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Last updated 09/03/01

 

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Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen was born May 2 1892, the eldest of three boys born to the Baroness and Rittmeister Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen. At the age of eleven he was sent to Military School at Wahlstatt.

"I entered the Cadet Corps as a boy of eleven. I was not particularly eager to become a cadet, but my father wished it and I was not consulted. I found it difficult to bear the strict discipline and order, I did not care very much for the instruction I received, and I was never good at learning things. I did just enough to pass. In my opinion, it would have been wrong to do more than was necessary, so I worked as little as possible"

After six years at Wahlstatt, he left and moved on to the Royal Military Academy at Lichterfelde where he found life much more to his liking.

"I liked the school at Lichterfelde much better. I did not feel so isolated from the world, and I begun to live more like a human being. My happiest memories of Lichterfelde are those of the great sporting events when my opponent was Price Friedrich of Prussia. The Prince won many first prizes and other awards higher than mine, as I had not trained as carefully as he had".

Infused with lessons on military strategy, tactics and deployments, Manfred von Richthofen obtained his commission in 1911 with the 1st Regiment of Uhlans Kaiser Alexander III, and became a Lieutenant in 1912. He spent the next two years honing his skills as a rider, gaining several prizes, including a broken collar bone in the Kaiser Prize Race of 1913. One day after Germany declared war on Russia on August 1 1914, the young Lieutenant found himself near the Polish village of Kielce and had a brush with a Cossack Patrol, and this prompted a letter to his parents.

"These are to be my last lines, written in a hurry. My most hearty greetings to you. If we should never see each other again, take these, my most sincere thanks, for everything you have done for me. I leave no debts behind me. I have, on the contrary saved a few hundred marks which I am taking with me"....August 2 1914

Stationed at Verdun during the last part of 1914, von Richthofen received the Iron Cross Third Class, becoming one of more than five million Germans to carry the medal. The dashing war of cavalry charges had gone and his unit was reduced to a mere supply unit.

Dear Mamma,
I come with glad tidings. Yesterday I was decorated with the Iron Cross. How are matters around Lemberg? Let me give you some sound advise. If the Russians should come, bury everything that you want to see again deep down in the garden, or elsewhere. Whatever you leave behind you will never see again. You wonder why I save so much money, but don't forget that after the war, I must equip myself again from head to foot. Everything I took with me is gone , lost, burned, torn, not even excluding my saddle. If I should come out of this war alive, I shall have more luck than brains.
  late 1914.

Manfred joined the Flieger-Ersatz-Abteilung Nr.7 at the end of May 1915, along with thirty fellow officers who would be trained as observers. As the officer von Richthofen would be in charge of the aircraft, the pilot being regarded as the chauffeur.

Dear Mamma,
I hope you are receiving the letters I am sending. I am here with the Mackensen Army and am attached to the Sixth Austrian Corps. Now we are again in full movement. Nearly every day I fly over the enemy and report. I reported the retreat of the Russians three days ago. It gives me great fun, at least more than I have when I play at being an orderly officer. We all live in tents. The house nearly all burned down, and the remaining ones are so filled with vermin that no human being can enter them. I am so pleased that I can help here just at the most important sector of the front. In all probability matters will come to a decision here shortly. I have been flying here now for a fortnight. The period of training lasted for four weeks. Of my fellow students, I was the first to be sent to a field flying formation.
July 20th 1915

