Jagdgeschwader II was formed on February 2, 1918. Its first leader was the famous Hauptmann Adolf Ritter von Tutschek, winner of both the Pour lé Mérite and the Max-Josef Orden. Following his death in action little more than a month later command was given to another Pour lé Mérite holder, Hauptmann Rudolf Berthold. When the four units which JGII was comprised of, Jastas 12, 13, 15, and 19 began receiving the excellent Fokker D.VII in the summer of 1918 Berthold gave instructions that each of the Geschwader aircraft should be marked with a blue fuselage. In addition each unit would mark the noses of their aircraft in a different color. Some examples are shown below:
Jasta 12 had white noses. This Fokker D.VII was flown by an unidentified pilot in Jasta 12.
Jasta 13 had green noses. This Fokker D.VII was flown by Leutnant der Reserve Werner Niethammer and marked with his sledge hammer insignia.
Jasta 15 had red noses. This marking was carried over from when the unit was Jasta 18. Berthold, when given command of JGII prior to Operation Michael had arranged to take his entire Jasta 18 with him and basically change names with Jasta 15. This Fokker D.VII was flown by Leutnant der Reserve Hugo Schäfer.
Jasta 19 had yellow noses. This aircraft was the Fokker D.VII flown by Leutnant Oliver Freiherr von Beaulieu-Marconnay, a youthful squadron leader who was killed in a tragic case of misidentification by another German aircraft.
Albatros of Jasta 23b. The 'b' signifies that it was a Bavarian unit. This Albatros aircraft represents 2359/17 which was flown by Leutnant der Reserve Otto Hohmuth. Hohmuth was transferred to the unit from Jasta 32b in September 1917 with 2 victories to his credit. He would score 2 more, a French Caudron on December 10, 1917 and an observation balloon on 19 January. He was wounded on March 6, 1918 by an R.E.8 of no. 13 Squadron R.F.C. He landed his machine intact and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner. This profile originally appeared on the rear cover of the Cross & Cockade Journal, vol. 21, no. 3. Chuck Sterns was the artist.
Roland D.VIa aircraft were received in the late Spring of 1918 and some were still with the unit at the end of hostilities in November when this example was handed over to the Allied inspectors. The Roland D.VI was purported to have good handling qualities, but most pilots wanted the sensational Fokker D.VII.
The Pfalz D.XII was the successor to the Pfalz D.IIIa series fighter. They were received in late summer 1918, this one being flown by Leutnant der Reserve Paul Vogel. Vogel had arrived at the unit on May 4, 1918 and had a short but eventful career there. On July 12, 1918 he was wounded and sent to hospital. He returned after a few days and on July 25 claimed an S.E.5a but did not receive credit. Later that day he was shot down in flames, but parachuted to safety. This activity was repeated again when Vogel was forced to jump from his burning aircraft. The parachute again saved him. His luck ran out, however, when he encountered two S.E.5a aircraft and was shot down and killed. The aircraft looks like it was under control when it landed but lost its landing gear and was somewhat battered. It was not damaged enough to prevent the British from assigning it a 'G' number and featuring it in Flight magazine.
