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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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