Date

Time

Location

Aircraft

Squadron

Pilot

Observer

1915 Sept Champagne Farman S.11 French ***Unconfirmed***
1916 Apr 25 Douaumont Nieuport 11 French ***Unconfirmed***
1916 Sept 17 11:00 Villers Plouich FE2b (7018) No.11 RFC 2nd Lt. Morris Lt. Rees
1916 Sept 23 11:00 Beugny Martinsyde G.100 No.27 RFC Sgt. Bellerby
1916 Sept 30 11:50 Fremicourt FE2b No.11 RFC Lt. Lansdale Sgt. Clarkson
1916 Oct 7 09:10 Equancourt BE12 (6618) RFC 2nd Lt. Fenwick
1916 Oct 10 18:00 Boeux, Arras BE12 RFC S. Cookerell
1916 Oct 16 17:00 Ypres BE12 (6580) RFC Lt. Tidsdale
1916 Oct 25 09:35 Bapaume BE12 (6629) No.21 RFC 2nd Lt. Fisher
1916 Nov 3 14:10 Loupart Wood FE2b (7010) RFC Sgt. Baldwin 2Lt. Bentham
1916 Nov 9 10:30 Beugny BE2c (2506) RFC Lt. Knight 2Lt. Cameron
1916 Nov20 09:40 Gueudecourt BE12 RFC Unidentified
1916 Nov 20 16:15 Gueudecourt Fe2b (4848) No.22 RFC Lt. Doughty 2Lt. Stall
1916 Nov 23 15:00 Bapaume DH2 (5964) No.24 RFC Maj. Hawker
1916 Dec 11 11:55 Mecatel DH2 (5986) No.32 RFC Lt. Hunt
1916 Dec 20 11:30 Monchy-le-Preux DH2 (7927) No.29 RFC Lt. Knight
1916 Dec 20 13:45 Noreuil Fe2b (A5446) No.18 RFC Lt. D'Arcy 2Lt. Whiteside
1916 Dec 27 16:25 Fichuex, Arras FE2b (6997) RFC Unidentified Unidentified
1917 Jan 4 16:15 Metz-en-Couture Sopwith  Pup (N5193) No.8 RNAS Flt Lt. Todd
1917 Jan 23 16:10 Lens FE8 No.40 RFC 2nd Lt. Hay
1917 Jan 24 12:15 Vitry FE2b (6937) No.25 RFC Capt. O. Greig Lt. MacLenan
1917 Feb 1 16:00 Thelus BE2e (6742) No.16 RFC Lt. Murray Lt. McRae
1917 Feb 14 12:00 Loos BE2d (6231) No.2 RFC Lt. Bennet 2Lt. Croft
1917 Feb 14 16:45 Mazingarbe FE2 No.20 RFC Capt. Hartney Lt. Jourden
1917 Mar 3 17:00 Souchez BE2c No.16 RFC C.M.G. Libby G.J.A. Brichta
1917 Mar 4 12:50 North of Loos BE2d (6252) No.8 RFC Sgt. R.J. Moody 2nd Lt. E.E. Horn
1917 Mar 4 16:20 Acheville Sopwith 1 1/2 (A1108) No.43 RFC Lt. Green Lt. Reid
1917 Mar 9 11:55 Bailleul DH2 (A2571) No.29 RFC Lt. Pearson
1917 Mar 11 12:00 Vimy BE2d (6232) No.2 RFC 2nd Lt. J. Smith Lt. E. Byrne
1917 Mar 17 11:30 Oppy FE2b (A5439) No.25 RFC Lt. A.E. Boultbee Air/Mech F. King
1917 Mar 17 17:00 Vimy BE2c (2814) No.16 RFC 2nd Lt. G.M. Watt Sgt. F.A. Howlett
1917 Mar 21 17:30 Nth of La Neuville BE2c (A3154) No.16 RFC Sgt. S.H. Quicke 2nd Lt. W.J. Lidsey
1917 Mar 24 11:55 Givenchy Spad S7 (A6706) RFC Lt. R.P. Baker
1917 Mar 25 08:20 Tilloy Nieuport 17 (A6689) No.29 RFC 2nd Lt. C.G. Gilbert
1917 Apr 2 08:35 Farbus BE2d (5841) RFC Lt. J.C. Powell Air/Mech P. Bonner
1917 Apr 2 11:35 Givenchy Sopwith 1 1/2 (A2401) No.43 RFC 2nd Lt. P. Warren Sgt. R. Dunn
1917 Apr 3 16:15 Lens FE2d (A6382) No.25 RFC 2nd Lt. D.P. McDonald 2nd Lt. J.I.M. O'Beirne
1917 Apr 5 11:15 Lembras Bristol F2A (A3340) No. 48 RFC Lt. A.M. Leckler Lt. H.D.K. George
1917 Apr 5 11:30 Quincy Bristol F2A (A3343) No.48 RFC Lt. A.T. Adams Lt. D.J. Stewart
1917 Apr 7 17:45 Mercatel Nieuport 17 (A6645) No.60 RFC 2nd. Lt. G.O. Smart
1917 Apr 8 11:40 Farbus Sopwith 1 1/2 (A2406) No. 43 RFC Lt. J.S. Heagerty Lt. L.H. Cantle
1917 Apr 8 16:40 Vimy BE2e (A2815) No.16 RFC 2nd. Lt. K.I. Mackensie 2nd. Lt. G. Everingham
1917 Apr 11 09:25 Willerval BE2c (2501) No.13 RFC Lt. E.C.E. Derwin Gnr. H. Pierson
1917 Apr 13 08:58 Vitry/Brebieres RE8 (A3190) No.59 RFC Capt. J. Stuart Lt. M.H. Wood
1917 Apr 13 12:45 Monchy/Feuchy FE2b No. 25 RFC Sgt. J. Cunliffe Air/Mech W.J. Bolton
1917 Apr 13 19:35 Henin-Lietard FE2b (4997) No.25 RFC 2nd Lt. A.H. Bates Sgt. W.A. Barnes
1917 Apr 14 09:15 Bois Bernard Nieuport 17 (A6796) No.60 RFC Lt. W.O. Russell
1917 Apr 16 17:30 Bailleul/Cavrelle BE2c RFC Lt. W. Green Lt. C.E. Wilson
1917 Apr 22 17:10 Lagnicourt FE2b (7020) RFC Lt. W.F. Fletcher Lt. W. Franklin
1917 Apr 23 12:05 Mericourt BE2e (A3168) RFC 2nd Lt. E.A. Welch Sgt. A. Tollervey
1917 Apr 28 09:30 East of Pelves BE2e (7221) RFC Lt. R.W. Follit 2nd Lt. F.J. Kirkham
1917 Apr 29 12:05 Lecluse Spad S7 (B1573) No.19 RFC Lt. R. Applin
1917 Apr 29 16:55 SW of Inchy Parivillre FE2b (4898) No.18 RFC Sgt. G. Stead
1917 Apr 29 19:25 Roeux BE2d No.12 RFC D.E. Davis G.H. Rathbone
1917 Apr 29 19:40 Billy-Montigny Nieuport 17 (A6745) No.40 RFC Capt F.L. Barwell
1917 June 18 13:15 Strugwe RE8 RFC Lt. R.W. Ellis
1917 June 23 21:30 North of Ypres Spad S7 Belgian Unidentified
1917 June 25 18:40 Le Bizet RE8 RFC Lt. L.S. Bowman
1917 June 26 21:10 Kebergmelen DH4 No.57 RFC R.N. Mearns N.C. McNaughton
1917 July 2 10:20 Deulemont RE8 (A3538) No.53 RFC Sgt. H.A. Wheatley 2nd Lt. F.J. Pasco
1917 Aug 16 Not Known Houthulster Nieuport 17 RFC Unidentified
1917 Aug 26 07:30 Poel-Capelle Spad S7 (B3492) No.19 RFC 2nd Lt. C.P. Williams
1917 Sept 1 07:50 Zonnebeke RE8 RFC 2nd Lt. J.B.C Madge 2nd Lt. W. Kember
1917 Sept 3 07:35 Bousbecque Sopwith Pup (B1795) RFC Lt. A.F. Bird
1917 Nov 23 14:00 Bourlon Wood DH5 (A9299) No.64 RFC Lt. J.A. Boddy
1917 Nov 30 14:30 Moevres SE5a (B40) RFC Capt. P.T. Townsend
1918 Mar 12 11:10 Nauroy Bristol F2B (B1251) No.62 RFC Lt. L.C. Clutterbuck 2nd Lt. H.J. Sparks
1918 Mar 13 10:35 Gonnelieu/Banteaux Sopwith Camel (B5590) No.73 RFC 2nd Lt. J.M.L. Millett
1918 Mar 18 11:15 Andigny Sopwith Camel (B5243) No.54 RFC Lt. W.G. Ivamy
1918 Mar 24 14:45 Combles SE5a (C5389) No.56 RFC 2nd Lt. W. Porter
1918 Mar 25 15:55 Contal-Maison Sopwith Camel (C1582) No.3 RFC 2nd Lt. D. Cameron
1918 Mar 26 16:45 Contal-Maison Sopwith Camel RFC 2nd Lt. W. Knox
1918 Mar 26 17:00 Albert RE8 (B742) No.15 RFC 2nd Lt. V.J. Reading 2nd Lt. M. Leggat
1918 Mar 27 09:00 Aveloy Sopwith Camel (C8234) No.70 RFC Lt. H.W. Ransom
1918 Mar 27 16:30 Foucau-Court Bristol F2B (B1156) No.20 RFC Capt. K.R. Kirkham Capt. J.H. Hedley
1918 Mar 27 16:35 Chuignolles Bristol F2B (B1332) No.11 RFC Capt. H.R. Child Lt. A. Reeve
1918 Mar 28 12:30 Mericourt AWFK8 (C8444) No.82 RFC 2nd Lt. J.B. Taylor 2nd Lt. E. Betley
1918 Apr 2 12:30 Moreuil RE8 (A3868) No.52 RAF 2nd Lt.  E.D. Jones
1918 Apr 6 15:45 Villers-Brettoneaux Sopwith Camel (D6941) No.46 RAF Capt. S.P. Smith
1918 Apr 7 11:30 Hangard SE5a (C1083) No.1 RAF Capt. G.B. Moore
1918 Apr 7 12:05 Villers-Brettoneaux Spad S7 RAF Unidentified
1918 Apr 20 18:40 Bois-de-Hamel Sopwith Camel (D6439) No.3 RAF Maj. R. Raymond-Barker
1918 Apr 20 18:43 Villers-Brettoneaux Sopwith Camel (B7393) No.3 RAF 2nd Lt. D.G. Lewis

