NOTE:
RADIO CONTROL AIRPLANES ARE ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE
PAGE.
Manfred
von Richthofen joined the German army with their horse calvery in
1911. On May 17, 1915 von Richthofen transferred to the German air
force.
The
first assignments for von Richthofen while flying were as an observer
in the rear seat of an aircraft. On December 5, 1917 von Richthofen
was promoted to pilot status.
As a pilot von Richthofen was assigned briefly to the Russian front. On August 12, 1916 he was transferred to France.
Von
Richthofen had his first air combat victory on September 17,1916
over Cambrai, France. While flying an Albatros fighter on
November 23,1916, he scored his 18th victory. That was when he
shot down Englands ace Lance Hawker. After that von Richthofen was
awarded the highest German military honor of the time, the Pour le
Merite.
On
January 16, 1917 Manfred von Richthofen became a squadron commander.
By July of 1917, von Richthofen's squadron had become famous and was
known as "Richthofen's Flying Circus."
Von
Richthofen flew different Albatross aircraft. These were painted in
his signature red color and earned him the name of "The Red Barron."
The Albatross was the primary aircraft of the German air force at
that time.
In September of 1917 he switched to the more maneuverable Fokker triplane that he became famous for piloting.
On April 20, 1918 von Richthofen claimed his 80th victory over a RAF Sopwith Camel.
While
pursuing an enemy aircraft, Manfred von Richthofen was shot down and
killed by a single bullet from enemy ground fire on April 21, 1918.
