The Heroic End of the Red Baron

Red with his Blue Max

On this day 100 years ago, Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen aka The Red Baron, greatest air ace of World War I, was shot and killed during a dogfight over Vaux-sur-Somme. It was originally thought that a Canadian ace who engaged the Baron was responsible but it is now generally agreed that the fatal shot came from the ground, which would appear to mean it was someone from the Royal Australian Artillery whodunit.

There were tributes from friends and foes alike for this man, who was credited with 80 victories in the air. Seven months later, the War was over, and perhaps Richthofen was lucky not to see the result.