 

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Farman S.11

On August 21st 1915, he was sent from the Eastern Front back across Germany to join a bombing unit operating at Ostend on the Belgian coast. Several days later on September 1st 1915 von Richthofen got his first opportunity to shoot at another airplane, being a two seater Farman pusher. He got off a few shots, as did the Farman observer. Later that month during a flight with a pilot named Osteroth, von Richthofen was able to shoot down a Farman S.11 but the aircraft fell behind enemy lines and he was unable to claim it as a personnel victory. A year was to pass before he would record his first official kill.

He made his first solo flight on October 10th, but found getting down to be a very tricky feat. Although he escaped injury,  his aircraft was completed destroyed. Undeterred he was back in the skies two days later, making several take-offs and landings. Two weeks later he took his field examination which cleared him to go to a special flying school at Doberitz near Berlin. At Doberitz he went through a rigorous flying lessons and on December 25th 1915 passed his final examination, but it would not be until March 1916 that he joined his unit near Verdun.

In late April 1916, he was flying an Albatros two-seater in which he had a gun fitted to the upper wing. He came across a French Nieuport 11, but the French plane turned tail and fled from the conflict. Manfred overhauled the aircraft and got close before opening fire and the Nieuport fell near Fort de Douaumont on the allied side of the lines.  Like his previous "victory", this was not accredited to von Richthofen, but the communiqué for April 26th acknowledged the aircraft had been shot down by a German aircraft. The 1st of May saw him witness the death of his friend Count von Holck.

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Fokker EIII

May 3rd 1916
I love my new occupation as a pilot. I don't think anything else can attract me in this war. I fly a Fokker monoplane, a plane which Boelcke and Immelmann have had great success. I was very much grieved about Holck's death. Three days before he was killed, he visited me and we had much fun together. He told me of his imprisonment in Montenegro. One cannot imagine that this fine fellow doesn't exist anymore. I witnessed his last air fight. First he shot down a Frenchman in the midst of a hostile squadron. Then he evidently had a jam in his machine gun and wanted to return to the air above our lines. A whole swarm of Frenchmen were on him. With a bullet through the head, he fell from an altitude of 9000 ft - a beautiful death. Today I am going to fly at his funeral.

