8 April

(UTC+1)

Events on this day in the life of Manfred von Richthofen

Victory 38

Under the guns of the Red Baron, Norman Franks, Hal Giblin and Nigel McCrery??p. 102??

8 April 1917
Near Farbus
Farbus

“Combat Report: 1140 hrs, near Farbus. Sopwith two-seater. Occupants: Lieutenant Heagerty, wounded; Lieutenant Heath-Cantle, killed. Details of plane not to hand, as plane is lying in shellfire and is also dashed to pieces. With three of my planes I attacked three Sopwiths above Farbus. The plane I singled out soon made a right-hand curve downwards. The observer ceased shooting. I followed the adversary to the ground where he dashed to pieces. Weather: fine but cloudy.”

a painting of airplanes flying in the sky

Victory 39

Under the guns of the Red Baron, Norman Franks, Hal Giblin and Nigel McCrery??p. 104??

8 April 1917
Vimy

“Combat Report: 1640 hrs, Vimy, this side of the lines. BE2 No. A2815. Occupants: Both killed, name of one – Davidson. Remnants distributed over more than one kilometre. I was flying and surprised an English artillery flyer. After a very few shots the plane broke to pieces and fell near Vimy, on this side of the lines.”

The newspaper

Die Erinnerungen der Mutter des roten Kampffliegers Kunigunde Freifrau von Richthofen. Im Verlag Ullstein - Berlin, 1937.??p. 104??

8 April 1917
La Brayelle

“There is only one newspaper. It says that we are at war with America. I pick up the paper lying on my deck bed and read it again. Here! The enemy air force has launched a major systematic attack. But it was well received by our airmen. The enemy have lost forty-four aeroplanes… Entire squadrons are said to have been destroyed. Lieutenants Voss and Berthold are mentioned in the newspaper as victorious… But what is that? – ‘Five of our airmen have not returned…’ Why is Manfred not mentioned?”

Böhme writes

Richthofen, der beste Jagdflieger des großen Krieges, Italiaander, A. Weichert Verlag, Berlin, 1938??p. 39??

8 April 1917
Easter Sunday
La Brayelle

‘From: Letters from a German fighter pilot to a young girl by Erwin Böhme.

This morning I visited Richthofen, who has now become a cavalry captain. He had just shot down number 38. It is amazing how far he has brought his squadron in such a short time. He has a bunch of great guys around him who would walk through fire for him; his younger brother Lothar has also recently joined the squadron. Richthofen himself is in great shape; even though he takes off five times a day, he shows no signs of fatigue. What pleases me is that he is so unpretentious, a distinguished but very natural person – he is always particularly cordial towards me. It would be good if he were soon put in charge of the entire fighter force. After Boelcke – who had already died a heroic death – he would be ‘the right man for the job.’

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