Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 5, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 5, was created on 21 January 1916,[1] and mobilized on 21 August 1916, as one of the first fighter units of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I.

Many of the first pilots of the Jasta came out of KEK Avillers, itself an early attempt to organize and utilize fighter planes as winged weapons.

On 11 March 1917, Jasta 5 moved into Boistrancourt; it spent the next year operating from there, in support of the 2 Armee.

Pilots earning Prussia's highest decoration for valor, the Pour le Mèrite ("Blue Max") who served at one time or another in Jasta 5 included (alphabetically):[2] Könnecke and Rumey were two of the three members of the "golden triumvirate", who were responsible for 40% of the total victories of the Jasta.

At one time, the Jasta was one of only three squadrons not belonging to a Jagdgeschwader (fighter wing) that was totally equipped with the Triplane.