His squadron was ordered back to the Eastern Front flying bombing raid against the Russians. On a tour of Eastern Front, Oswald Boelcke selected Manfred as a pilot for his new Jagdstaffeln that was being formed on the Western Front. Manfred remembers:

I heard a knock on my door early in the morning, and there he stood, a big man wearing the Pour le Merite. I didn't know what to say. I didn't dare think that he might have selected me to be one of his pupils. I almost hugged him when he asked me if I wanted to do with him to the Somme. Three days later I was on the train travelling west across Germany to my new field. My ardent wish was fulfilled, and the most wonderful time of my life had begun.

He reported for duty on September 1, 1916 at Bertincourt near Camdrai where Jagdstaffel 2 had it's airfield. When Jasta 2 was formed only five days earlier it had only three officers; Lts Boelcke, von Arnim and Guenther, but von Arnim was killed the following day. A day after that, Lt. Hoehne reported for duty, and von Richthofen and Reimann were joined by Lts Viehwager and Boehme on September 8th. These were the first seven pilots of Jasta 2.

September 1916
We lined up at the firing range and fired our machine guns one after another down the line. The day before we received our new planes, and the next morning Boelcke was to fly with us. We were all beginners, none of us had previously been credited with a success. Whatever Boelcke told us was taken as gospel. We knew that in the last few days he had shot down at least one Englishman a day, and many times two in a single morning.

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B.E.2c

September 17th saw von Richthofen begin his official score card, when Jasta 2 attacked a formation of eight BE2c from No.12  RFC, protected by six FE2b of No.11 RFC. Diving out of the sun, each pilot singled out a separate enemy. Richthofen riddled a FE2b, and it fell near Villers Pluich. Both pilot & observer were mortally wounded, although the pilot was able to get the aircraft down to a controlled crash landing. The pilot, a 2Lt Morris,  died on the way to hospital.

Sept 17 1916
Vickers No.7018 Motor No.701
Nos.17314, 10372
Nr Villers Plouich 11am

When patrol flying I detected shrapnel clouds in the direction of Cambrai. I hurried forth and met a squadron which I attacked shortly after 11.00am. I singled out the last machine and fired several times at close range (10 meters). Suddenly the enemy propeller stood still. The machine went down gliding and I followed until I had killed the observer who had not stopped shooting until the last moment. At approx. 1200 meters a second German machine came along and attacked my victim right down to the ground and then landed next to the English plane.
Frhr. v.Richthofen
Lieut.

Just six days later saw von Richthofen gain another confirmed victory, this time over a single-seat reconnaissance and bomber type the Martinsyde G.100 Elephant, flown by Sgt. H. Bellerby. The machine came down  near the Bapaume-Cambrai road during the late morning of September 23.

Von Richthofen's third victim fell on September 30th.

Sept 30 1916
11.50am
Near Lagnicourt

About 11.50am. Accompanied by four planes of our Staffel, at 3000 meters above our airfield at Lagnicourt, I attacked a Vickers squadron. I singled out an enemy machine and fired some 200 shots. It began gliding down in the direction of Cambrai. Finally it began turning in circles. The shooting had stopped and I saw that the machine was flying uncontrolled. As we were already rather far away from our front lines I left the damaged plane and selected a new adversary. Later on I could observe how the above mentioned machine, pursued by German Albatros machines, dashed  burning to the ground near Fremicourt, the machine burnt to ashes.
Frhr. v. Richthofen
Lieut.

Dear Mamma,
On September 30th I brought down my third British plane. It was burned when he crashed to the ground. One's heart is beating a bit more quickly when the adversary whose face one has just seen goes down enveloped in flames from an altitude of 12000 feet. Naturally, nothing was left either of the pilot or his plane when they crashed. I picked up a small plate as a souvenir. From my second I have kept the machine gun, the breech-block of which had been jammed by a bullet. The Frenchman I brought down before Verdun is not on my record, as unfortunately we forgot to report him to headquarters. Formerly a pilot was decorated with the order Pour le Merite after he had brought down his eighth plane. Now they have discontinued that practice, although it becomes ever more difficult to shoot one down. During the last four weeks since the formation of the Boelcke squadron we have lost five planes out of ten
. October 5 1916

A BE12 became Manfred's fourth victory was scored on October 7th. Von Richthofen reported the type was new and had not been seen before. This was not strictly true as the plane had first appeared on the Western front in early August. It merely meant that he had not encountered the aircraft before.

Only three days later saw him shoot down his fifth, another BE12.

Oct 10 1916
6pm
Boeux near Arras

About 6pm I attacked a Vickers squadron at 3500 meters, six kilometres to the east of Arras above Boeux. After having singled out a Vickers at whom I shot 300 shots, the enemy plane began to smoke and then started diving, steeper and steeper. I followed always shooting. The aircraft's propeller was only just turning and clouds of smoke were coming from the engine. The observer did not shoot at my machine anymore. At this moment I am attacked from behind. It was ascertained after that the aircraft crashed to the ground and the pilot killed.
Frhr. v. Richthofen
Lieut.

A question is raised about this kill. If it was a single seater BE12, why does he mention the observer?

Six days later von Richthofen brought down another, later confirmed as his sixth victory. This aircraft was definitely a BE12 bearing serial number 6580 and flow by Lt. Tidsdale.

