4 January

(UTC+1)

Events on this day in the life of Manfred von Richthofen

Victory 16

Under the guns of the Red Baron, Norman Franks, Hal Giblin and Nigel McCrery??p. 51??

4 January 1917
Near Metz-en-Couture
Metz-en-Couture

“Combat Report: 1615 hrs, near Metz-en-Coûture. Sopwith one-seater (lying south of this place), No. LTR5193. Motor: 80 hp Le Rhône No. 5187. A new type plane, never seen before, but as wings broken, barely discernable. Occupant: Lieutenant Todd, killed, paper and valuables enclosed.

About 1615, just starting out, we saw above us at 4.000 metres altitude four plaes, unmolested by our artillery. As the archies were not shooting, we took them for our own. Only when they were approaching we noticed they were English. One of the English planes attacked us and we saw immediately that the enemy plane was superior to ours. Only because we were three against one did we detect the enemy’s weak points. I managed to get behind him and shot him down. The plane broke apart whilst falling. Weather: low clouds and rain in the morning; bright in the afternoon.”

The sixteenth has fallen

Der rote Kampfflieger von Rittmeister Manfred Freiherrn von Richthofen, 1917, 351.000 - 400.000, Verlag Ullstein & Co, Berlin-Wien??p. 106??

4 January 1917
Near Metz-en-Couture
Metz-en-Couture

“The sixteenth has fallen. I was therefore at the head of all the fighter pilots. That was the goal I wanted to achieve. I jokingly said that to my friend Lynker a year ago when we were training together and he asked me: ‘What is your goal – what do you want to achieve as an aviator?’ I jokingly said: ‘Well, flying at the top of the fighter pilots must be quite nice!’ Neither I nor anyone else believed that this would become a reality. Only Boelcke is said to have said once – not to me personally, of course, but I was told afterwards – when he was asked: ‘Who has the prospect of becoming a good fighter pilot?’ He is said to have pointed his finger at me and said: ‘That’s the man!’ Boelcke and Immelmann had been awarded the Pour le mérite with the Eighth. I had the double. What was going to happen now? I was very excited. Rumour had it that I would get a hunting squadron.”

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