Kasta 27

[Carsten Petersen]

I have tried to find what type of aircraft several German units were flying during WW1. It is almost impossible to find any information about this.


What type of aircraft was Kampfstaffel 27 flying in 1916-17 ??

[musec04]

Hello Carsten,


As you say it is not easy to find information aligning equipment with units for any unit really. I fear you are just going to have to resort to the search engine. But here to start you off are a couple of links:


http://www.buddecke.de/kasta27.htm


https://www.flickr.com/photos/2aa/49730975613/lightbox/




https://www.ebay.de/itm/b92403-Flieg...MAAOSwf6NfMGMg


https://www.ebay.de/itm/b92404-Flieg...p2047675.l2557









Also in Propellerblatt 10 P.379 there is a reference to LVG C.IV C.4370/15. The article further states that LVG C.IV of this batch were delivered to the units in August to October 1916. So this machine may possibly have served with the unit while still Kasta 27.




Regards,


Clint

[Stig Jarlevik]

Carsten

As everywhere else, focus in the past has always been on fighters, fighters and again fighters and you could also add units to that, ie fighter units.
As far as I know there is just one book written about a German bomber unit in WW 1, Kasta 23, but a pretty good place to start is this one

http://www.frontflieger.de/2alb.html

It does not state aircraft types vs units, but at least it will you some degree of the German organization and also a time frame of their existance.

Checking Kasta 27, you will see it did not operate any aircraft in 1917 at all since on 1.1.1917 it was re-named/designated Schusta 9. Since it formed very late in 1915 it existed basically only one year, 1916.
Also note that Kasta 27 (1916) was not the same as Bosta 27 (1918)
Schusta 9 operated LVG C.IV in April 1917 and if they did so as Kasta 27 in 1916 is something I don't know.

Also looking inside Cross & Cockade (old issues) I fail to locate a single article about any KAGOHL/Kasta unit. I seem to remember there have been articles about bomber pilots (or crew members) but it would take ages to go through all of that.

Cheers
Stig

[Carsten Petersen]

Thanks Stig and Clint

I know that it is an uphill work, but you both helped me a bit further. I have within the last few days ordered a 'few' books about air war ww1 and I hope that will be of some help.
I also plan on going to Freiburg in the spring (if Corona restrictions allow this). Finally I hope to be able to get som help from 'The Hetschbach Kreis'. I am right now working on a book about night fighters in Jutland in 1942/43 and I have come to the chapter of Bongartz. First world war is almost finished except some blank spots. I am going to copy his personel file about the interwar years. I have plenty of information about second world war except I need the Kriegstagebuch for Luftzeuggruppe 1. I hope that the book will be out next summer.

[musec04]

Hello Carsten,


If you do find any information on the specific type of aircraft Bongartz flew I would be very grateful if you'd post it here. Given that a Kasta was usually composed of six aircraft I would have thought that of the links I posted it is far more likely that he flew a Rumpler C.I than any of the other types for which I posted a link.


I'm not sure if it's relevant to your needs, but just in case, Dirk Rottgardt in German Armies Establishments 1914/1918 vol.6 P.79 has Kagohl 5 and therefore Kasta 27 established in March 1916 rather than December 1915 as per http://www.frontflieger.de/2-kasta27.html .


Also I don't have a copy but does Lance Bronnenkan't vol.14 of The Blue Max Airmen not mention the type of aircraft flown by Bongartz while with Kasta 27?



Regards,


Clint

[Carsten Petersen]

Hi Clint
Thank you for the information. I just ordered The Blue Max airmen vol 13. I had never before heard of this book.

I will gladly share information with you

Carsten

[musec04]

Hi Carsten,


I hope that it proves useful. I've also decided to buy a copy of vol.14 as I'm curious as to whether any Kasta 27 serials are included. I haven't previosly seen any for that unit. But suspect I might be disappointed.


Regards,


Clint