Beginning his wartime career on the Western Front in August 1916,
Manfred von Richthofen, or the Red Baron as he became known, had shot
down an impressive total of fifteen aircraft by January 1917, as well as
being appointed commander of his own unit. By the time of his death in
1918, he had destroyed a staggering total of eighty allied aircraft.
From the perspective of the allies, he was a deadly menace. For the
Germans, he was a fighter pilot hero of legendary significance. This
fascinating collection of rare images offers a fresh perspective on the
Baron himself, as well as a number of his adversaries from the Allied
side of the line.
Found by chance at a car boot sale by the author, an esteemed journalist
and keen amateur aviator, this collection has sat, mostly unused, for
almost a century. Until now. This intriguing addition to the Images of
War series is set to ignite new discussions about this most legendary of
fighter aces as we approach the centenary of his death, and the ending
of the First World War, in 2018.