In March of 1992, Baron von Helton created Jagdgeschwader 1 "Richthofen", an Online Cyber-Squadron dedicated to playing Sierra's original Red Baron flight simulator.

Named after the historical Flying Circus, JG 1 “Richthofen” holds the distinction of being the first German Online Cyber-Squadron and the third oldest Online Cyber-Squadron on the Internet- only the Arabian Knights (formed in January of 1992) and the Wing Walkers (formed in February of 1992) are more senior.

JG 1 “Richthofen” was of course ahead of its time. When JG 1 was founded, the Internet was still in its infancy and the idea of “online gaming” was an extremely new concept. Sierra's Red Baron, after all, did not come with multiplayer functionality. However, there was the ImagiNation Network (INN), and because of INN's existence, Red Baron Online was born.

Owned by the Sierra Network, the INN was an innovative multiplayer on-line gaming system that would allow you to play cards, board games, golf, trivia, Red Baron, and even be tutored in your homework. By today's standards, it was archaic. For the day, however, it was cutting edge.

In 1997, JG 1 “Richthofen” switched to the Red Baron II (RBII) sim and, then in 1998, Red Baron 3D (RB3D).  It was during this time, under the leadership of Rittmeister Paul Lowengrin, that JG 1 developed the Flanders in Flames (FIF) tournament. This mission based event offered many RB3D players the chance to recreate authentic First World War dogfights and aircraft match-ups. Key components were an emphasis on two-seater missions and the repercussions of lost resources on both supply and mission capabilities.

Postscript: In early 2009, JG 1 "Richthofen" was asked to help beta test the upcoming Rise of Flight(ROF), published by 777 studios. Then, in June 2009, JG 1 moved forward with the rest of the WW1 flight sim community by embracing ROF as the long awaited successor to RB3D. Currently, JG 1 operates Jasta 4, Jasta 6, Jasta 10 and Jasta 11, with Jasta 6 being a European jagdstaffel.

In August of 2001, the first rumors of Oleg Maddox's IL-2 Sturmovik reached JG 1 “Richthofen”. Despite the fact that IL-2 was going to be centered on the Eastern Front of World War Two, significant buzz had been generated within the Red Baron community concerning its release.

At first, there was talk of converting JG 1 “Richthofen” into a unit that would fly both Red Baron 3D and IL-2 simultaneously. However, after careful thought, it was decided that the core of JG 1 should remain solely dedicated to the World War One era and to Red Baron 3D. As a result, JG 1's Command Staff (i.e. Stabsoffiziere der Flieger or "Stofl.") informed the membership that there was no reason that JG 1 pilots couldn't belong to and form their own IL-2 units.

Therefore, with the blessing of JG 1's Rittmeister, Paul Lowengrin, and under the leadership of Leonard Strickland, better known within the IL-2 community as II./JG1_Hartmann, thirteen pilots decided to create an extension of the original JG 1 within the IL-2 community. This new World War Two unit would have it's own command structure and day-to-day autonomy. However, it would still remain apart of the greater JG 1 family.

This created the "One Jagdgeschwader 1, Two Squadrons" framework which is still in place today- two groups, united by a common history, jointly working together to carry on the traditions first set down in March 1992.

It was quickly discovered, however, that there was another IL-2-based squadron that had planned on using the "Jagdgeschwader 1" name within the growing WW2 community. Having flown within the European Air War sim for over a year, this other unit had not wanted to give up their identity or history during the transition to IL-2 Sturmovik.

As a result, a compromise was worked out which would allow both units to continue to use the Jagdgeschwader 1 name, while at the same time remaining distinct and independent from each other.

The European Air War squadron would become I.Gruppe Jagdgeschwader 1 "Oesau" (or I./JG 1), controlling Staffeln 1, 2 and 3.

Meanwhile, this unit would become II.Gruppe Jagdgeschwader 1 "Oesau" (or II./JG 1), controlling Staffeln 4, 5 and 6.

Now reborn, II./JG 1 was officially inaugurated on 1 December 2001, distinguishing itself early on within the greater IL-2 community.

Postscript: In the summer of 2005, II./JG 1 had the pleasure of welcoming two other "JG 1" inspired units into the IL-2 community: III./JG 1 and IV./JG 1.  By 2007, III./JG 1 had become defunct.  Meanwhile, IV./JG 1 has since merged with two other squadrons, forming the Southern Cross Gruppe (SCG).

Since the creation of II./JG 1, this Gruppe has had numerous tours of duty in a wide variety of IL-2 tournaments. Highlights include: the Virtual Eastern Front (VEF), Operation Morsky (OM), Iron Skies (IS), the Virtual Eastern Front 2 (VEF2), the Virtual Western Front (VWF), Forgotten Skies (FS), Bellum War (BW), Czech War (CW), various Scorched Earth (SE) events, and, most recently, Ghost Skies (GS).  II./JG 1 has created and hosted four incarnations of the Clash of Titans (COT) tournament, and has always conducted itself as a "full switch" Gruppe.

II./JG 1 is also the home of II./JG1_Lowengrin, the designer and creative force behind the Dynamic Campaign Generator. Based on the DCG for Combat Flight Simulator 2, Lowengrin's program is able to generate dynamic campaigns for both IL-2 Sturmovik and Pacific Fighters. This has been an incredible asset to many online players.

In March of 2011, II./JG 1 began taking part in the growing community based around the IL-2 Strumovik: Cliffs of Dover (COD) sim. Developed by 1C: Maddox Games, the same creators of the original IL-2, COD has been excellent at showing what a next-generation WW2 simulation can do.

II.Gruppe Jagdgeschwader 1 "Oesau" is always looking for good pilots. Currently, we are comprised of a JaboStaffel (Fighter-Bomber Squadron) and two Jagdstaffeln (Fighter Squadrons). So, regardless of whether IL-2 is your first computer flight sim or your one hundredth, become a part of the ongoing history of JG 1!