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In the late stages of World War One German military commanders
recognized a growing necessity for the close protection of reconnaissance
and artillery control aircraft. As a result the so-called "Schutzstaffeln"
(protection units) came into being
The typical aircraft model used by such units were "C"
type aircraft which were subsequently replaced by lighter machines
known as "CL" type aeroplanes. Popular manufacturers
of CL types were the "Hannoversche Waggonfabrik" and
the "Halberstaedter Flugzeugwerke" as well as, later
in the war, the Junkers aircraft company.
Although aircraft made by the "Hannoversche Waggonfabrik"
were designed by German aviation pioneer Claude Dornier, they
weren't near as popular with German combat crews as the aircraft
made by the "Halberstaedter Flugzeugwerke". Due to
their agility and speed, their airplanes, only slightly larger
dimensioned than single seat fighters, were especially well suited
for use with the "Schutzstaffeln".
On October 13th, 1917 Gustav Boehl, whose original signature
is included with each piece in the gold edition of "The
Forge" was verifiably transferred from the military flight
training unit "Armeeflugpark 4" to the front line unit
"Schutzstaffel 19", where he served as a combat pilot
in the rank of a Sergeant. "Schutzstaffel 19" was renamed
"Schlachtstaffel 19" (Schlasta 19)
on March 27th, 1918. The "Schlachtstaffeln" are commonly
regarded as the forerunner of the fighter bomber units in later
years of military aviation history.
In the spring of 1918 such a "Schlachtstaffel" would
have typically consisted of six aircraft, mostly either Halberstadt
CL IIs or CL IVs. The units were commanded by a Lieutenant or
First Lieutenant, himself not necessarily a pilot. The pilots
were routinely non-commissioned officers, the gunners normally
being corporals or privates. These gunners were often able to
master more than just their close support routine. This was impressively
demonstrated by one of their ranks, Gottfried Ehmann who managed
to down a total of 12 attacking fighter aircraft during the course
of his military carreer.
The fact that the newly appointed commander of Schlasta 19,
Lieutenant Herrmann chose our signatory, Gustav Boehl as his
pilot on November 11th, 1918 is certain proof of Boehl's talent
as a military aviator. However, as fate would have it both were
injured on a combat missions that day and spent the rest of World
War One in a German military hospital.
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