'flying circus' Jagdstaffel 11 - france early 1918
the red baron and his flying circus
Near Cappy in France March/April 1918 – Fokker Dr.I No 477/17 (Rittmeister Manfred von Richthofen) Fokker Dr.I No 502/17 (Pilot unknown) – Fokker Dr.I No 588/17 (Ltn Richard Wenzel) + Half Fokker Dr. I of Ltn. Hans Joahim Wolff.
Jagdgeschwader I (JG I) of World War I, was a fighter wing of the German Luftstreitkräfte, comprising four Jastas (fighter squadrons). 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” (German: Der Fliegende Zirkus) 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. (Wikipedia)
Pilots and ground crew of Jasta 11 are getting ready for a mission over enemy territory…
Flying Circus diorama: 3 complete Fokker Dr. I’s (Roden 1/32) A Fokker without wings is beeing manhandled by ground crew. A German Staff Car is being used to transport the aircraft to another location. Figures from a variety of producers, Model Cellar, Copper State Models, Aviattic & Blackdog.
