Which World War I ace commanded the squadron nicknamed "The Flying Circus"?

The World War I ace who commanded the squadron nicknamed “The Flying Circus” was Manfred von Richthofen, better known as the Red Baron. He commanded Germany’s Jasta 11 and later the larger fighter wing Jagdgeschwader I.

Richthofen took command of Jasta 11 in January 1917 and turned it into one of the most successful fighter units of the war. In June 1917, he became commander of Jagdgeschwader I, formed from several fighter squadrons. Its brightly painted aircraft and highly mobile operations gave rise to the “Flying Circus” nickname.

The formation could move between threatened sectors using trains, tents and improvised airfields, much like a travelling circus. Its colourful aircraft also made the unit visually distinctive, with Richthofen’s own red aircraft helping create the legend of the Red Baron.

The answer is sometimes confused with Hermann Göring, who served in Richthofen’s unit and later commanded it after Richthofen’s death. Göring was a member and successor, but Richthofen was the ace most directly identified with commanding the famous “Flying Circus.”