Richthofen, Manfred, Baron von

Richthofen, Manfred, Baron von (1882-1918), German airman.

Baron Manfred von Richthofen was the outstanding German fighter pilot of the First World War (1914-18). He shot down eighty Allied aircraft.

Richthofen was nicknamed the 'Red Baron' because his plane was painted a bright red and his squadron was nicknamed Richthofen's 'Flying Circus'.

He was shot down and killed on 21 April, 1918, by Captain Roy Brown.

See Richthofen: Beyond the Legend of the Red Baron ~ Peter Kilduff