Manfred von Richthofen, widely known as the 'Red Baron', was a figure of valor and tactical prowess during the tumultuous skies of the First World War. Born into an aristocratic Prussian family on 2 May 1892 in Breslau, Germany (present-day Wrocław, Poland), he would rise to become a legendary German flying ace, claiming an unparalleled 80 victories against Allied aircraft.
Richthofen initially served with the cavalry; however, his destiny took a soaring turn upon transferring to the Luftstreitkrafte (Imperial German Air Service) in 1915. By 1917, his escalating notoriety as a pilot propelled him to command Jasta 11, lifting him to national hero status within Germany. His astute fighter tactics granted him prestigious awards, including the Pour le Merite, commonly referred to as the 'Blue Max', Oak Leaves with Swords and Diamonds, and Iron Crosses of both the 1st and 2nd Class.
Driven by a fierce commitment to the skies, Richthofen's squadron's aircraft, distinguished by their red paint, inspired his enduring nickname, 'The Red Baron'. Such was the impact of his aerial victories that both adversaries and compatriots recognized him, and his allure was such that rewards for his capture or demise were extended more than once.
Richthofen's fame soared on both sides of the war, earning him the moniker 'The Red Knight of Germany' from British aviators. He embodied the fearsome and respected adversary, achieving a total of 80 confirmed aerial victories before his untimely death on 21 April 1918 over Vaux-sur-Somme in France. His passing was honored by foes alike, evident through the full military funeral and burial, revealing a deep respect that transcended the conflicts of war.
A pivotal moment in his career was the fortuitous meeting with the renowned fighter pilot Oswald Boelcke, which steered Richthofen to pilot training in October 1915. Just one year into his career, Richthofen made a pivotal decision when against veterans' advice, he navigated his aircraft through a treacherous thunderstorm, a testament to his audacious spirit. Though he vowed never to repeat such a risk unless ordered, this event foreshadowed the daring nature of his military ethos.
Undeterred by his initial struggles in flight control, which included a crash on his first flight at the controls, Richthofen's persistence culminated in his first non-official downing of an enemy aircraft—a French Nieuport—over Fort Douaumont on 26 April 1916. The following months saw a rapid attunement to his role, culminating in his reconnection with Boelcke in August 1916. Boelcke, who sought candidates for the newly minted Jasta 2, recognized Richthofen's potential and recruited him to one of Germany's first fighter squadrons.
Tragically, Boelcke's death in October of that year, during a midair collision witnessed by Richthofen, marked a pivotal moment in the Red Baron's trajectory. Despite the loss of his mentor, Richthofen pressed on, scoring his first confirmed victory shortly thereafter. Confronting Second Lieutenant Lionel Morris and his observer Tom Rees on 17 September 1916, Richthofen downed his opponents with a poignancy that contrasted the brutality of war, stating, "I honoured the fallen enemy by placing a stone on his beautiful grave."
Top photo: Germany, 23 April 1917. German Federal Archives caption: "The famous Fighter Squadron 11 with Manfred von Richthofen at the controls of his 'Red Airplane'. From this fighter squadron emerged Jagdgeschwader I, which officially bore the name 'von Richhofen'. During its one-year existence in 1917/18, the Richthofen Squadron won no less than 1,000 victories. At the age of 25, Rittmeister von Richthofen, recipient of the Order Pour le Merite, had become commander of the squadron, which, according to a military decree, had the combat value of several divisions on the sector of the front where it was deployed." Source: Wikipedia. In the Public Domain.
Middle photo: Germany, circa 1917. The red Fokker Dr1 of Manfred von Richthofen on the ground. Caption read in partial "... shortly before his demise." Source: Wikipedia. In the Public Domain.
Bottom photo: Germany, 1917. Manfred von Richthofen. Richthofen wears the Pour le Merite, the "Blue Max", Prussia's highest military order, in this official portrait. Multiple digital sources: Wikipedia. In the Public Domain.
Richthofen's pursuit of air superiority reflected a blend of nobility and calculated precision. He celebrated his victories uniquely, commissioning silver cups engraved with the particulars of each. This practice continued until the wartime shortage of silver curtailed production after his 60th cup, symbolizing the constraints of the era more broadly.
In aerial combat, Richthofen was a tactician abiding by the "Dicta Boelcke", ensuring not only his own success but that of his squadron. Unlike his brother Lothar, whose 40 victories came from more daring maneuvers, the Red Baron prioritized a disciplined approach with keen marksmanship to gain the upper hand. Frequently, he attacked from high altitudes, using the sun to conceal his approach—a method that would become one of his signatures.
