Who Killed the Red Baron?
On April 21, 1918, the greatest ace of World War I was shot down. 100 years later, the question of who killed the German ace has never been conclusively settled. Captain Roy Brown was leading a flight of eight Sopwith Camels over the Somme, when they spotted a group of Fokker Tri
On April 21, 1918, the greatest ace of World War I was shot down. 100 years later, the question of who killed the German ace has never been conclusively settled.
Captain Roy Brown was leading a flight of eight Sopwith Camels over the Somme, when they spotted a group of Fokker Triplanes attacking a pair of R.E.8 observation planes. Wagging his wings for his fellows to follow, Brown dived into the fray. Among the Fokkers, was an all-red Triplane.
In the ensuing dogfight, a young Canadian, Wilford May was flying his first combat patrol. He became entangled with a couple of Albatros D.Vs, and was quickly overwhelmed.
Richthofen noticed the overmatched Canadian, and gave chase. May began evasive maneuvers after the Baron's initial burst. He and his German pursuer screamed along just above the ground, the Triplane steadily gaining.
Brown noticed May's plight. He realized his boyhood friend was doomed- unless he could help. Diving in at full speed, he swept in behind the Fokker and fired a distant desperate burst.
At the same time, Australian ground troops opened fire at the red Triplane.
The Fokker crashed in no-man's land. When its pilot did not move, several Australians rushed out, took hold of the aircraft and dragged it to a safe place. At first they could not see why the Triplane had crashed. It was unscathed except for some damaged landing gear. Then one of them noticed a bloodstain on the pilot's jacket, and saw that one bullet had pierced his chest. Examining his papers, the soldiers were awed to see that he was indeed Manfred von Richthofen.
Captain Roy Brown was given credit for shooting down the Red Baron, but who knows who actually fired the bullet that killed him? Some historians believe it was the soldiers on the ground.
We may never know.
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