identify the COs of Kasta 1 - 6. Photos show a meeting with CO of Kampfgeschwader 1 (KG 1) and all COs of the Kampfstaffel (Kasta).
I am looking for the names of the COs and the name of the Adjutant of KG 1.

Thanks

Buddecke

Buddecke · 17 November 2007, 05:27 AM

Photo 1

Buddecke · 17 November 2007, 05:29 AM

Photo 2

Buddecke · 17 November 2007, 05:29 AM

Photo 3

Soderbaum · 21 November 2007, 10:45 AM

Hi Buddecke

You have more then 6 possible commanders in these photos...

A candidate for old Kasta 1 is Oblt Hans-Ulrich von Trotha.........

Oblt Franz Walz, the Bavarian PlM holder was in command of Kasta 2.

Hptm Rudolf Kleine, another PlM holder was in command of Kasta 3.

As you probbaly knew, old Kasta 4 was renamed to Kasta 37 this month. The commander of old Kasta 4 was Hptm Eduard Dransfeld...
The "second" and newer but not the last Kasta 4 was formed in Aug 1916....

One source, GdL (Generalen der Luiftwaffe) have Dransfeld as commander of Kasta 5, but I am unsure about that..........

Hptm Hermann Kastner from FFA 62 took over Kasta 6 in mid Jun 1916, but I dont have any candidate before him.....

A lot of famous names.....maybe someone else have more information...?

Gunnar

Soderbaum · 24 November 2007, 03:32 AM

Hi again

A "wild card" who might be on the photos is the Saxon Oblt Oskar Knofe (P) who served within KG 1 from 1 Jan 16 until spring 1917...

I dont have any Kasta for him, so maybe he served within the stab and might be a possible candidate for Adjutant....???

Perhaps Rammjäger could identify him or he exist on photos in O´Connors books...

just a guess

Gunnar

Buddecke · 24 November 2007, 04:19 AM

Thanks Gunnar for your wonderful hints.

Photo 1: Third man from right looks like Franz Walz, or ? See here my photo from year 1925 of Walz.
I think the same man.

Buddecke

frontflieger · 29 November 2007, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soderbaum

A candidate for old Kasta 1 is Oblt Hans-Ulrich von Trotha.........

...

Hptm Rudolf Kleine, another PlM holder was in command of Kasta 3.

I think we can exclude von Trotha - here is a picture of him and his unique uniform:

I would think that photo 2 shows Rudolf Kleine on the right side (no 2 from right in photo 1 - overshadowed by his comrade, though)!

Thorsten

Soderbaum · 3 December 2007, 02:34 PM

Hi again

One further flyer who might be on the photos is Oblt Paul Henning von Osterroth* who at this time was commander of Kasta 31 (not the Bavarian)....!?

This unit** (night bombers) was more or less a part of KG 1 as they co-operated during late spring of 1916 until at least the summer of 1916...

*did later become commander of Jasta 12

** was shortly afterwards renamed to Sosta 1 (Kampfstaffel Sonderstaffel 1) and did later become Schusta 20.....

just a guess

Gunnar

rammjaeger · 4 December 2007, 01:25 AM

Knofe had the figure of a dwarf, I think hardly more than 1.50 m but I will look for his photograph.