WW1 air service names

[leyreynolds]

What is the German for; 

 

Imperial German air service and Bavarian branch if that was separate

 

Austro-Hungarian air service

 

Turkish air service

 

please?

[MikeC]

The first is Luftstreitkrafte (that last "a" should have an umlaut). I'm not sure of the other two.

[thorfinn]

The Austro-Hungarian air service was called the "Imperial and Royal Aviation Troops" (German: "Kaiserliche und Königliche Luftfahrtruppen," commonly abbreviated as "K.u.K. Luftfahrtruppen").
There was no "Bavarian Air Service" as such; there were Bavarian squadrons and ancillary units under the Luftstreitkräfte. Collectively, they were referred to as the "Royal Bavarian Flying (Corps)," or the "Königlich Bayerische Fliegertruppe."
Similarly, there was no single aviation branch for the Turks, but rather "Ottoman Aviation Squadrons," separate for the army and navy, attached to larger operational commands. The Germans often referred to the "Ottoman Flieger-truppe", which roughly translates to "Osmanli Hava Kuvvetleri" or "Ottoman Air Force"... while correctly they should have been refering to the Ottoman Army or Navy Aviation Inspectorate or department. The "Turkish Air Force" as a distinct entity is a post-Ottoman development...though even military historians (who should know better) use the term as a convenience. To be fair, everybody understands what they mean, so why not?

Cheers

[leyreynolds]

Thanks for the info'. Am I correct in thinking some (many?) of the personnel in Turkish squadrons were German?

[thorfinn]

1 hour ago, leyreynolds said:

Thanks for the info'. Am I correct in thinking some (many?) of the personnel in Turkish squadrons were German?

That seems to have been the case throughout the Turkish miltary of that era. Some German forces were actually attached cadres, some 'companion units,' and some acted as instructors/advisors. The two military organizations had developed quite close ties through much of the war.

[leyreynolds]

Thanks for the details. I've only recently developed an interest in WW1 aviation and there seem to be few references readily available here in Oz.

[expositor]

Though many experts continue to write books and produce documentaries referring to an "Imperial German Army" or "Imperial German Aviation Service," or some other such military  organization, the only Imperial military establishment of the Second Reich was the Kaiserliche Marine.  The German Empire was officially named "The Associated Governments of the German Reich," and was a confederation of some 30+ independent polities, most with their own royal, or ducal military establishments; hence Bayern having its own General Staff.  Even the Great General Staff was known as Prussian and not Imperial. So, as to German Army aviation, each unit, at least after 1915, was known as Royal Bavarian, Prussian, Saxon, or Wurtemburger.