Famous Flying Aces-Manfred von Richthofen.

[wonwinglo]

Manfred Freiherr Von Richthofen. (shown sitting in the cockpit of his Albatross aircraft )

Born on May 2nd 1892 in the city of Breslau,Richthofen was educated at several schools and military academies,commissioned in Uhlan Regiment Nr.1 and was posted to the Eastern Front with this lancer regiment on the commencement of the first world war,the future flying ace led just a few patrols before being transferred to Alsace on the Western front.Posted to the infantry,the young eager Richthofen requested a transfer to the flying service,his request was granted in May 1915 and in the following month Richthofen began his remarkable flying career first as an observer and then as a pilot.He was soon posted to the Eastern front before returning to the Western front,this time in Belgium,during August 1915 with his desire to become a pilot he met the great ace Oswald Boelcke.

With some 20 training flights under his belt he flew solo at the age of 23 and soon became the pilot of a C-class two seater during the awful Battle of Verdun,posted again to the Eastern Front,Boelcke then selected Richthofen as one of his pilots and he returned to the Western front where he scored his first official 'kill' during the month of September 1916,prior to this he had shot down three other aircraft but confirmation was not forthcoming or could be confirmed.His aircraft were painted in large areas of red,he went from strength to strength and by January 1916 had scored 16 'kills' total which included the redoubtable British ace,Major Lanoe G.Hawker VC,for this he was awarded the prestigious premier decoration,the Pour le Merit otherwise known as the Blue Max.

By June 1917 Manfred had achieved 56 'kills' and was the war's leading flying ace,Richthofen got wounded in the head but refused to stop his beloved flying increasing his score even further during March and April 1918 at the controls of the diminutive Fokker Dr.1 Triplane for which he will always be associated with.Now with a score of 80,a total incidently unexcelled by any other First World war ace,Manfred von Richthofen was killed on April 21 st 1918,by a bullet in his heart whilst in combat against six British fighters.Where that bullet came from has become the speculation of some 87 years

 

[g-fiend]

If anyone is interested there is a translation of Richthofen's book "Der Rote Kampfflieger" on the War Times Journal website. (http://www.richthofen.com/ or http://www.wtj.com/index_flash.htm then ARCHIVES and Manfred von Richthofen.)

To quote the introduction, "This on-line edition of Manfred von Richthofen's 1917 book Der Rote Kampfflieger is based on the English language version originally translated by J. Ellis Barker and published in 1918 under the name The Red Battle Flyer."

It makes for interesting reading from the man himself. There is also a similar book on the same site written by Eddie Rickenbacker.

 

[wonwinglo]

If anyone is interested there is a translation of Richthofen's book "Der Rote Kampfflieger" on the War Times Journal website. (http://www.richthofen.com/ or http://www.wtj.com/index_flash.htm then ARCHIVES and Manfred von Richthofen.)To quote the introduction, "This on-line edition of Manfred von Richthofen's 1917 book Der Rote Kampfflieger is based on the English language version originally translated by J. Ellis Barker and published in 1918 under the name The Red Battle Flyer."

It makes for interesting reading from the man himself. There is also a similar book on the same site written by Eddie Rickenbacker.

***Great historical material g-friend,thank you for pointing us in the right direction,despite the passage of time Richthofen continues to intrigue historians,the hunter of the skies and his name will live on forever.