Manfred Von RichtofenThe Red Baron

By Travis Roberts

• Manfred Albrecht von Richtofen was the eldest of four children and was born on May 2, 1892 in Schweidnitz Silesia, which is now modern day Swidnica Poland.

•The young Manfred was shipped of to the military academy at Walhstatt by his parents in August 1903 at the age of 11

The Early Years

• In 1911 Manfred graduates from military school and goes straight into active service with Uhlan Regiment 1 which is a German cavalry unit.

• In 1914 the First World War breaks out and the world is sent into conflict.

War Breaks Out!War Breaks Out!

• Manfred would ride into the war as a Luetnant with the Cavalry. But with the invention of trench warfare, cavalry was now obsolete and Manfred was soon confined to the trenches.

• Richtofen would grow increasingly frustrated with his lack of involvement in the war and wrote the following letter to his commanding officer to request a transfer. “Dear Excellency, I did not go to war to gather cheese and eggs, but for another purpose”.

• Manfred had set his eyes on a brand new invention, the aero plane, and in May 1915 Manfred got his wish and was transferred to Flieger-Ersatz-Abteilung 7 for pilot training.

Little did anyone know how this simple transfer would change the aviation world forever.

Pilot training

Etrich Taube

• After receiving his pilots badge Manfred flew as an observer, reporting the enemies field positions to the Army. This was the way that aircraft were first used in combat as no one really had any idea what else to do with them yet.

• Eventually it became necessary to shoot down these aircraft that were giving away field positions and the idea of aerial combat was born.

• Manfred, ever the hunter, wanted to be part of these new fighter units especially as the deeds of the world’s first aerial aces, Oswald Boelcke and Max Immelmann spread across the country.

WWI pilots Badge

Becoming a Jagdflieger

• One day Richtofen had a chance meeting with Germany’s first great ace Oswald Boelcke and was able to talk with him. Boelcke would eventually become Richtofen’s teacher, friend and influence for the rest of his life.

• Boelcke was impressed with the young Manfred, and after his fighter training was complete in 1916 he went to fly in Jasta 2, Boelcke’s elite fighter unit.Oswald Boelcke

• On October 17th 1916, Manfred von Richtofen would shoot down the first aircraft of his career. Under Boelcke’s watchful eye, Manfred swooped in behind a British F.E.2.b and shot it from the sky. Victory number 1 was now officially achieved.

Modest beginnings

• On October 27th 1916 Oswald Boelcke is killed when one of his students collide with him in mid air during an attack. Manfred was flying behind him and watched the entire event.

• Manfred never forgot that scene, and he never forgot his teacher. Even after Manfred was established as the greatest ace he would always say “if Boelcke were alive he’d have twice as many kills as I do” a testament to his respect for the man.

Fokker E-IIIAircraft that was being flown

by Jasta 2 at this time.

Boelcke falls

• Richtofen was now becoming one of the greatest pilots of all time. By January 1917 he had shot down 16 aircraft in 3 months.

• For this great effort he would be awarded Prussia’s highest military honor the Pour Le Merite or better known as The Blue Max. An award all German pilots strived for.

• At the same time he was awarded the Pour Le Merite, Manfred was also given command of his own squadron Jasta 11. It was to contain the best pilots of the Luftstreitkrafte.

The Blue Max

The Red Baron is Born• In late January 1917 Jasta 11 received a brand new fighter aircraft the Albatross DIII. Manfred decided out of nowhere that he wanted his Albatross painted glaring Red. And thus was born the legend of the Red Baron.

• Now he would become well known, his all red aircraft bearing down on you meant no escape. But this all red aircraft also made him a target for the allies. So to confuse them the rest of Jasta 11 added bits of red to all there aircraft, but Manfred’s was the only one painted solid red.

Exact Albatross DIII that Manfred flew in

• Now Richtofen was shooting down aircraft at a tremendous rate sometimes 3 or 4 a day, and by May of 1917 he had shot down 41 aircraft and was sent home for a rest.

Shot down

• Soon after Manfred’s return to combat in July 1917 he was attacking an aircraft as usual when the tail gunner fired a lucky shot from 300 yards that grazed Manfred’s head. He blacked out and spiraled to earth waking up just in time to make a crash landing.

• Manfred would be plagued by the injury for the rest of his life.

• The propaganda machine, the media and fans began to weigh heavily on him while he was recovering.

• Soon he would return to combat again despite urges from his country and his family to retire.

• War began to take a heavier toll on the Baron. The loss of all his good friends and his injury were catching up to him. Yet he continued flying because he felt he had to.

War takes it’s toll

Jasta 11 pilots, all killed by 1918 except for Richtofen

• The Rittmeister continued his amazing streak of aerial kills, attaining 80 aerial victories by April 1918. He was now the highest scoring ace of the entire war at just 25 years old.

• Then on April 21st 1918 Richtofen took off in his Fokker Dr1a Tri-plane. Disobeying his own doctrine he entered into a low fight, over trench lines. As he pursued a Sopwith Camel, another fighter dropped behind him and fired. At the same time and Australian gun battery fired from the Ground, along with another field regiment.

The Rittmeister falls

Who killed the Red Baron?

A bullet had passed through Manfred’s heart killing him instantly. Evidence shows that most likely he was killed by the Australian ground gunners and not by Canadian Capt

Roy Brown that dropped behind him in his Sopwith Camel.

Endings• The weight of war is a heavy one. Many remarked that Richtofen was not the same man he used to be at the towards the end of his life. He had lost all his friends, he had been wounded himself, and he was fighting in a loosing war. But he kept going until he had nothing left.

• Richtofen’s body was recovered by Australian ground forces who gave him a full military burial with a 21 gun salute. He was there enemy, but he was still respected.

• Richtofen’s Legacy lives on however. The tactical doctrine he developed is still used in pilot training. Even in this modern jet age, his theories on aerial combat hold true.

Legacy Lives on

• To this very day, the Modern German Luftwaffe keeps a jet fighter squadron named in honor of the great ace, Jagdgeschwader 71 ‘Richtofen’.

Bibliography

Kilduff, Peter. The Red Baron – Beyond the Legend.

Cassell Military paperbacks., 1994

The Aerodrome – Aces and aircraft of WWI.

http://www.theaerodrome.com/index.html (2002)

Boucher, Ira. A Pictorial History of WWI.

http://www.wwiaviation.com/index.shtml (2002)

Graf, Gaston. Koeniglich Pruessische Jagdstaffel 2

http://www.jastaboelcke.de/ (2002)

DAS ENDE