Death of the Red Baron
Baron Manfred von Richthofen, the highest-scoring German ace of World War I with 80 victories, was killed in a dogfight over France’s Somme Valley on April 21, 1918. As he pursued a Canadian pilot with jammed guns, von Richthofen, flying a red Fokker triplane, broke one of his own flying rules by following his prey too long, too far and too low. Two miles behind Allied lines, Richthofen was mortally wounded when he was fired upon simultaneously by another Canadian pilot and Australian ground troops. The following day, the Red Baron was buried by his enemies with full military honors.
Photo: World History Group Archives