His strategic prowess was on full display during his encounter with British ace Major Lanoe Hawker VC, on 23 November 1916, a duel that concluded with Richthofen's triumph and solidified his status among the ranks of ace pilots. The need for agility over speed became clear to him after this engagement, prompting a switch to the Albatros D.III, advancing his combat capabilities.
Throughout his career, Richthofen continued to adapt and conquer, with brushes with mortality that only bolstered his reputation, such as the close call on 6 March 1917, when he skillfully landed his perforated Halberstadt without erupting into flames, or his transition to the Albatros D.V, pushing his victory tally even higher.
Richthofen's association with the iconic Fokker Dr.I triplane strengthened the Red Baron's legend. Despite a mere 19 of his 80 kills being made in this model, the sight of the triplane under his helm became synonymous with his legacy. Even until his final days, he actively partook in the evolution of aerial conflict, contributing to the development of the Fokker D.VII, a craft he would never pilot in the theater of war.
Richthofen received a fatal wound just after 11:00 am on 21 April 1918 while flying over Morlancourt Ridge near the Somme River. At the time, he had been pursuing, at very low altitude, a Sopwith Camel piloted by Canadian novice Wilfrid Reid "Wop" May of No. 209 Squadron, Royal Air Force. May had just fired on the Red Baron's cousin, Lieutenant Wolfram von Richthofen. On seeing his cousin being attacked, Richthofen flew to his rescue and fired on May, causing him to pull away. Richthofen pursued May across the Somme. The Baron was spotted and briefly attacked by a Camel piloted by May's school friend and flight commander, Canadian Captain Arthur "Roy" Brown. Brown had to dive steeply at very high speed to intervene, and then had to climb steeply to avoid hitting the ground. Richthofen turned to avoid this attack, and then resumed his pursuit of May.
It was in the relentless pursuit of May that the famed ace met his end. At approximately 11:05 am, Richthofen, with unwavering focus on his adversary, sustained a fatal chest wound inflicted by a .303 bullet that caused immediate and catastrophic damage to his heart and lungs. It is surmised that death was nearly instantaneous. In the final throes, his Fokker Dr.I entered an uncontrolled descent, crashing at coordinates 49°55′56″N 2°32′16″E, on a gentle slope near the Bray-Corbie road, amidst territory held by the Australian Imperial Force. Eyewitness accounts detailed the aftermath; Richthofen's aircraft, upon impact, endured a violent upheaval—the landing gear collapsed, and the fuel tank ruptured, coming to an abrupt halt after a tumultuous skid. The first to the site, including Gunner George Ridgway, discovered the Baron's lifeless body, his features marred by severe trauma, his jaws clenched in a fatal grimace against the machine guns' stocks. Responsibility for his remains fell to No. 3 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, the closest allied air unit, while his iconic Fokker Dr.I, marked 425/17, was swiftly disassembled by those seeking tangible fragments of history.
Bibliography
Holmes, Frederick. "The Death of The Red Baron." University of Kansas Medical Center. https://www.kumc.edu/school-of-medicine/academics/departments/history-and-philosophy-of-medicine/archives/wwi/essays/biography/red-baron.html.
Lloyd, Nick. The Western Front: A History of the Great War, 1914-1918. New York: Liveright Publishing, 2021.
Meyer, G. J. A World Undone: The Story of the Great War, 1914 to 1918. New York: Bantam, 2007.
"Manfred Von Richthofen." The German Way & More. Last modified September 21, 2018. https://www.german-way.com/notable-people/featured-bios/manfred-von-richthofen/.
"The Real Red Baron." College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at Illinois. Last modified November 12, 2018. https://las.illinois.edu/news/2018-11-12/real-red-baron.
Stevenson, David. 1914-1918: The History of the First World War. London: Penguin, 2004.
Multimedia: Video, Web, Photo, and Discussion
Web: From the History Channel website: Red Baron
Video: Baron Von Richthofen: The Red Baron, full documentary | The Funeral of Manfred von Richthofen
Replies
My wife's grandfather was shot down by the Flying Circus in October 1918. All 3 of the recon aircraft of the 12th Aerosquadron were lost that day. Lt. William "Whitey" Davis Harwell Jr. crashed in no-man's land. He and his pilot, both wounded, made it back to friendly lines. This was his second wound of the war, having been shot in the leg by infantry on a previous mission. He was wounded one more time during the war in an artillery barrage. Luckily he survived the war.
Grateful for your contribution Randy of your wife's grandfather to this fascinating yet tragic world history of the early 20th Century. The after effects of World War One did more to change the 'face' of Europe that World War II, although the loss of life was far greater in the latter.