"Eindecker Over Verdun", painted by Jim Laurier
Step back in time with me to the world of WW1 aviation – but perhaps not quite the world that first springs to your mind. Come with me to a time before 1918's Black September or 1917's infamous Bloody April. A time before gaudily-painted Albatrosses and Fokker Dr 1s clashed with olive-drab Camels and Se5as in huge swirling dogfights. A time when fighting aircraft were in their infancy; where "Jasta" was as yet an unknown term. Step back to a time where combatants on both sides were just starting to realize aircraft could be used for much more than simply conducting reconnaissance or dropping hand grenades on enemy troops. That aeroplanes could, in fact, be used to shoot opposing aircraft out of the sky.
KEKs and Fokkerstaffels by Johan Ryheul provides a rare look at the fighter wings of German Imperial Air Force in their formative stage – before their maturation into the feared Jastas and Jagdgeschwaders. A self-avowed "battlefield detective" (11), Ryheul does an excellent job of blending multiple sources of research into an approachable, informative work. Not only does he feature primary sources from both sides of the conflict, but he also shares his experiences traveling to many of the Kampfeinsitzer Kommandos' (KEK's) aerodrome locations in modern day.
A Methodical Exploration of the KEKs
Ryheul approaches the daunting task of cataloguing each KEK with a clearheaded sense of direction. The first two chapters of his book set the stage by explaining the predecessors of the KEKs and Fokkerstaffeln, exploring the genesis of these groups, and digging into the development of the pivotal synchronized machine gun. (Of note, Ryheul does good work here by mentioning multiple people who contributed to this innovation rather than giving sole credit to Anthony Fokker.)
Chapters 3 - 28 form the meat of the book, as Ryheul explores every KEK, with a chapter devoted to each one. These chapters include many excellent resources such as rare photographs, primary source quotations, and references to the work of trustworthy WW1 historians such as Peter Kilduff and Greg Van Wyngarden. Also noteworthy is the author's meticulous research as to the origin, location, and commanding officers of these groups. (In some cases, he even goes so far as to list the CO's pre-war pilot license numbers!) (Ryheul 21) Finally, the last chapter briefly details the rise of the Jagdstaffeln, including a list of which Jastas emerged from which KEKs.
Flashes of Color
While Ryheul doesn't delve too far into the day-to-day operations of every KEK, he does include enough anecdotes to give each one color. This is especially true for KEKs that were home to famous Aces such as Immelmann and Boelcke. In these cases, he provides a deeper look into their lives, exploits, and personal correspondence. He also shares correspondence not only from the Aces themselves, but also from their commanding officers and their foes. One fantastic example of this is French Ace Georges Guynemer's account of a clash with Boelcke on March 13, 1916:
"...I see two planes coming right in front. These are the ones I wish to shoot down. I'm in a hurry – I gain speed, place myself beneath them at their back, a bit to the side, and shoot seven bullets up close at them. He's swirling and gets away with lead in his wing, but I have no time to concern myself with his fate. The other one is without any doubt an ace. He is not scared and fires all he can. ...I want to place myself under his fuselage to give him a full load. Unfortunately, I do not appreciate my superior speed compared to his, and I shoot over him with my plane. He gains from the situation and sends me a burst of bullets, taking his chances.
My hood is holed and shattered. A ricochet hits me in the face, cuts my cheek and nose, and two bullets go through my left arm. I'm also hit slightly in the jaw. The doctors have told me it's better to leave it like this. It's a souvenir, provided that it's an omen that brings me luck and allows me to take vengeance. In a word, a perfect spraying!" (Ryheul 148)
Chapters such as these serve almost as mini-books within the book itself. Though Ryheul's work is an abbreviated tour of each unit, he pauses at pertinent moments in each one's story. This allows the reader to breathe and appropriately take in pivotal moments such as the death of Immelmann: "After the front part of the fighter smashed into pieces in mud near Sallaumines a number of German soldiers rushed to the wreck and pulled the remains of the airman out. When they saw the Pour le Mérite, everyone knew that the crumpled body was that of Immelmann." (Ryheul 49)
It is worth noting that some groups that would go on to have legendary careers (such as Jastas 11 and 5) came from relatively nondescript origins as KEKs. Thus, any reader looking to find a great deal of material on these fan favorites won't find much on them here. The focus of this book is the KEKs and Fokkerstaffeln. That is what makes this one unique in my opinion. There are plenty of excellent resources dedicated to Jastas and Jagdgeschwaders; not many exist regarding their predecessors.
The Aerodromes Today
Another thing that sets this work apart is the author's dedication to traveling to every KEK location he could. "Finding these old aerodromes after almost 100 years is not an easy task," he admits. "Some locations are barely evident, while others may never release the secret of their exact whereabouts." (Ryheul 12) That disclaimer aside, Ryheul does an admirable job of locating almost every KEK's aerodrome and letting the reader know where to find them in detail.
Not only does he provide travel directions, but he also includes modern maps, showing the location of each aerodrome today. As an example, have a look at Ryheul's description of how to find KEK Krug's old aerodrome at Houplin: "On arrival at the village of Houplin, take Rue de la Pouillerie. The former aerodrome is immediately on your right and continues until the next road to the right, which is on the other side of the Ferme de la Pouillerie where aircraft were stationed first in tents and later in wooden sheds. The farm is now a bed and breakfast, and two large pillboxes that were used to shelter personnel during air raids remain to this day. The aerodrome is typical of the German First World War airfields that are to be found in this region of northern France." (Ryheul 27)
I'm no European native, but I feel that even an Amerikaner such as myself could successfully navigate there!
Conclusion
KEKs and Fokkerstaffels is not your typical treatise. It isn't an exhaustive account of each group's day-to-day operations. It isn't a biography or an aircraft study. Instead, I find it most akin to a bus tour of every KEK's location, narrated by a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide. As you stop at each site, Ryheul points out easy-to-overlook details and gives you a flavor for that KEK. Along the way, readers will start to recognize a few familiar faces; pilots such as Immelmann, Boelcke, and Udet become a cast of recurring characters as they move between different KEKs. Although he makes only short stops at each KEK, even seasoned WW1 historians stand to find things they never knew.
This book is a particularly useful handbook for anyone who would wish to visit these locations today. The author has done all the legwork and visited each location (as far as possible) today and documented them. Since he has taken a lot of the guesswork out of it, readers are free to relax and enjoy the tour.
At its core, KEKs and Fokkerstaffels stands out to me because of its early war focus and the passion with which the author conducted his research. Should I ever travel to these aerodrome locations one day, this book will definitely be one of the few squeezed into my carry-on.
NOTE: As an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made with this link. It doesn't add to the purchase price, gets you a quality book you'll love, and helps support this blog. Win-win!
References:
Ryheul, Johan. KEKs and Fokkerstaffels: The Early German Fighter Units in 1915-1916. Fonthill Media Limited, 2014.