This is a cheap ripoff of Adam Myerson's famous Pretty boy Floyd post but I'll call it an homage and leave it at that.  Besides, nobody reads the musings of a slow old guy so I'm guessing I'm on safe turf here.

Cyclocross season is almost done and I haven't updated this blog in months, so here we go..

Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1) of World War I, was a fighter unit of the German Luftstreitkräfte, comprising four Jastas or 'fighter squadrons'. It was formed on 24 June 1917, with Manfred von Richthofen as commanding officer, by combining Jastas 4, 6, 10 and 11. JG 1 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.

If any of you have never been to a 'cross race, do yourself the pleasure of at least going to watch. It is a carnival of sorts and is great fun to see. It really is a circus of bright colors, tents and flashy bikes.


During early 1917, it became apparent to the German High Command that they would always be outnumbered in air operations over the Western Front. The average Jasta could only muster some six or eight aircraft in total for a patrol, and would often face one Allied formation after another. In order to maintain some impact and local command of the air the Jastas began (unofficially) to fly in larger, composite groups. By mid 1917 the first official grouping of Jastas saw JG 1 formed. Its role was simple; to achieve localized air superiority wherever it was sent and to deny Allied air operations over a specific location. The unit was thus highly mobile, and JG 1 and its supporting logistical infrastructure traveled to wherever local air superiority was needed, often at short notice.

The racers travel every weekend from one locality to another across the region or the country to race and hang with other cyclists. I race the New England circuit. Some come and go for just a race or two, some stay for the whole season. Some are pros and some are Spanish teachers, but all are racers.

By the end of 1917 the success of Jagdgeschwader 1 meant several other similar formations were then formed in February 1918, with Jagdgeschwader 2 operating against both the French and the British and Jagdgeschwader 3 on the Ypres front. At this time Richthofen recruited Hans Kirchstein and Fritz Friedrichs from two-seaters units, and Ernst Udet from Jasta 37.

The races are very popular and well attended. Many racers stay the entire day to ride the course as it changes through the day or just to watch and take pictures. Or drink beer. The loud cheering at the barriers or run-ups is indicative of the respect for each other and never missing a chance to good-natured heckle.


After von Richthofen's death in April 1918, Hauptmann Wilhelm Reinhard became JG 1 Commanding Officer. On 10 May JG 1 claimed its 300th victory while on 20 May the unit received the honorary title of JG 1 'Richthofen'. Soon after JG 1 moved to the 7th Army front to support the forthcoming Aisne offensive, commencing on 27 May. JG 1 moved to Guise, and then Puiseux Ferme, operating primarily against the French and the newly arrived American Air Forces. Between 31 May and 8 June JG 1 claimed some 43 French aircraft and balloons, and another 24 between 24 June and 28 June. Jasta 6's Lt. Hans Kirschstein was the star performer of JG 1 at this time, claiming 27 victories between 18 March and 14 June.

The races continue through the fall and early winter, from the dry of early September into the wet mud of October and early Novermber to the cold frosty mornings of December. Championships for Verge, Shimano and UCI series are contested. Many that start the season fall ill or injured and leave the scene for the year. Some come back and some new riders start in the later season. Racers get faster as they come into CX form or fall back as the shattered remains of their road racing season fitness breathes it's last.

 Having been subjected to intensive operations over the Amiens battle in August 1918, by mid-September an exhausted JG 1 was withdrawn from the British part of the front, having lost all four Jasta commanders by the end of August; Lowenhardt of Jasta 10 was killed, Jasta 6's Co Lt. Paul Wenzel and Lothar von Richthofen of Jasta 11 both wounded and hospitalised, and Lt. Ernst Udet (Jasta 4) exhausted and sent on leave. JG 1 scored just 17 claims during September, despite the month seeing the highest losses for the Allied Air Forces of the war (The Jasta force claiming some 721 victories for the month). For the next three months the likes of Leutnant Friedrich Noltenius in Jasta 11, Jasta 6's Commanding Officer Ulrich Neckel and Leutnant Arthur Laumann (Jasta 10) did the majority of the scoring.

New riders come to the forefront and some of the better names in lower ranks upgrade early. Some stay and win some races, Some are happy just to have survived without serious injury thus far. The madness of the crowds at Gloucester fades to the more intimate venues like Canton and Sterling. Cross-Results point accumulate. Staging gets better.

Thereafter until the end of the war shortages of fuel and spares, increasing Allied numerical air superiority and continual retreats in the face of Allied ground advances meant JG 1 struggled to emulate earlier successes.

Finally, the season ends in a last gasp of party when the Ice Weasels Cometh. A race at a cabbage farm never tasted so good. A couple of beers and we are again on our way to spring training for road season again. And so the cycle goes. Year in. Year out.


From June 1917 until November 1918, JG 1 claimed 644 Allied aircraft destroyed, while losing 52 pilots killed in action and 67 wounded.




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the source of the WWI history is : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagdgeschwader_1_%28World_War_I%29