Tuesday, April 30All That Matters

Manfred von Richthofen, Popularly Known as the “Red Baron”, 1917

by Cascadiana88

Manfred von Richthofen, Popularly Known as the “Red Baron”, 1917



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34 Comments

  • cryptoforumnet

    ‟The murder of a man is still murder, even in wartime.”

    -Manfred von Richthofen

    He was 25 years old when he died.

    Reply
  • Ignorhymus

    WW1 fighter ace who, after his defeat by lord flashheart, met an ignominious end as the face of cheap frozen pizza.

    (See also Atilla the Bun and Genghis Naan)

    Reply
  • [deleted]

    Legend. He wrote a book for anyone interested. There’s also an American pilot , Eddie Rickenbacker, who wrote “fighting the flying circus” . About fighting the red baron’s unit. Great stuff. Richthofen was well known for entering combat from high above enemy planes with the sun behind him. He was a fantastic flyer, and knew when to retreat. Something that he often got negative feedback from his command for. He became a legend amongst Germans because after gaining a reputation as an ace, German propaganda officers began making cards with his likeness on them. Part of a campaign of sort of local heroes, to boost morale amongst the troops. Many British, French, Canadian, and US service members paid respects to his grave as a respected enemy.

    Reply
  • Frontline989

    I always thought the Germans made a mistake leaving him in the field. He became much more of a symbol of German pride and they should have known how it would end. At best its good he didn’t survive to have his name tarnished by aligning himself with the Nazis potentially as Goering did.

    Reply
  • cookerg

    “If he had been my dearest friend, I could not have felt greater sorrow.” – Canadian ace Roy Brown, after viewing von Richthofen’s body. Brown was originally thought to have shot him down, but he was more likely hit by an Australian machine gunner from the ground.

    Reply
  • 2A4_LIFE

    I read about him quite a bit when I was a kid. He was deeply superstitious about having his photo taken before a flight as his mentor had his taken then died in a mid sir collision. “The Barron “ had a picture taken with his beloved dog right before a flight. Even though the picture was taken without his knowledge, he was shot down and killed that day.

    Reply
  • Killowatt59

    “Now, Snoopy had sworn that he’d get that man
    So he asked the Great Pumpkin for a new battle plan
    He challenged the German to a real dogfight
    While the Baron was laughing, he got him in his sight”

    Reply
  • RoliDaddy

    One of many reason’s why i love the National Air and Space Museum in Washington; Because they dedicated a hole room to this Legend!

    edit: the young indiana jones tv series has one or two episodes with him!

    Reply
  • Laelawright

    I saw his grave a couple of years ago in a cemetery in Wiesbaden, Germany. Apparently his body had been moved several times before it ended up there. It’s close to the preschool that my twin grandsons attended where my daughter’s family are posted with the Army. People have left little models of red biplanes all over his gravesite. He was so young. Reminds me of what my brother, a former F-16 fighter pilot, says “There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots.”

    Edit: former fighter to former fighter pilot.

    Reply
  • vampyire

    My Dad worked with a lady (who was working in retirement) many, many years ago who was baptized by him. apparently German nobility would baptize babies.. didn’t know that.

    Reply
  • socksare

    My husband’s grandfather was a stretcher bearer with the 41st AIF and on the day the Baron was was shot down was stationed at HQ in Shrapnel Gully, 500 metres down the hill from where the Baron’s plane crashed. It’s interesting to think he most likely saw it all play out. We’ve visited both sites, Shrapnel Gully and the crash site, and it would definitely have been possible.

    Reply
  • eyeroll611

    The Red Baron’s uncle, Baron Walter von Richthofen, built a castle in 1886 in the Montclair neighborhood of Denver, just a few blocks from my current home. He helped found the neighborhood as a place where wealthy people could get away from the icky (read: poor) center of town. His wife Louisa was buried near the home at a site that is now a Pokéstop.

    He also built a dairy/tuberculosis treatment center nearby, with the cow barn on the ground floor and the patient rooms on the second and third floor. At the time, many people believed that the effluvia from the cattle assisted in recovery.

    The castle still stands, and the families who live there often open the grounds (much smaller than the original, and surrounded by houses) for Halloween and Christmas where the public can enjoy the holiday decorations.

    Reply
  • francois_du_nord

    The medal around his neck is the ‘Blue Max’, one of the premier merit awards given by the Prussian leadership to both civilians and military personnel to recognize great achievement. The name ‘Blue Max’ was a nickname given to the medal after it was awarded to Max Immelman, who was famous for the flying maneuver he invented called the Immelman turn.

    Reply
  • librarianhuddz

    I just watched the Blue Max movie yesterday…. the baron has his Blue Max on in that picture. Pour L’ Merite.
    That movie is actually pretty good, and George Peppard does a excellent job in it…the flying was real.

    Reply
  • LexTheSouthern

    I have read so much about him. I think my favorite fact is how he would leave markers by the graves of the enemies he shot down. And the funeral procession the Australians had for him. The class that soldiers exuded back then is just unmatched… RIP lad.

    Reply

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