Von Richthofen claimed to have shot down an aircraft on October 25th but this was countered by several counter claims from fellow officers for the same kill. Von Richthofen claimed he was responsible for shooting down a two-seat BE2 (in fact a single seater BE12) from No.21 Squadron RFC bearing the serial number 6629 and flown by a Lt. Fisher. The multiple claims for von Richthofen's BE12 deterred the Staff from assigning the victory to him, and it has since become known as claim 6A. From the evidence however, there is a strong probability that von Richthofen was the victor.The last sentences of his filed combat report leaves not doubt about his feelings regarding the other claimants.

Oct 25 1916
9.35am near Bapaume
BE Two-seater

About 9am I attacked an enemy plane above the trenches near Lesboeuf. There was an unbroken cover of clouds at 2000 meters altitude. The aircraft came from the German side and was just approaching our lines. I attacked and after 200 shots he went down in large circles and was forced back by the strong wind to the south of Bapaume. Finally the machine crashed to the ground. The plane was a BE, No.6629. The engine dashed into the earth, therefore number not legible. Pilot, a Lieut., seriously wounded by shot in the bowels. Aircraft cannot be brought back as under heavy fire. When I first saw the enemy plane there was no other German machine in the neighbourhood, and also during the fight no machine approached the scene of the action. As the enemy plane started to go down, I saw a Rumpler and several Halberstadter planes. One of these came down to the ground. It was piloted by Sgt. Major Mueller of Jagstaffel 5. He claims to have fired first at 300 meters and then at 1000 meters distance, some 500 shots at the plane. Afterwards his gun jammed and the gunsight was blown away. Quite apart from these curious circumstances, a child knows that one cannot hit a plane from such ridiculous distances. Later a second plane, A Rumpler, came down also claiming his share of the loot. But all the other planes in the area were perfectly sure that he had not taken part in the fight.
Frhr. v. Richthofen
Lieut.

The next day, October 26, Oswald Boelcke scored his 40th and last victory in the air. Two days later he was dead, colliding with Lt. Boehme. Boehme's undercarriage ripped the upper wing of Boelck's biplane and Boelck fell away out of control. His body was buried at the cathedral in Dessau.

Dear Mamma,
Unfortunately I missed the train to Boelck's funeral to which I was detailed as the representative of the squadron. Now I can only visit you at the middle of the month. Boelcke's death came about in the following manner: Boelcke, some of our men of our squadron and myself were engaged in a battle with English planes. Suddenly I see how Boelcke while attacking his enemy, is rammed by one of our own gentlemen, to whom, poor fellow, nothing else had happened. I followed him immediately. But then one of his wings broke away and he crashed down. His head was smashed by the impact; death was instantaneous. We are deeply affected as if we had lost a favourite brother. During the funeral services and in the procession, I carried a pillow displaying his decorations. The funeral was like that of a reigning prince. In the last six weeks we have had out of twelve pilots, six dead and on wounded, while two have suffered a complete nervous collapse. Yesterday I brought down my seventh, shortly after I had accounted for my eighth. The ill luck of all the others has not yet affected my nerves.
November 4th 1916

Lt. Stephan Kirmaier took command of Jagstaffel 2 until he too was killed a month later, having shot down a total of 11 aircraft. He was replaced by Hauptmann Walz who head the position until Erwin Boehme replaced him in August 1917.

November 3 saw von Richthofen shoot down a FE2b flown by St Baldwin, which became his seventh official victory. The FE2b was flying low and Manfred attacked from a height of 1800 meters, the attack being witnessed by two other machines.

Number eight was achieved six days later when he attacked a formation of  BE2c flying at 2500 meters. Von Richthofen brought down serial number 2506 flown by Lt. Knight , and 2nd Lt. Cameron as observer near Beugny. Lt. Knight later died of his wounds. Later along with Lt. Hans Immelmann, he drove to the scene of the wrecked bi-plane, and encountered some senior German Army officers one of whom was His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Saxe-Coburg Gotha. On hearing the account of the fight, he awarded von Richthofen his special Medal for Bravery. Earlier in the war eight kills meant an automatic award for the Pour le Merite, or Blue Max. Due to the increase number of airman now achieving this feat, the tally was increased. In compensation he was cited for The Order of the House Of Hohenzollern.

After 11 days of bad weather where he had little flying time, von Richthofen attacked a flight of BE12's over Gueudecourt at 9:40am, chasing one down from 1800 meters, and sending to crashing to the ground.

That afternoon a two-seater FE2b met the same fate, which he reported as a "Vickers Two-Seater, another case of mistaken identity. So far he had been lucky in his choice of target, as he had not came across any single-seater "fighter" planes. This was to change with his 11th confirmed kill.

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DH2

On the afternoon of 23rd November, four pusher engined DH2 scouts from No.24 Sqdn RFC set out on patrol. They sighted five Albatros biplane below, but the German aircraft pulled away to gain height. As the flight followed deeper into German held territory, two DH2's had to turn back with engine trouble. The two pilots left were Capt. Andrews and Maj. Hawker. Hawker already had nine confirmed kills, and had gained the VC in August 1915 for an attack on three enemy aircraft simultaneously. The two British airman singled out an Albatros each and went into the attack. Andrews had to retire early as his engine was misfiring. The aircraft Hawker attacked was the Albatros DII flown by Manfred von Richthofen. They began a turn fight, each attempting to get behind each others tail, twisting and turning and slowly descending closer to the ground. Von Richthofen writes:

