THE STORY OF THE RED BARON

The Red Baron was a name that was both feared and admired throughout World War 1. Even today, that name still has some power due to the legacy that is left behind. So, let us dig further regarding this famous Red Baron figure. The Red Baron was born in Prussia (also known as the German Empire) on the 2nd of May 1892 with the name Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen. He belonged to a prosperous family during his time and was quite an active child interested in hunting and sports. At the age of 11, Richthofen enrolled in military school and was commissioned as an officer in 1911 after serving eight years as a cadet, in which he became part of the 1st Uhlan Cavalry Regiment of the Prussian Army. When World War 1 broke out, he saw action on both Eastern and Western Fronts. 

However, after some time in the cavalry regiment, he decided to transfer to the Imperial German Air and was accepted in 1915. In September of 1916, Richthofen entered combat and earned his first-ever victory along with the title of “Flying Ace”. He obtained the Pour le Mérite, or “Blue Max” (which was the most distinguished military medal in Prussia) in the following year due to his deadly performance on the battlefield. A word regarding his achievements quickly spread everywhere. Still, in the same year, Richthofen decided to paint his fighter aircraft, the Albatros D.III, blood red. It was because of this paint scheme that he was given the famous name the Red Baron. In April 1917, the Red Baron successfully shot down two dozen opposing planes. That month was when the British Air Force received heavy casualties at the hands of the German Air Force to which the event is known today as Bloody April. Later that year, Richthofen was promoted as a leader of his squadron. His squadron would then be known as the Flying Circus as a result of their bright-colored aircraft along with swift air maneuvers that they do on the battlefield. 

21st of April 1918 was the Red Baron’s final flight as he was shot down that day during the combat with British planes. The Allied force buried his body, followed by full military honors after his death. Even though his experience in the skies was only around two years, he had achieved a total of 80 confirmed aerial victories, which was the greatest number of aerial victories that a pilot has obtained in any side of World War 1. His legend and popularity inspired many forms of art. One fun fact is that the Red Baron was the inspiration for the character Casval Rem Deikun AKA Char Aznable, who was the antagonist of a popular anime known as Mobile Suit Gundam. 

References

History.com Editors. (2018, August 21). Red Baron. Retrieved January 22, 2022, from History.com: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/manfred-baron-von-richthofen

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2021, April 28). Manfred von Richthofen. Retrieved January 22, 2022, from Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Manfred-Freiherr-von-Richthofen