Who was the Red Baron?

The greatest military fighter pilot of all time, the German Manfred von Richthofen, shot down 80 enemy planes of his country in the 1st World War. Its main war machines were the Albatros and the Fokker DR 1 triplane, which flew at up to 165 km/h. With it, Manfred rose to prominence in the German Air Force, and when he was named leader of his squadron, he painted the craft a bright red to be recognized from afar by opponents. Thus was born the famous nickname. While flying over northern France in 1918, the Red Baron strayed from the squadron to pursue an English fighter and ended up alone in enemy territory, under double fire, coming from the air and from the ground. The British celebrated the death of their feared rival, but buried him with war hero honors.

READ TOO:

– Why did World War I start?

– What was trench fighting like in World War I?

– What is the hierarchy of the Air Force?

– How is air traffic control carried out?

Continues after advertising

LAST SOIL

Manfred von Richthofen died in combat, on the eve of his 26th birthday

1. Morning of April 21, 1918. The Baron trains his younger cousin, Wolfran, for future combat when he comes across a patrol of five Sopwith Camel planes from the RAF, the British Royal Air Force2. With the fight started in the skies, entrenched troops of the Allies – enemies of the Germans – observe the Baron in pursuit of one of their fighters, piloted by Lieutenant Wilfrid May. When the Baron prepares to attack, another Camel, guided by Captain Roy Brown, dives to intercept it

3. The Red Baron fires several times and the Canadian Wilfrid May escapes with zigzag maneuvers. Meanwhile, the red Fokker is shot down by gunfire fired by Roy Brown and ground artillery.

4. Von Richthofen’s body is examined by a panel of Allied doctors. The cause of death is a bullet from the trenches. The projectile entered below the right armpit and went up the chest, causing fatal damage to the heart and lungs.

5. The RAF recognizes the Englishman Roy Brown as the one who shot down the greatest ace of the 1st War, but the Australian gunner Robert Buie claims to have made the shot. After a reconstitution made in 1998, the true author of the shot is revealed: the Australian Cedric Popkin, who died without knowing about the stunt.

NATIONAL VERSION In Brazil, Barão Vermelho lends the nickname to a rock band and the surname to the murderer Suzane von Richthofen

To be an ace of war, a German pilot had to shoot down 16 fighters – the Baron shot down five times that

SHORT CAREER The Baron built his reputation by destroying enemies between 1916 and 1918 Manfred spent the beginning of the 1st War, in 1914, in the cavalry, doing reconnaissance of territory. In 1915, he managed to transfer to the Air Force. After training as an observer and bomber, he debuted as a pilot in 1916

Continues after advertising

Entradas relacionadas