Der Rote Kampfflieger Von Richthofen

The Fokker Dr. I Dreidecker (triplane) was a World War I fighter aircraft built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. The Dr.I was used only in small numbers and it suffered from structural failures. It nevertheless became renowned as the aircraft flown by the "Red Baron," Manfred von Richthofen.

The German Captain Manfred Von Richthofen was the most successful flying ace of World War I.

After scoring 80 confirmed kills, Richthofen was finally shot down as he flew deep into British lines in pursuit of Wilfrid May (Young Canadian pilot) on 21 April 1918. He died after being struck by a single .303 bullet, while flying over Morlancourt Ridge, near the Somme River over Vaux-sur-Somme, France. In the last seconds of his life, he managed to make a hasty but controlled landing in a field on a hill near the Bray-Corbie road, just north of the village of Vaux-sur-Somme, in a sector controlled by the Australian Imperial Force. His Fokker was not damaged by the landing. One witness, Gunner George Ridgway, stated that when he and other Australian soldiers reached the plane, Richthofen was still alive but died moments later. Another eye witness, Sgt Ted Smout of the Australian Medical Corps, reported that Richthofen's last word was "kaputt" ("broken") immediately before he died. He was 25. The identity of the person who fired the fatal shot is unknown.

Manfred had never hidden his fear; but he didn't liked goof-offs and blow-hards In its squadrons. Its favourite saying was "We need daring pilots, not acrobats". He remained a "loyal ennemy", and he could be generous with allied pilots.

Buried in France by the British and French with full military honours, Richthofen's body was later exhumed and reburied in the family cemetery at Wiesbaden.

1959 the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) established an attack division in honor and memory of Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen in Wittmund, Germany. This squadron is responsible for the airspace safety of northern Germany. At the moment McDonnell Douglas F-4F "Phantom" II are being used, from 2011 the new Eurofighter will replace the Phantom.

Tags: Fokker Dr. I, Red Baron, Dreidecker, Luftwaffe