It did not take long before he dived for me, trying to catch me from behind. After a burst of five shots the cunning fellow had to stop, for I was already in a sharp left curve. The Englishman attempted to get behind me while I attempted to get behind him. So it went, both of us flying like madmen in a circle, with engines funning full out at 3000 meters altitude. First left, then right, each intent on getting above and behind the other. I was soon acutely aware that I was not dealing with a beginner, for he did not dream of breaking off the fight. We went into circles again - fast and furious and as small as we could drive them. But always I kept above him and at times I could look down almost vertically into his cockpit and watch each movement of his head. If it had not been for his helmet and goggles, I could have seen what sort of face he had. We were getting so close to the ground that he would soon have to decide whether he would land behind our lines or would break the circle and try to get back to his own side. The battle is now close to the ground. He is not a hundred meters above the earth. Our speed is terrific. He starts back for his front. He knows I am right behind him and close on his tail. He starts to zig-zag, making sudden dart right and left, left and right, confusing my aim and making it difficult for me to train my gin on him. My machine gun is firing incessantly. We are hardly fifty yards above the ground. Now I am within thirty yards of him. He must fall. The gun pours out it's stream of lead. Then it jams. Then it opens fire. One bullet goes home. He is struck in the back of the head. His plane jumps and crashes down. It strikes the ground just as I swoop over. His machine gun rammed itself into the earth, and now it decorates the entrance to my door. He was a brave man, a sportsman and a fighter.

As well as the Lewis gun,Von Richthofen retrieved pieces a fabric from Hawkers machine bearing the serial number 5964. He also made sure the Lts Wortmann & Collins were noted down as witness in case of any dispute!

Two weeks past before he scored again, successfully forcing to the ground a DH2 piloted by one Lt. Hunt of No.32 RFC.

Dec 11 1916
11.55am near Mercatel
DH2

About 11.55 at an altitude of 2800 meters, with Lt. Workmann, I attacked an enemy single seater squadron south of Arras (squad of 8 machines). I singled out one machine and after a short circling fight I damaged my adversary's engine and forced him to land behind our lines near Mercatel. The pilot was not seriously wounded.
Frhr. v. Richthofen
Lieut.


Lt. A.G. Knight became von Richthofen's next confirmed kill when five Albatros of Jasta Boelcke attacked six DH2 of No.29 Squad RFC over the sky's of  Monchy-le-Preux on December 20th.

Dec 20 1916
11.30 near Monchy
DH2

I attacked a enemy one seater squadron at 3000 meters above Monchy. After circling each other I managed to press my adversary down to 1500 meters where I attacked him at closest range. Immediately I saw that the enemy had been hit; first he went down in curves, then he dashed to the ground. The plane had only been attacked by me.
Frhr. v. Richthofen
Lieut.

Later that day a FE2b from No.18 squadron RFC became von Richthofen's 14th official victory , although he was mistaken in thinking it to be yet another Vickers Two-Seater.

Jagdstaffel Boelcke
Dec 20 1916, 1.45pm above Noreuil
Vickers Two-Seater: A5446
Motor: Beardmore No.791

Inmates: Pilot Lieut. L.G. D'Arcy, Observer unknown, had no identification disc. Inmates dead, plane smashed, one machine gun taken, valuables please find enclosed.
About 1.45pm. With four planes of our Staffel I attacked an enemy squadron at 3000 meters above Noreuil. The English squad had thus far had not been attacked by Germans and was flying somewhat apart. I had therefore an opportunity to attack the last machine. I was the foremost of our people and other German machines were not to be seen. After the first attack the enemy engine began to smoke; the observer had been wounded, The plane went down in large circles, I followed and fires at closest range. It was ascertained later on that I had killed the pilot. Finally the plane crashed to the ground. The plane is lying between Queant and Lagnicourt.

Frhr. v. Richthofen
Lieut.

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F.E.2b

Two days after Christmas a FE2b, serial number 6997 went down out of control, to crash behind trenches near Ficheux. Von Richthofen again was again mistaken in calling the aircraft a Vickers. He cited personnel from Air Batteries 13 and 47 as witness to the kill.

Dear Mamma,
Papa and Lothar were with me on Christmas Day. It was a memorable holiday. There is more fun to such a Christmas in the field than you at home would think. Our celebrations consisted of a Christmas tree an an excellent dinner. On the next day, Lothar went up alone for the first time, an event only equalled by his first victory.  Yesterday I downed my fifteenth Englishman after I had shot my second double two days before Christmas, Numbers 13 and 14.
Manfred

It was around this time that Von Richthofen chose to paint sections of his aircraft red. Uncertainly surrounds the reason for his choice of colour, but it most properly chosen because it represented the colours of his old Uhlan regiment.

January 4th 1917 saw von Richthofen encounter a new type of Fighter, the Sopwith Pup. With a wing span of only 26ft 6in the Pup could reach a height of 10,000 feet in just over twelve minutes, and was superior to the Albatros DII of Jasta Boelcke.

Jagdstaffel Boelcke
Jan 4 1917
4.15pm
Near Metz au Couture
Sopwith One Seater, No. LRT 5193
Motor: 80hp le Rhone No.5187

A new type of plane, never seen before, but as wings broken, badly discernible.
Pilot: Lieut. Todd killed, papers and valuables enclosed. About 4.15pm. Just after starting, we saw above us at 4000 meters altitude four planes unmolested by our artillery. As the anti-aircraft guns were not firing we took them for our own. Only when they wee nearer did we notice that they were English. One of the English planes attacked us and we saw immediately that the enemy plane was superior to ours. Only because we were three against one did we detect the enemy's weak points. I managed to get behind him and shoot him down. The plane broke up whilst falling.

