118 ACES OF JAGDSTAFFEL 17 -- WWI

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Initially formed to assist in the defense of the city of Metz against French bombing raids, Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 17 would go on to become one of the most distinguish German fighter units of World War I.

Its first victory was scored by the pilot whose story is inextricably interwoven with that of his unit - the 'Blue Max' recipient Julius Buckler. He was largely responsible for inspiring the unit's unique esprit de corps, expressed in its famous and unique 'battle-cry' of 'Malaula!' Indeed, in its final days, the unit gained the nickname Zirkus Buckler, or the 'Buckler Circus'.

Besides Buckler, Jasta 17 boasted such aces as Karl Strasser, Alfred Fleischer, and Christian Donhauser. In addition, the roster included colorful characters like the successful Jewish airman Jakob Wolff, who at over 48 years of age was the oldest German fighter pilot of the war. The story of this illustrious unit is told with many first-hand accounts by Buckler, Fleischer, and others, as well as dozens of rare archival photos of the unit's beautifully decorated fighter aircraft.