About Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen, well known as the “Red Baron” was a legendary fighter pilot who lived from 2 May 1892 until 21 April 1918. His estimated net worth was $1 million. Manfred von Richthofen, also known as The Red Baron, was a brave military leader and flyer whose World War I battle strategies were lauded. Richthofen served in the Imperial German Army Air Service during World War I and is regarded as one of the most illustrious fighter pilots to have ever lived. With 80 air victories, he is regarded as the most successful pilot of that conflict.
starts a military career
Von Richthofen could have been given the title of Baron since he was a descendant of German aristocracy. He actually earned his nickname as a result of his military renown and the fact that he had his fighter plane painted red.
Richthofen started out in the infantry during World War I, serving in Russia, France, and Belgium, but he was finally prevented from succeeding—quite literally—by a number of impediments. In particular, machine gun fire and barbed wire stopped German troops from moving forward. Von Richthofen witnessed his first aerial conflict involving a German aircraft there. He requested a rapid reassignment to the Air Service after being intrigued by the aerial combat.
turns into a fighter pilot
Richthofen was praised for being an excellent tactician in the air, and his style of assault made enemies and allies alike shudder. The sun would be at his back as he prepared to attack from above, effectively blinding his opponent and preventing him from fighting on an even keel.
Close Calls and Death
Prior to his demise, Richthofen experienced a number of near misses. In July 1917, he was injured in the head during combat and compelled to recover. Though the aftereffects of his wounds, such as motion sickness when flying, never fully subsided, he nevertheless returned to action two months later.
In April 1918, Richthofen eventually lost his life in action. When Captain Arthur “Roy” Brown, another Canadian, intercepted Richthofen and was able to fire a shot that entered Richthofen’s chest and heart, Richthofen was pursuing an inexperienced Canadian pilot and looking for a kill.
the legacy of the Red Baron
Even so, there is still significant debate around the Red Baron’s passing. The shot that killed Richthofen, in the opinion of many military analysts, was probably fired from the ground.
After the war, the body of Richthofen was transported back to Berlin after being initially interred in Amiens, France. In 1975, his remains were relocated once more, this time to Wiesbaden, where his headstone is still visible today.
And that concludes our look at The Red Baron’s life and military career.
