Manfred von Richthofen, also known as the "Red Baron", was a legend of the First World War. His exploits as an ace pilot went down in history.
But why is he so revered and revered? He originally got the nickname Red Baron from **? Here's his surprising story....
He was born in Breslau in 1892. Breslau is now Wroclaw, Poland. Young Manfred was a Prussian aristocrat who lived comfortably. However, it didn't take long for him to enter military school at the age of 11.
Richthofen family coat of arms.
First of all, he did not fly an airplane, but rode a horse. Von Richthofen became an officer of the 1st Ulan Cavalry Regiment. The following year, he was made a captain.
The war broke out in 1914. Von Richthofen went through both the Eastern and Western battlefields and was awarded the Iron Cross. This was before he took to the skies.
How did he go from being a baggage soldier to an ace in the Air Force? The answer is simple - he was tired of it and asked to be transferred to the Reich Air Force! Obviously, he doesn't like the snarky things that happen on the ground, and he wants to go to a place where he feels he can make a big change.
Manfred von Richthofen.
In 1915, the Red Baron as we know it began to take shape. Von Richthofen was a cockpit genius and reportedly made his first solo flight after only 24 hours of training. He had a mentor, Oswald Bork, who himself was considered a master tactician. Over the next few years, Manfred shot down enough planes to earn the official title of "master flyer".
What's the secret to his amazing flying skills? Some people prefer to play the hero, which is not von Richthofen's style. He insisted on flying in formation and wanted to form a team with his fellow pilots. Known for his precision and lack of impatience, he proved to be the strongest opponent of the war. Von Richthofen's homicide rate is staggering.
In 1917, he was awarded the Order of Blue Max.
Manfred wasn't the only one in his family who was a little cruel enough to get his head stuck in the clouds. The younger brother Lothar became part of the Justa 11, a squadron of fighters under the personal command of the Red Baron.
Manfred's younger brother, Lothar von Richthofen.
Where does the title "Red Baron" come from? It was here that the legend was formed, in part because of von Richthofen himself. First, he painted the plane red. It is also said that he also custom-made silver cups on which the date of his victory could be inscribed.
The Red Baron was a propagandist's dream, and the Kaiser took full advantage of this. A piece was once hidden in the albatross DThe face behind the goggles in the cockpit of the III fighter is now splashed on postcards and newspapers. Von Richthofen received a great deal of attention.
Not satisfied with his bright red plane, he also commanded a colorful flying squadron called the "Flying Circus". In July 1917, he piloted a Fokker Dr1 triplane - this aircraft is now remembered.
Richthofen's famous Red Dr. Fokker No. 1 triplane, shortly before his death.
Interestingly, however, of his 80 aerial victories, only 19 came from Dr. Falk 1. In fact, he was best known at that time for his albatross Diii, also red, he flew before Dr. 1.
Von Richthofen was the key in Germany's arsenal, but he was not indestructible. In 1917, he was shot in the head during a scuffle. Luckily, he only bruised, although the impact cracked his skull. He survived, but was no longer the same person, suffering from stress and headaches.
The following year, he finally saw God. Von Richthofen is chasing Wilfred May, a master flyer from Canada. They were over Vaux-sur-Somme, France. Arthur Roy Brown – May's companion – reportedly knocked down the Baron, hitting him in the torso. However, some claim that Australian ground gunners are responsible.
At the airfield of the 3rd Squadron of the Australian Flying Corps, Dr. Falkker von Richthofen1 plane wreckage.
Whoever did it, von Richthofen was finished, losing his life at the age of 25. He's had a shocking and morbid 80 victories, at least those are confirmed.
Perhaps surprisingly, the enemy gave him a full military funeral. Even his opponents paid their respects. The Red Baron ruled the skies for just two years.