Manfred von Richthofen

Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen (May 2, 1892 – April 21, 1918) was a German pilot and is still regarded today as the "ace of aces". He was a very successful fighter pilot, military leader and flying ace who won 80 air combats during World War I.

Piloting career

Inspired by a chance meeting with the great air fighter Oswald Boelcke, he decided to become a pilot himself. Later, Boelcke selected von Richthofen to join his elite fighter squadron (Jagdstaffel), Jasta 2. Von Richthofen won his first aerial combat over Cambrai, France on September 17, 1916.

Related Topics:
Oswald Boelcke - Jagdstaffel - Jasta 2 - Cambrai - France - September 17 - 1916

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After his first victory, von Richthofen wrote to a friend in Berlin who was a jeweller and ordered a silver cup engraved with the date of the fight and the type of enemy machine. He continued this tradition until he had sixty cups, by which time the supply of silver in blockaded Germany was restricted.

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Von Richthofen, like many of his fellow pilots, was very superstitious. He would never depart for combat without receiving a kiss from a loved one. This quickly became a widespread superstition amongst all air fighters.

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After his 18th kill, von Richthofen received the Pour le Mérite, the highest military honor in Germany at the time. There also is a sorted type of this medal, the "Pour le Mérite with oak leaf" which is the very best of the very best, but he was never awarded this one due to the very strict rule that only "one who takes influence on a field battle in such an obvious way that the enemy has to retreat due to his actions" can receive the medal. Since there were few enemy left after the battles (which were also air, and not field battles) he never received it. Earlier, on November 23, 1916 he had downed the British ace Lanoe Hawker, sometimes referred as "the British Boelcke." It happened when von Richthofen was still flying an Albatros D.II. However, after this engagement, he was convinced that he needed a fighter airplane with more agility, although this implied a loss of speed. Unfortunately, the Albatros fighter was the mainstay aircraft of the German air service throughout 1917, and the Baron flew Albatros D.III and D.V models well into 1917. That September von Richthofen was flying the celebrated Fokker Dr.I triplane, the distinctive three-winged aircraft he is most commonly associated with.

Related Topics:
Pour le Mérite - November 23 - 1916 - Lanoe Hawker - Albatros - 1917 - Fokker Dr.I - Triplane

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