01. Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen （der Rote Baron, Red Baron）

Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen's photo

Born in a formal royal family in Kleinburg, Richthofen was highly educated. When he was young, he loved riding horses, hunting and gymnastics at school. He was also quite well in curricular, as he won quite a lot of rewards while he was in school. He started military training at age 11. Completed training in 1911, he joint Ulanen-Regiment Kaiser Alexander der III. von Russland (1. Westpreußisches) Nr. 1("1st Emperor Alexander III of Russia Uhlan Regiment (1st West Prussian)"), and assigned to Eskadron ("No. 3 Squadron").

At the world war I, he served as a cavalry reconnaissance officer both on the eastern and western front line. As the WWI became trench warfare, the recon became useless and was dismounted. He started to serving as dispatch runners and field telephone operators

Germany cavalry reconnaissance officer 

He was disappointed, willing to keep away from the war without honor but death.he applied for a transfer toDie Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches (Imperial German Army Air Service), later to be known as the Luftstreitkräfte. Considering his unmilitary attitude, he was surprised that he was granted. And here started his legend.

At first, just like the all other newby fighter pilot trainee, he  was an observer on reconnaissance in Feldflieger Abteilung 69 ("No. 69 Flying Squadron") at the Eastern Front. It was not until he met the German ace fighter pilot Oswald Boelcke that he started his training. He served at the bomber squadorn at first, and his was surprisingly, a below average pilot at first, even violate rules. 

the plane  Richthofen flew at first --Albatros C.III 

He met German ace Oswald Boelcke again as he was searching for his fighter squadron Jagdstaffel2. Unfortunately, Oswald Boelcke was killed in an accident in air combat, and Richthofen witnessed it.Richthofen started to shoot down tons of enemies from the sky since then, even downed the British Ace -- Major Lanoe Hawker VC. During the dogfight, Hawker tried to escape from the shooting line, but failed at last and was shot in head from back to death. He even formed the most famous figher squadron in WWI--the flying circus. He painted his fighter all into red, which made some of the enemies escaped at the very moment they saw him.

 Richtofen's Flying Circus by Nicolas Trudgian

 Being the commander, he wasn't undefeated.Richthofen sustained a serious head wound, causing instant disorientation and temporary partial blindness during that fight, almost went out of conscious. The injury required multiple operations to remove bone splinters from the impact area. He completed his autobiography during his treatment. However, the injury became a serious problem--he often suffered from post-flight nausea and headaches and a change in temperament. This became a theory linking this injury to his death.

209 Squadron Badge – the red eagle falling – symbolizes the fall of the Red Baron

On 21 April 1918, he was seriously wounded by a .303 bullet and later died after landing while he was pursuing a Sopwith Camel.Their were several theories of how he was killed. The Canadian fighter, Arthur Brown said it was his victory, as he shot at Richthofen for twice. However, historian doen't agree. Some historian and doctor consider it as a kill made by the Anti-aircraft guns shot by Cedric Popkin, a Australian machine gunner shooting Richthofen while he flew by. The mystery was finally solved as  it was found out that he might be killed by an unknown soldier on the ground.

He was burial by the enemies,Six officers served as pallbearers, and a guard of honour from the squadron's other ranks fired a salute. He was honored by his enemy,as one of the allied squadrons stationed nearby presented memorial wreaths, with one of which was inscribed with the words, "To Our Gallant and Worthy Foe".

Red Baron's funeral on 22 April 1918.

At last,  Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen, also known as der Rote Baron, Red Baron had been officially credited with 80 air combat victories, more than any other pilot of the war. He was a legend in the sky, and the best fighter pilot in WWI in the sky.