Frhr. v.Richthofen
Lieut.


Soon after, Manfred received orders to leave Jasta Boelcke and command a unit of his own - Jagstaffell 11 at Douai. Jasta 11 had been formed in September 1916, and in four months had failed to bring down a single aircraft.  Jasta 11 had twelve pilots when Manfred joined them. Some of them would achieve fame under von Richthofen, especially Karl Allmenroeder and Kurt Wolf. Two days after he appointment he got notification that he had finally been awarded Germany's highest military medal, the Pour le Merite.

January 23rd saw him claim a FE8, the first victory for Jasta 11 and his personal 17th victory of the war.

Jagdstaffel 11
Jan 23 1917
4.10pm
Trenches above Lens (to the south-west)

No details of aircraft, plane dropped on enemy's side. About 4.10pm. With seven of my planes, I attacked an enemy squadron west of Lens. The aircraft I had singled out caught fire after 150 shots, discharged from a distance of 50 meters. The plane fell, burning. The occupants fell out at a height of 500 meters. Immediately after the plane had crashed I could see a heavy black smoke cloud arising. The plane burnt for quite a while, flames frequently flaring.
Frhr. v. Richthofen

A FE2b flown by Capt. O. Grieg & Lt. J.E. MacLenan from No.25 Squadron RFC fell to von Richthofen's guns the next day. He was flying one of the very few new Albatros DIII, which had appeared at the end of 1916 to replace the now obsolete DII.    Richthofen was forced to to land due to structural failure of this aircraft after the fight. This caused the observer of a FE2b , one 2nd Lt. A.C. Servers who had fired apon von Richthofen's aircraft, to claim him as a victory score. This is also the first reference to his aircraft being painted red, however there is not evidence to suppose he had the complete aircraft painted red. At first only the fuselage, wheel covers and possibly the struts were so brightly covered.

Jan 24 1917 Occupants: Pilot - Capt O. Grieg, Observer Lt. MacLenan
12.15pm
West of Vimy
Fixed Motor
Aircraft No.6937
Motor No.748

At about 12.15pm accompanied by Vfw. Howe, I attacked the leading plane of an enemy formation. After a long fight I forced my adversary to land near Vimy. The inmates burnt the plane after landing. I myself had to land, as one wing had cracked at 300 metres. I was flying an Albatros DIII.

According to the British inmates, my red aircraft was not unknown to them as, when being asked who had brought them down, they answered "le petit rouge". Two machine guns were seized by my Staffel. It was not worthwhile salvaging the aircraft as it was completely burnt.
Frhr. v. Richthofen

Dear Mamma,
I am certain you wonder at my silence. So much has happened in the meantime that I do not know where to start. I have been appointed commander of the Eleventh Combat Squadron stationed at Douai. I left the Boelcke squadron only very reluctantly. But no matter how hard I resisted I had to go. The Eleventh Squadron has been in existence as long as my former one, but so far it has no enemy to it's credit and the way they do things here is not very edifying. I have twelve officers under my command. Luck has been with me. On my first time up with my new command, I brought down my seventeenth, and on the following, number eighteen. As I settled down with the latter, one of my wings broke at an altitude of 900 feet, and it was nothing short of a miracle that I reached the ground without a mishap. On the same day the Boelcke squadron lost three planes, among them dear little Immelmann - a thousand pities. It is quite possible that they met with a similar accident. Unhappily, there is no chance of leave, and I would have liked to show you my Pour le Merite.
January 27th 1917

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Pour le Merite (Blue Max)

 

Flying a Halberstadt DII instead of his usual mount, von Richthofen achieved the only official victory of his career not obtained in a Albatros or a Fokker when his shot down a BE2c of No.16 RFC on the first day of February 1917. With a top speed of only 90mph, they compensated with a good climbing rate and could attain a height of 10,000 feet in only fifteen minutes. The type was however handicapped as a fighter by having only one machine gun, mounted on the port side of the fuselage.

Feb 1st 1917
BE Two-Seater
4.00pm
Over trenches 1 kilometre south west of Thelus
Occupants: Lieut. Murray and Lieut. McRae, both wounded and died on February 2nd
Aircraft No.6742

About 4 pm. Whilst flying with Lieut. Allmenroeder at 1800 metres altitude I spotted an artillery flyer (BE two-seater). I managed to approach to within 50 metres of him unnoticed, with my Halberstadter machine. From this distance I fired 150 shots until I was within one plane length of him. The enemy plane then went down in large, uncontrolled, right hand spirals pursued by Allmenroeder and myself. The plane crashed into barbed wire of our front lines. The occupants were both wounded and were made prisoners by the infantry. It is impossible to salvage the plane.
Frhr. v. Richthofen

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Halberstadt DII

February 1917 was a bad month for flying and Von Richthofen went two weeks without scoring a single victory, then on the 14th day of the month he shot down two.

Feb 14th 1917
B.E. Two Seater
12:00
West of Loos

".....after flying back from a conference with Jagdstaffel Boelcke, I spotted an enemy artillery flyer at a height of 2,000 metres west of Loos. I attacked the enemy and approached unnoticed to 50 metres. After firing some several hundred shots the plane dashed to the ground falling into the trenches. The pilot (Lt. C.D. Bennet) was killed and the observer (2nd Lt. H.A. Croft) seriously injured when landing"
Frhr. v Richthofen

In fact, Croft was dead, and not Bennet, although it was two months before Bennet's parents received a message from the Red Cross that he was alive and a prisoner of the Germans.

