R.I.P Manfred von Richtofen - Let's paint the skies red again today!

[J2_Trupobaw]

Freunde und Feinde,

Today it's 102nd anniversary of death of WW1 ace of aces, superb mentor and unit organiser, Manfred von Richtofen. As we've been doing on this day since 2015, let's honour him by taking red skins while flying on Flugpark whenever possible. MvRs own red Albatros or Dr.I, Udets red D.VII, red-nosed S.E.5 from No.60, there is plenty of red planes to choose from.
 

 

[J5_HellCat_]

Roy Brown in his own words on Red Baron kill

 

 

“The sight of Richthofen as I walked closer gave me a start,” wrote Brown. “His face, particularly peaceful, had an expression of gentleness and goodness, of refinement. Suddenly I felt miserable, desperately unhappy, as if I had committed an injustice. With a feeling of shame, a kind of anger against myself moved in my thoughts, that I had forced him to lay there … I cursed the war. If I could, I would gladly have brought him back to life.”

He also wrote he “did not feel like a victor” and “could not have felt greater sorrow.”

[No.23_Triggers]

53 minutes ago, J5_HellCat_ said:

He also wrote he “did not feel like a victor” 

 

[J5_HellCat_]

12 minutes ago, US93_Larner said:

 

?

Some cite autopsy reports to back the bullet-from-the-ground theory, but two examinations of the body did not involve opening up Richthofen’s chest to properly see entry and exit wounds. Aviation historian Marc Racine noted Brown’s own log book, where he wrote he “dived on pure red triplane which was on Lt. (Wilfred) May’s tail. Got in good burst and he went down vertical and was observed to crash.”

Racine also cited an eye witness — American pilot Oliver “Boots” LeBoutillier — who said “to my dying day I’ll say Brownie shot him down … I saw the shots going into the cockpit.”

Said Racine: “Case closed.”

 

His grandson, Don Brodeur, 65 — a retired fighter pilot with 6,000 hours in the air who won the Top Gun competition and was a Canadian Snowbird — said “if he wrote his father to say he shot him down, that ends any controversy for me.

“As someone who has been involved in air gunnery, when a pilot has shot someone in the sky, they know it.”

 

Edited April 21, 2020 by J5_HellCat_

[J5_Adam]

1 hour ago, J5_HellCat_ said:

Roy Brown in his own words on Red Baron kill

 

He also wrote he “did not feel like a victor”....

 

 I guess at that point in time he didn't get the memo

[Cynic_Al]

There are so many discrepancies and contradictions between all the written and filmed accounts, that it's hard to believe they're all describing the same event.

[No.23_Triggers]

5 minutes ago, Cynic_Al said:

There are so many discrepancies and contradictions between all the written and filmed accounts, that it's hard to believe they're all describing the same event.

No surprise there. You're talking about the Bad Baron, after all. I can imagine that anybody that did so much as throw a stone at his triplane before he crashed would be trying to find a way of spinning it to be 'their' victory. 

[J2_Trupobaw]

RFC Official: Congratulations, you have been credited with downing the Red Baron.

Roy Brown: I don't really think it was me. I just fired a burst in his direction and broke away, he was flying for some time after.

RFC Official: Nevertheless, we are crediting you with the kill.

Roy Brown: I hope his berserker brother will not get mad and come after me... You've heard what he did to Albert Ball?

Edited April 22, 2020 by J2_Trupobaw

[No.23_Triggers]

7 hours ago, J2_Trupobaw said:

Roy Brown: I hope his berserker brother will not get mad and come after me... You've heard what he did to Albert Ball?

Ah, yes!

Luftstreitkräfte Official: "Congratulations. You've shot down the infamous Captain Ball".
Lothar von Richthofen: "No. He was attacking me. I shot down a Triplane earlier, though". 
Luftstreitkräfte Official: "Yes, that's correct. He was flying a triplane. Congratulations on your victory"
Lothar von Richthofen: "Wait, no, he was in an S.E.5a--"
Luftstreitkräfte Official: "No. Triplane. Congratulations, Lothar!"

[J2_Trupobaw]

That's the point :).

[No.23_Triggers]

45 minutes ago, J2_Trupobaw said:

That's the point :).

Yeah, I know! Just further illustrating it for those who might not  

[J5_Adam]

Duuuh I don’t get it