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Manfred
von Richthofen
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| Country: |
Germany |
| Born: |
02 May 1892 |
| Place of Birth: |
Breslau |
| Deceased: |
21 April 1918 |
| Rank: |
Rittmeister |
| Units: |
FFA 69
Jasta 2, 11
JG 1
KG 2 |
| Victories: |
80 |
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| The most famous ace of the war,
Manfred von Richthofen briefly served in the
trenches before transferring to the German Air
Force in 1916. Oswald Boelcke's star pupil was
a fast learner and achieved immediate success.
A month after receiving his first Albatros, Richthofen
had six victories against Allied aircraft. As
his reputation grew, the "Red Knight of
Germany" painted the fuselage of his Albatros
D.III bright red to flaunt his prowess in the
air. The British called him the jolly "Red
Baron," to the French he was the "Red
Devil." He was shot down as he flew over
the trenches in pursuit of Wilfrid May on 21
April 1918. Although Arthur Brown was officially
credited with the victory, evidence suggests
Richthofen was hit by a single bullet fired from
a machine gun in the trenches. A British pilot
flew over the German aerodrome at Cappy and dropped
a note informing the Germans of the Baron's death.
Buried in France with full military honors, Richthofen's
body was later exhumed and reburied in the family
cemetery at Wiesbaden. |
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