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Ace of Aces: How the Red Baron Became WWI’s Most Legendary Fighter Pilot

Well, I found this video.

Silly song, but it has some old WWI footage of Von Richthoffen.

Enjoy:

 
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Thanks.

One of the first non school assigned books I read as a kid was Fighting the Flying Circus, Capt Eddie Rickenbacker's memoirs. My dad had a copy and that he gave me after he finished reading it. Rickenbacker was America's top ace and second to Richtofen in confirmed kills - something like 26 or 27. The book started me on the road that eventually led to my becoming a pilot.

I don't remember for sure but I don't believe the two ever met in combat.
 
Gaius46 said:
Thanks.

One of the first non school assigned books I read as a kid was Fighting the Flying Circus, Capt Eddie Rickenbacker's memoirs. My dad had a copy and that he gave me after he finished reading it. Rickenbacker was America's top ace and second to Richtofen in confirmed kills - something like 26 or 27. The book started me on the road that eventually led to my becoming a pilot.

I don't remember for sure but I don't believe the two ever met in combat.
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A Canadian, Billy Bishop, had 72 kills. A Frenchman had a couple more than that. Rickenbacher was the top American but there are dozens above him on the list.
 
Back in 5th grade I fell in love with Snoopy vs the Red Baron by the Royal Guardsman and the Charles Schulz character and began my years long study of World War One Aero History with special emphasis on Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron... I joined Cross and Cockade, the worldwide WW1 Aero Historical Society at that tender age and began receiving/devouring their monthly journals, collecting books/magazine articles on the subject, corresponding with other members from around the globe, interviewing WW 1 pilots locally [ when my parents agreed to drive me ] and chatting/meeting with historians. I would attribute this early intense interest to my later ultimately obtaining one of my degrees in history.

Also pushed me to reinvigorate and keep harping on my dad to follow through with a promise he had made me at 4 years old, being so wondrous at that age and never forgotten by me, being that he would take me up in an airplane. After many years he finally relented. Dad, upon us lifting off at a small grass field airport in a Cessna, immediately fell in love with flying and soon thereafter started his training to become a pilot, soloing and going on to buy both a Cessna 172 and my personal favorite, his V tailed Beechcraft Bonanza. He got about 7 intensive years of flying whenever wherever he could before he was diagnosed with Parkinson's and because of the medications prescribed to counter the disease at that time, the FAA disallowed his pilot's licence. Broke his heart, but at least he had gotten to take advantage of the thrill before it was too late.

Thank you Charles Schulz, thank you Royal Guardsman... its been a fun and very interesting ride.
 
I was sort of obsessed with the Red Baron when I was a kid.
 
Grand Mal said:
A Canadian, Billy Bishop, had 72 kills. A Frenchman had a couple more than that. Rickenbacher was the top American but there are dozens above him on the list.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the correction - I didn't realize that.

ot - a friend drove F104s for the RCAF back in the day. Tough bird to handle but he and his mates loved her. Aside from having stellar pilots the RCAF has some outstanding drinking games. I have a little first hand experience with them :)
 
Gaugingcatenate said:
Back in 5th grade I fell in love with Snoopy vs the Red Baron by the Royal Guardsman and the Charles Schulz character and began my years long study of World War One Aero History with special emphasis on Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron... I joined Cross and Cockade, the worldwide WW1 Aero Historical Society at that tender age and began receiving/devouring their monthly journals, collecting books/magazine articles on the subject, corresponding with other members from around the globe, interviewing WW 1 pilots locally [ when my parents agreed to drive me ] and chatting/meeting with historians. I would attribute this early intense interest to my later ultimately obtaining one of my degrees in history.

Also pushed me to reinvigorate and keep harping on my dad to follow through with a promise he had made me at 4 years old, being so wondrous at that age and never forgotten by me, being that he would take me up in an airplane. After many years he finally relented. Dad, upon us lifting off at a small grass field airport in a Cessna, immediately fell in love with flying and soon thereafter started his training to become a pilot, soloing and going on to buy both a Cessna 172 and my personal favorite, his V tailed Beechcraft Bonanza. He got about 7 intensive years of flying whenever wherever he could before he was diagnosed with Parkinson's and because of the medications prescribed to counter the disease at that time, the FAA disallowed his pilot's licence. Broke his heart, but at least he had gotten to take advantage of the thrill before it was too late.

Thank you Charles Schulz, thank you Royal Guardsman... its been a fun and very interesting ride.
Click to expand...

My dad sounds a lot like yours. He was very interested in WWI aviation, joined the Navy and worked as a A&P mechanic in a Navy squadron with a couple sea tours but never learned to fly. One of the best moments of my flying career was when I was able to take him for a ride in a Cessna. He was in his late 50s or early 60s by then but when I gave him the controls a talked him through a couple of turns and climbs and descents he looked for all the world like a awe struck 16 year old.
 
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