FliK 3

Fliegerkompanie 3


2.AK ako Division Kompanie
Umiestnenie: Brazanowa,


10.AK ako Jagdflieger Kompanie
Umiestnenie: Gardolo, Romagnano

Flik 3

Flik 3 was formed in August 1914 at the airport of Aspern in Vienna.
The commander was appointed Hauptmann Karl Stohanzl.
The unit was deployed from 18. October 1914 the u 2. army on the Russian front on the field airport in Bažanówce in Galicia. The soldiers spent the night in tents and officers in nearby houses. Later the advent of winter were soldiers also accommodated in the houses.

At the end of February, 1915, he was the command of the unit entrusted with the Oberleutnat Rudolf Holeka. Flik 3 was at that time located on the field airport in Minaj about 2 km south of Uzhgorod, later near the village of Lesko near the river San. Unit operated with aircraft Aviatik B.II (series 32).
The commander of the Oberleutnat Rudolf Holeka he was 1. may 1915 promoted to Hauptmann. The next day 2. in may 1915 she began a successful Austria-Hungary, the German offensive in Gorlicea and Flik 3 soon followed by frontline units. They moved to the field airport at Sambor and later to the city of Brody.
Probably in the fall of 1915 Flik 3 leaving the commander of the Hauptmann Rudolf Holeka.

At the beginning of 1917Flik 3 commanded by Rittmeister Vojtěch Bárta (*Poděbrady, FAI no 559 of 15. 12. 1916). From him took command in the spring or early summer of 1917 Oberleutnant Johann he was also.

The reorganization of the whole Königlich und Kaiserlich Luftfahrtruppen was even Flik 3 in the summer of 1917 assigned the specialization of the D – Divisions Fliegerkompanie. Therefore, it was intended for military reconnaissance and support of ground units on the division level. (1

After the signing of the Brest-Lithuanian peace was Flik 3 22. march 1918 sent to the Italian front. Where she changed her specialization to J – Jagd Fliegerkompanie, therefore, a fighter unit designated for destruction of enemy aircraft and to protect their own. (2

Was moved to the airport Gardolo Italy, where through přezbrojením and zaškolovacím and doplňovacím training. In the course of this training died 23. may 1918 during a training flight, the commander of the Flik 3J Hauptman Johann he was also.

Command taken over by his deputy chefpilot Oberleutnant Friedrich Navratil.
Under his command was moved to the airfield Romagnano, Italy where she began to re-operate from the 28. June 1918. And now this day Oberleutnant Friedrich Navratil scored on the Albatross D.III (Oef)153.198 shooting down an enemy of the Italian Fallout.

31. August 1917 met the unit probably the biggest loss, when during one flight of the three british pilots managed to shoot down four members of the Flik 3J during one combat flight Oberleutnant Josef Pürer, Leutnant Jaroslav Kubelík, Leutnant Stanislaus Maria Tomicki von Tomice, Stabsfeldwebel Otto Förster.
The first three appointed by the dead, and the only Stabsfeldwebel Otto Förster ended up in captivity in the hostile hospital
It's fateful combat flight attended by the commander of the Flik 3J Oberleutnant Friedrich Miroslav Navratil and Oberleutnant Stefan Stec but in the heat of battle from the other recruits were separated and four of those named above were easy prey for the enemy swarm, led by a british flying ace of the captain Joseph Cottle.
The commander of Flik 3J Oberleutnant Friedrich Miroslav Navratil after returning from that flight had a nervous breakdown and probably from this concussion are fully recovered, because 21. September when landing crashed in an aeroplane and was injured. At the next training flight 21. October 1918 re-crashed after a failed emergency landing because of damage to the seats. The aircraft was destroyed and Oberleutnant Friedrich Navratil with serious injuries was taken to the hospital. The end of the war the unit returned.
Command Flik 3J took over chefpilot Oberleutnant Franz Peter. Under his command the unit participated in the last fighting days of the Great war.
After the retreat of Austria-Hungary on the Italian front in late October and November, 1918, 2. November 1918 was in Innsbruck.

From here 11. November 1918 (sometimes indicates 21. November 1918) flew Zugsführer Adolf Bláha – deserter with the second personal plane of the commander of the unit, with the plane Albatros D.III (Oef) 253.116. Along with him deserted Zugsführer Bela Mayer with the aircraft Albatros D.III (Oef) 253.114. Both probably the result of navigation errors in bad weather they landed in Schlieren near Zurich in Switzerland. Here were the pilots interned..

Flik 3J was dissolved in Innsbruck, probably at the end of November 1918.

By the end of the war Flik 3J on the Italian front added 15 wins (of which 9 won Oberleutnant Friedrich Navratil), has carried out 400 sorties and lost 8 pilots from 5 in the hostilities. (In August 1918 he performed the Flik 3J 164 sorties and lost 4 pilots in a single combat action.)
On the Russian front with its airmen Flik 3 or Flik 3D managed to shoot down a total of 8 enemy aircraft.
Together, therefore, the airmen of the Flik 3 shot down 23 enemy aircraft.


Notes:
1) Dispose of according to regulation 4 - 6 reconnaissance planes and several fighter aircraft. Two aircraft should be stored in reserve storage. Regulation of 30. January 1918 was Flik-D have 4 two-seater reconnaissance and light bombardovacími aircraft and 2 military aircraft.
2) Jagd Fliegerkompanie should have 18 fighter planes and 18 fighter pilots, consists of three Traditional (the swarm) after 6 aeroplanes and pilots. Which is due to the economic situation and development of the entire war never failed to fill. And probably not even for any other fighter Flik.


Sources:
Own archives
www.up.krakow.pl
History and Military 1/2010 – Jiří Rajlich, Air 1. world war ii
History and Military affairs 2/2010 – Jiří Rajlich, Air battle of the nations
Rudolf Holeka Chronicle of the first military airmen nationality Czech, Jan Zahalka, Corona 1997.