As an independent squadron Jasta 27 was formed on 5 February 1917 at
Ghent with eight aircraft and pilots.
Armee-Flug-Park 4 (Army Flight Park 4) at Ghent contributed three aircraft and pilots to the foundation. Two aircraft and pilots were transferred in from both
Jagdstaffel 8 and
Jagdstaffel 18. The newly appointed
Staffelfuhrer (Squadron commander),
Hans von Keudell, brought his own plane to the new unit, for the eighth aircraft. The newly formed unit moved forward to
Gistel. On 15 February 1917, Keudell led two of his pilots into combat in a three plane element of
Albatros D.IIIs. He scored the first victory for the new squadron—his 12th overall—when he shot down a two-seater reconnaissance
Nieuport from
No. 46 Squadron RAF. He was also killed in action during the fight. On 19 June 1917, Jasta 27 completed its move from
Bersée, France—whence they supported
6th Armee—to
Izegem, Belgium, to support
4th Armee. There they strove for air superiority during the
Battle of Passchendaele, with Britain's elite
No. 56 Squadron their major opposition. Jasta 27 began to score victories. By 21 October 1917, the unit was credited with 28 air victories. Air activity lessened through year's end. Jasta 27 were anticipating being equipped with new
Fokker Dr.Is in early 1918, but too few of the triplanes were produced to completely equip the
jasta. On 2 February 1918, Jasta 27 was incorporated into a new fighter wing,
Jagdgeschwader III (JG III). On 13 February, they co-located with the other squadrons joining JG III. By that time, they had about 40 victories to their credit.
Service in a fighter wing Up until the end of the fighting in November 1918 Jasta 27 collectively accounted for 128 enemy aircraft and six
observation balloons, and suffered eleven killed in action, three killed in flying accidents, and one taken prisoner of war. ==Commanding officers==