Simviation Forum - April 21, 1918: Red Baron Shot Down

Apr 21^st, 2006 at 2:04am

RichieB16 Offline
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January 27, 1967
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On April 21, 1918, legendary German fighter pilot Manfred von Richthofen (aka "The Red Baron") was shot down for the final time.

A flight of Sopwith Camels engaged a German fighter group on April 21, 1918. One of the Camels, flown by an inexperienced Canadian pilot named Wilfred May, broke off before the engagement and began to return to allied territory. The flight commander had ordered him to do this if they engaged enemy fighters because he was so inexperienced. Richthofen saw this and smelling an easy 81st victory, broke off and followed as well.

As Richthofen chased May into allied terriotory, Canadian ace Arthur "Roy" Brown got on his tale. Not long later, Richthofen was shot down and killed and May escaped. Brown was offically credited with the victory but many believe that an Australlian machine gunner on the ground actually shot him down.

Both Roy Brown and Wilfred May would survive the war. By the end of the war, Wilfred May became an ace himself having shot down 13 enemy aircraft.

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Reply #1 - Apr 21^st, 2006 at 3:51am

H Offline
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2003: the year NH couldn't
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On his tale?
Actually, Manfred Richthofen, Arthur Brown (RAF209, Flt A Leader), Wilfred May, Wolfram Richthofen (Manfred's cousin, whom May had initially attacked) and Oliver "Boots" LeBoutier (RAF209, Flt B Leader) were but a few in the tale. The first victory was given to the Australian 3rd who went on their way when Brown's A Flt charged in to assist. Manfred's Jasta 11 arrived and, if my research was correct, the Albatroses were from Jasta 5. Everybody was on everybody's tail. Shocked

I've had trouble with uploads in the past and, if I can't and you so wish, PM me about getting a CD of my April Skies Commemoration.

Manfred was Brown's last (10th) "credited" victory; he eventually entered politics, unsuccessfully tried to rejoin the RAF in WW2 and died at @ age 50.

PS: Hi, everybody 8)

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Reply #2 - Apr 21^st, 2006 at 11:10am

RichieB16 Offline
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You maybe correct but my understanding was the May was being chased my Richthofen and Brown was coming to his aid. That they had broken from the the rest of the flight. I also thought that neither Wolfram or Lother von Richthofen were involved. But, I may be wrong.

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Reply #3 - Apr 21^st, 2006 at 12:51pm

Craig. Offline
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There are so many versions of the story I dont think we will ever know the real story.
Safe to say I dont think there will ever be a pilot talked about so much.

P.S. I prefer the Blackadder version. Lord Flashheart shoots him in a german prison cell while he's blabbering on about something Grin

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Reply #4 - Apr 22^nd, 2006 at 10:13am

H Offline
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Lotham had already been previously injured and was not involved; Wolfram and May were both recent transfers (May had also been a schoolmate of Brown's) and been told to stay out of any fray. However, seeing Wolfram likewise milling about, May attacked and followed Wolfram in a dive right through the battle circus.
May continued firing at everything until his guns jammed, then headed for home. A (probably) irate Manfred Richthofen went after his cousin's attacker. Brown tended to 'snoop' around during battles to rescue colleagues, saw May in trouble and went full throttle after Manfred.

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Reply #5 - Apr 22^nd, 2006 at 4:22pm

Ashar Ex Member
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Quote:

Lotham had already been previously injured and was not involved; Wolfram and May were both recent transfers (May had also been a schoolmate of Brown's) and been told to stay out of any fray. However, seeing Wolfram likewise milling about, May attacked and followed Wolfram in a dive right through the battle circus.
May continued firing at everything until his guns jammed, then headed for home. A (probably) irate Manfred Richthofen went after his cousin's attacker. Brown tended to 'snoop' around during battles to rescue colleagues, saw May in trouble and went full throttle after Manfred.

Wow...it's been a while since I last saw you post H...Welcome back Wink

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Reply #6 - May 4^th, 2006 at 9:39pm

Red_Baroness Ex Member
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Excuse me whilst I pounce on this like little brother LOTHAR.

Wolfram was supposed to be observing, like Wop May, but both could not resist jumping into the furball.

It's rather well documented in several good books on Manfred, but sadly, none of them can agree on who actually shot Manfred down.

See http://www.theaerodrome.com and check the forums for endless discussion on this subject.

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Reply #7 - May 5^th, 2006 at 1:03am

H Offline
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Quote:

Wolfram was supposed to be observing, like Wop May, but both could not resist jumping into the furball...

That's basically what I'd informed but, unlike with May (Allied battle reports are more readily available), I couldn't find Wolfram's direct account (I don't speak German and I'm not in Germany so I had to rely on indirect sources). I've checked the aerodrome site, as well as others, and many other sources long ago.
Some information is conjectural and/or conflicting and I've some of my own 'possibles' after comparing information. For one, according to a couple accounts, Manfred said, "Kaput," while pointing at his machine gun and it was actually broken. Brown was certain, by his tracers, that he'd hit Manfred's Dr-1 and Manfred had turned to look back at him (something got Manfred's attention). Although it is highly unlikely that a ricochet got Manfred (Manfred's turning to look back would have changed his body angle in relation to Brown but probably not to the angle for the bullet that killed him), it is quite possible that Brown had managed to put the gun out of commission as well as alert Manfred of the possibility of getting another bullet in the head (he was already having chronic headaches from that one).
I did a mission set for CFS1, April Skies, that includes commemorative, though not at all exhaustive, .avi files (playable via RealPlayer or Media Player) I made but couldn't seem to upload. Sad

Guess I'd have to mail it out on CD if someone wanted them.

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