Jasta 18 – The Red Noses
Aviation Elite Units 40
128 pages
ISBN: 9781849083355
Released March, 2011

Introduction

The Imperial German Air Service fielded some 80 Jastas during the First World War. Not even the vivid decorations of some Second World War USAAF units could match the flamboyance of some of those units. Jasta 18 certainly boasted the best livery, in your reviewer’s opinion. Sporting red (crimson) noses with blue--later white--fuselages, the Royal Prussian Jasta was striking to behold. It was more than just show. Established in late 1916, the unit had a remarkable fighting career. Its history is very detailed as some of the pilots survived the war with very detailed journals, and a willingness to share. The Royal Prussian Staffel faced some of the top units of the Allies. England’s No.56 Squadron was a frequent opponent.

Jasta 18’s striking blue and red livery followed the arrival of a new Staffelkapitän, the indomitable Oberleutnant Rudolf Berthold, who ordered the aircraft painted in the colors of his former regiment. The Staffel was unique in another way. When Oblt Berthold was assigned command of Jasta 18 he brought a cadre with him from his former Jasta. When he later took command of Jasta 15, Berthold took his Jasta 18 pilots with him, exchanging them for the pilots of his new command!

The Red Nose's era of white fuselages came with their new commander, the talented Ltn August Raben. In homage to his surname each airframe received a black raven emblem.

contents

Accomplished author and researcher Greg Vanwyngarden brings us the story of Royal Prussian Jasta 18 as they lived and died over the trenches of ‘The Great War’. This is his tenth title for Osprey. With his extensive background in WWI aviation, Mr. Young reveals the triumphs, tragedies, heroism, and accomplishments of the Kaiser’s Jagdflieger of both of Jasta18’s incarnations.

Jasta 18 The Red Nosesis presented to you through 128 pages in four chapters, an appendices and an index:

1: First Days In Flanders
2: The Berthold Era
3: Transformation
4: The Ravens Fly High
Appendices
• Color Plates Commentary
• Bibliography
Index

Photographs and Illustrations

Jasta 18 hosted some talented photographers! Mr. Vanwyngarden’s book is fortified by dozens of wonderful clear photographs. It is easy to identify many individual pilots’ personal badges on their aerial steeds. Even the relatively dark red and blues can be discerned in many black and white photographs. Dozens of these decorations are presented for you with the 28 aircraft profiles (and several upper surface images) via the talents of perennial WWI artist Harry Dempsey .

conclusion

Freiherr von Richthofen’s Flying Circus is probably the best known aviation unit of WWI. However, your reviewer always favored Jasta 18’s markings more, even though I did not know they were the Royal Prussians. Now I do and I am satisfied to learn about this unit. This book illuminates the extraordinary Staffel in a detailed and interesting text. The many photographs enrich and support the content.

Whether you are a historian or modeler, Jasta 18 The Red Noses is a fascinating book. With the amount of detailed research, clarity of delivery, and abundance of supporting photographs and color profiles, this book about The Ravens will educate and expand your understanding of this chapter of the first air war.

Please remember, when contacting manufacturers and sellers, to mention you saw this book here—on Aeroscale.