Jagdstaffel 26

Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 26 was a "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I.

As one of the original German fighter squadrons, the unit would score 177 verified aerial victories, including four observation balloons destroyed.

[1] Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 26 (Jasta 26) was founded on 14 December 1916 at the FEA 9 training center in Darmstadt.

On 25 August 1918, the entire JG III was assigned to support of 17th Armee for Jasta 26's last posting of the war.

[1] Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 26 would end the war as one of the top-scoring German fighter squadrons.

[5] As can be seen in the photo, the squadron's stark livery consisted of alternating white and black bands circling fuselage and tail.

The Jasta 26 flightline on 21 March 1918, the first day of the German Spring Offensive.
Group photo of the pilots of Jasta 26: left to right: Buder, Klassen, Riemer, Zogmann, Weiß (z.b.V.), Fritz Loerzer, Bruno Loerzer, Mar. At right Fritz Beckhardt. May 1918
Fritz Beckhardt in his Siemens-Schuckert D.III fighter of Jasta 26; the reversed swastika insignia was a good luck symbol.
Fokker Dr.Is of Jagdstaffel 26 of the Luftstreitkräfte at Erchin, France.