Posted on Apr 21, 2016
Red Baron killed in action - Apr 21, 1918 - HISTORY.com
1.57K
22
8
6
6
0
I never knew when he was actually stopped. Could you imagine being the person that shot him down? He had over 80 victories. that's unbelievable.
Red Baron killed in action - Apr 21, 1918 - HISTORY.com
Posted from history.comPosted in these groups: 
Military History
World History
Military History World History
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
4
4
0
That means according to the song, after killing 80 men in the air, number 81 was his Waterloo.
(4)
(0)
3
3
0
It's never been definitively proven whether or not the Canadian shot him down, or the Aussie infantry that was firing on him at the same time. The autopsy showed signs of a .303 round fired at a steep angle penetrating from the lower fuselage was the "kill shot".
All in all, he was probably more tactician than pilot...more calculating than ruthless. Most experts agree he died because he started breaking his own rules: engaging when not at a clear advantage, and flying too close to ground fire. One thing is certain-He stayed in the cockpit, leading his men when he had options to do otherwise.
All in all, he was probably more tactician than pilot...more calculating than ruthless. Most experts agree he died because he started breaking his own rules: engaging when not at a clear advantage, and flying too close to ground fire. One thing is certain-He stayed in the cockpit, leading his men when he had options to do otherwise.
(3)
(0)
PO2 Mark Saffell
I could be wrong but I dont think anyone ever came close to his numbers of 80 victories. That number is crazy
(0)
(0)
LCDR (Join to see)
Rene Fonck and Billy Bishop came close...I also seem to recall there was a Russian pilot whose record was largely ignored, but who may have been tactically superior to all of the above.
Part of the Red Baron's success was his philosophy-He'd run if he couldn't win. I'd wager there were many equally skilled pilots who died early because they committed when they shouldn't have.
Part of the Red Baron's success was his philosophy-He'd run if he couldn't win. I'd wager there were many equally skilled pilots who died early because they committed when they shouldn't have.
(1)
(0)
2
2
0
Live fast, fight hard, fly a plane that looks like a tow target, die young, leave a good looking corpse, have a silly song named after you and become a legend forever.
(2)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google