Showing results by author "Manfred von Richthofen" in All Categories

Discover the life of Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen, better known as the legendary Red Baron, a German fighter pilot who soared to fame during World War I. Born on May 2, 1892, he became the wars top ace, officially credited with an astonishing 80 aerial victories. Originally starting his career as a cavalryman, Richthofen transitioned to the Air Service in 1915 and quickly made a name for himself as a fearless fighter pilot. By 1917, he had risen to lead Jasta 11 and the renowned Jagdgeschwader 1, famously known as the Flying Circus. A national hero in Germany and a figure of ...

Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen (2 May 1892 – 21 April 1918), also widely known as the Red Baron, was a German fighter pilot with the Imperial German Army Air Service (Luftstreitkräfte) during World War I. He is considered the top ace of that war, being officially credited with 80 air combat victories. Originally a cavalryman, Richthofen transferred to the Air Service in 1915, becoming one of the first members of Jasta 2 in 1916. He quickly distinguished himself as a fighter pilot, and during 1917 became leader of Jasta 11 and then the larger unit Jagdgeschwader 1 (better known as ...

Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen made his name as the highest-scoring ace fighter pilot of WWI. His popular name, the Red Baron, owed to being of minor nobility (Freiherr = "free lord") and to choosing to fly a brightly-painted red aeroplane when camouflage colors were the norm. This advertisement to the enemy brought him frequent combats, so that he liked to claim that he shot down Englishmen before breakfast. When it seemed that he was being particularly sought by crack enemy pilots, the men of his command, Jasta 11, also painted their planes red.