Jagdgeschwader II was the Imperial German Air Service's second fighter wing. Established because of the great success of Manfred von Richthofen's preceding Jagdgeschwader I wing, Jagdgeschwader II and Jagdgeschwader III were founded on 2 February 1918. JG II was assigned four squadrons nominally equipped with 14 aircraft each. The new wing was supposed to be fully operational in time for an offensive slated for 21 March 1918. Named to raise and lead it was 23-victory flying ace Hauptmann Adolf von Tutschek. However, he was killed in action on 15 March 1918.
Adolf von Tutschek, first commander of Jagdgeschwader II
Rudolf Berthold, Commander. Note the gloves clasped to hide the paralyzed hand.
A Siemens-Halske Sh.III engine on a work stand
French troops in action on the Chemin des Dames
Jagdgeschwader I (World War I)
Jagdgeschwader I of World War I, was a fighter wing of the German Luftstreitkräfte, comprising four Jastas. The first unit of its type formed under that classification, JG I was formed on 24 June 1917, with Manfred von Richthofen as commanding officer, by combining Jastas 4, 6, 10 and 11. JG I became known as "The Flying Circus" or "Richthofen's Circus" because of the bright colours of its aircraft, and perhaps also because of the way the unit was transferred from one area of Allied air activity to another – moving like a travelling circus in trains, and frequently setting up in tents on improvised airfields.
Rittmeister Manfred von Richthofen
Lothar von Richthofen
Hermann Goering commander of Jagdgeschwader I (World War I) beside his Fokker DVII 5125/1918. He holds a walking stick "Geschwader Stock" that had been owned by The Red Baron Manfred von Richthofen.