That was von Richthofen's 20th official victory and later that day he scored number 21, a F.E.2 near Mazingarbe. "About 4.45pm with five planes from my Stammel I attacked artillery flyers at a low altitude near Lens. Whilst my gentlemen attacked a second BE, I attacked the one flying nearest to me. After the first hundred shots the observer ceased firing. The plane began to smoke and twisted down in uncontrolled spirals to the right. As this was not a conclusive end for me, especially over the enemy lines. I continued shooting until the left part of the wing came off. As the wind was blowing at a velocity of 20 metres a second, I had drifted far over the enemy's side. Therefore I could observe that the enemy plane touched the ground southwest of Mazingarbe. I could see a heavy cloud of smoke in the snow arising from where the plane was lying. As it was foggy and already rather dark I have not got any witnesses, from the air or on the ground.

Conformation of this duel was granted in the absence of witnesses because of reports from ground batteries that an aircraft was seen crashing far over the British side of the lines. There is no reason to doubt von Richthofen's claim but the fact that he was allowed to count it shows how well it suited the Army to have him increase his score.

Von Richthofen was required to write reports on air combat and to summerise the tecqniques he used to achieve sucess. The formula for good results was elusive and relied more on individual tactics than a standard code to be tought and mastered. his superiours wanted the fruits of his knowledge and he was encouraged to write down his thoughts and ideas.

"The adversary often slips downward over one wing or lets himself fall like a dead leaf in order to shake of an attack. On order to stick to one adversary, one must on no account follow his tactics, as one has no control over the machine when falling like a dead leaf. Should the adversary, however, attempt to evade attack by such tricks, one must dash down without losing sight of the enemy plane. When falling, like a dead leaf, or intentionally falling wing over wing, the best pilot loses control of his machine for a second or two, therefore it is a manoeuvre to be avoided. Looping the loop is worse than worthless in air fighting. Each loop is a great mistake. If one has approached an adversary too close, a loop only offers a big advantage to the adversary. Change of speed should be relied upon to maintain the position desired, and this is best effected by giving more or less throttle. The best method of flying against the enemy is as follows: The officer commanding the group, no matter how large, should fly lowest, and should keep all machines under observation by turning and curving. No machine should be allowed either to advance or to keep back. More or less, the whole squadron should advance curving. Flying straight on above the front is dangerous, as even machines of the same type of plane develop different speeds. Surprises can be avoided only when flying in close order. The commanding officer is responsible that neither he nor any of his pilots are surprised by the enemy. If he cannot see to that, he is no good as a leader. February 16th 1917

In the next two months Manfred von Richthofen was credited with shooting down a total of 31 aircraft. In a period of just 56 days he accounted for 55 airman in eleven different types of aircraft flow by the Royal Flying Corps over the Western Front. With March came a major drive by the Germans in the Arras sector. German aircraft were sent out in groups of six or eight to harry the reconnaissance machines of the RFC and disrupt aerial photgraphy. During March, 120 British aircraft were shot down, 59 on them on the British side of the lines.

The first three victims that fell to von Richrhofen's guns during this intense period were shot down on March 3 and 4. Like his preceding victory of Feburary 14, the one claimed on March 3 had no witnesses but von Richthofen recived credit fot it neverless:

"Together with Lieut. Allmenroeder I atatcked two enemy artillery flyers at a low altitude over the other side of the lines. The wings of the plane broke off that I attacked; it dashed down and broke up on the ground."

Descibed as a BE2c, it fell near Souchez around 5:00pm. The next day von Richthofen took off after the rest of Jasta 11...

"...and was looking for my squadron when I spotted a single BE. My first attack was apparently a failure as the enemy aircraft tried to escape by turning and diving. After having forced my adversary down from 2800 to 1200 metres, he imagined himself safe and flew in a striaght line once again. I took advantage of this, got behinf him and fired some 500 shots at him. He dived down, but in such a steep way that I could not follow. According to our infatry observation units the plane crashed to the ground in fron of our trenches"

This victory has a question mark hanging over it for the aircraft that was witnessed by German ground troops as it crashed to earth may not have been the one Von Richthofen attacked around 12:50pm. The time of the crash and the location of the wreckage does not coincide with Von Richthofen's report. But they do tie up with a claim by Werner Voss for his twelth victory. It is likley the von Richthofen had attacked and pursued into cloud a BE2d (5785) flown by Sgt. J.E. Prance and Lt. J.B.E. Crosbee of No.2 Sqdn RFC which recovered and flew home below the mist. From Jasta Boelcke, the 19 year old Voss was second to Von Richthofen in victores and had shot down his first victim as recently as November 27th 1916.

About 4:20 the same afternoon:

"Accompanied by five planes from my Staffel I attacked an enemy squadron above Acheville. The Sopwith I had singled out continued flying for quite a while under my fire. Whilst turning and after my 400th shot the plane lost a wing. Machine dashed downwards. It was not worth while salvaging the plane because parts were speard over Acheville and surrondings. Two machine guns were collcted by my Staffel.

And so ended the lives of 19 year olds Lts H.J. Green & W. Reid from No.43 Sqdn RFC.

Five days later

 

 







 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Manfred plays with his dog Moritz early in 1918 with a Fokker Dr.1 in the background.

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April 1917 Jasta 11: (left to right) Hartmann, Pluechow, Krefft, Simon, Wolff, Esser,
Manfred von Richthofen, Lothar von Richthofen, Hintsch, Brauneck, Matthof and Allmenroedr.