Manfred von Richthofen (the Red Baron)
Date: 21-04-1918
Manfred von Richthofen was the most notorious and feared German fighter pilot from World War I. In January 1917 he got the command of his own squadron. Each pilot in this group was an elite fighter pilot who could pull off crazy stunts. This squadron was quickly nicknamed "The Flying Circus". Manfred himself flew a fiery red Albatros D.V. which really stood out in the air and got him the nickname "the Red Baron". Not only because he had a red airplane, also because his was an actual baron!
Manfred von Richthofen was the most notorious and feared German fighter pilot from World War I. In January 1917 he got the command of his own squadron. Each pilot in this group was an elite fighter pilot who could pull off crazy stunts. This squadron was quickly nicknamed "The Flying Circus". Manfred himself flew a fiery red Albatros D.V. which really stood out in the air and got him the nickname "the Red Baron". Not only because he had a red airplane, also because his was an actual baron!
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The Red Baron was even during his own time already a legendary pilot. He had shot down over 80 enemy fighter planes. The British even promised a bounty of 5000 pounds for the pilot who shot Manfred down.
On the 21st of April 1918, (the Red Baron was flying his fairly new plane, the Fokker I), von Richthofen was shot down while flying over the Somme River, France. He took a bullet through the heart and died almost instantly. His death was a big moral blow for the morale of the German Army. |
Replica of Richthofen's Fokker Dr.I triplane, at the Berlin Air Show in 2006 (CC BY 2.5)
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Did you know?
Although The Red Baron is famous because of his Fokker tri-plane, he shot down far more enemies in the Albatros D.V..
Although The Red Baron is famous because of his Fokker tri-plane, he shot down far more enemies in the Albatros D.V..
Location:
The Red Baron and his plane crashed close to Cappy, France.
The Red Baron and his plane crashed close to Cappy, France.
