Kurjan - one of Josef Veltjen’s ground crew. Rank and first name unknown.

Kurjan is standing on the far right, Domschke is on his left

Kleffel, Walther, Leutnant d R - Presently recovering from a wound received 2 Oct 1917.

Malmann, Emil, Gefreiter – NCO in charge of motor vehicles for Jasta 18. A shady character and associate of Carl Eber.

Acting as Berthold’s Scherge, Eber fought Malmann to force him to curbe some of his activities, which Berthold wanted stopped.

In the process, Eber broke Malmann’s arm. They now work together and appear to be friends, but Eber still watches him closely. The fight took place in August 1917.

Margot, Hermann, Vizefeldwebel- acting as Technical Officer for Jasta 18.

Margot is on the left, talking to Schafer and Buttlar

MAX – Oberleutnant Turck’s Newfoundland. Fictitious.

Max's character is based on a story from Otto Fuchs, Wir Flieger, translated with commentary by Adam M. Wait and published by Schiffer as “Flying Fox.”

Rahn, Arthur, Leutnant d R, immigrated to the United States in 1928. A reproduction of his Fokker Dr1 is on display at the National Museum of the United States Airforce at Wright-Patterson Air Base.
His family donated his WWI memorabilia to the museum.

Rief, Johann - one of Josef Veltjen’s ground crew. Rank and first name unknown. Probably his Motorschlasser.

Reif is standing on the far left. Left to right, Reif, Werkmeister Klefel, Ltn Veltjens, Domschke, Kurjan.

Runge, Richard, Leutnant d R – KIA 15 Nov 1917

[i]Schäfer, Hugo,[/i] Leutnant d R – Spitzname, die Schlange (Snake) because of the snake marking he chose for his aircraft.

Schober, Otto, Leutnant d R – KIA 27 Oct 1917.

Schüssler, first name not known, Leutnant d R – transferred to a replacement depot.

Strähle, Paul, Leutnant d R – Closest associate of Carl Eber. Much of the day to day activity during the period from August to December 1917 is based on his war diary.

Strähle left Jasta 18 28 December 1917 to take command of the newly forming Saxon Jagdstaffel 54s.

Turck, Ernst Wilhelm, Oberleutnant – Presently commander of Jasta 18 and Jagdgruppe 7, Spitzname, Vater, (Father). Has a black Newfoundland named Max.

The comet markings on Turck’s aircraft are new. He took Harald Auffarth’s Alabtros after he left the Staffel. His original marking was the black and white, ‘Eiserne Kreuz’ ribbon.

Smokes disgusting French, clove scented cigarettes when he can get them. Carl keeps him supplied.


Ulrich - Jasta Eighteen's clerk.

Veltjens, Josef, Leutnant d R – Spitzname, Seppl. The photo of Veltjens shows him in his signature tiger fur lined flying coat.

A Rhinelander, very outgoing and well liked. Protégé of Rudolf Berthold.

He has an Alsatian named Bella.






https://SimHQ.com/forum/tmp/45036.jpg

Viebig, Hans, Leutnant d R,




CAPTION – This six pointed star is an authentic Jasta 18 marking from this time, however, the pilot who used it is unknown. Viebig’s markings for this period are unknown. I used this marking for him in my Mods and in this story it has no known historical connection to him.




CAPTION: Left to right, Viebig, Schafer, Veltjens, Strahle and Kleffel.







Villinger, Hans, Leutnant d R, assigned 12 November 1917, KIA 1530 hours near Le Mesnil-en-Vespres.









CAPTION: Villinger's marking is an authentic Jasta 18 marking. The pilot who used it is unknown. It will be available as a personal skin when the next release of jerbear's skin mods is made.

Voss, Werner, Leutnant d R – Well known Grosskannon, now deceased. A former acting commander of Jasta 14, to which Carl Eber and a number of other members of Jasta 18 previously belonged.

Spitzname; Bubi.

KIA 23 Sep 1917. The fictionalized account of his last combat and Carl Eber's part in it can be found in thread 14, post 58.

The screenshot is one I made based on photographs of him with the Fokker Triplane in which he was killed. In the story I gave the Triplane the fictitious name ‘Baby.”

LIST OF SPITZNAMEN (NICKNAMES)







Those without known nicknames are often referred to by their first name.

ALTER HERR DINGEL – Leutnant Walter Dingel

Beauli - Beaulieu-Marconnay, Oliver Freiherr von

Bubi – Werner Voss

der Eiserne – the Iron one, Oberleutnant Rudolf Berthold. Commander of Jasta 18 and Jagdgruppe 7 until wounded 10 Oct 1917.

der Meister, the Master, a not uncommon nickname for a Staffel Commander. Oberleutnant Rudolf Berthold. Commander of Jasta 18 until wounded 10 Oct 1917.

Der feuerspeinde Berg – the fire spewing volcano, Oberleutnant Rudolf Berthold. Commander of Jasta 18 until wounded 10 Oct 1917.

Eisern, Iron, short for der Eiserne, Oberleutnant Rudolf Berthold. Commander of Jasta 18 until wounded 10 Oct 1917.

Eiserne schweister, die; Iron Sister. Franziska Berthold, Rudolf Berthold’s sister. A nickname of my own invention.

FELIX – Carl Eber

Flieger Max – Max Hitschler, I fictitious nickname given to him in the story by yours truly.

Hermann, Hermann Margot, Unteroffizier- acting as Technical Officer for Jasta 18.

Jan – Leutnant Johannes Klein. This nickname is my own invention as it is a common one for Johannes and may very well have been what his Staffel-Kameraden called him.

Rudi - Rudolf Deberitz

SCHLANGE, die Schlange, (SNAKE) – Leutnant Hugo Schäfer

SEPPL – Leutnant Josef Veltjens

SIGI – Leutnant Siegfried Keller, a fictitious character


VATER (FATHER) – Oberleutnant Turck

VISE – Short of Vizefeldwebel, sometimes used when addressing Carl Eber or other NCOs of that rank.

Volcano, the – Oberleutnant Rudolf Berthold. Commander of Jasta 18 until wounded 10 Oct 1917.

Kest 5