Though Richthofen did not survive the war, his legend and all-red aircraft still capture people’s imagination over a hundred years later.įirst published in 1930, Gibbons combines combat reports and press articles with personal letters and survivors’ recollections in a powerful, narrative driven account of the life of ‘The Red Knight of Germany.’įloyd Gibbons (1887-1939) was the war correspondent for the Chicago Tribune during WWI. While a distinguished fighter pilot, Richthofen was also interested in aeroplane development, making suggestions to overcome design flaws and championing the Fokker D.VII. In November 1916 he claimed his greatest victory, that of the British Ace Lanoe Hawker afterwards, Hawker’s machine-gun rested above Richthofen’s bedroom door. Set to other tasks, he swiftly became bored and frustrated in 1915, Richthofen transferred into the Imperial German Flying Corps. Richthofen spent the early days of the war as a cavalry reconnaissance officer, seeing service on the Eastern and Western Fronts, but trench warfare soon had them dismounted. Set to other tasks, he swiftly became bored and frustrated in 1915, Richthofen transf Officially credited with 80 air combat victories, Manfred von Richthofen was considered the Ace of Aces of WWI. Officially credited with 80 air combat victories, Manfred von Richthofen was considered the Ace of Aces of WWI.

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