Manfred von Richthofen, the
Red Baron, in aviation art print Richthofen's Flying Circus by Nicholas
Trudgian. First world war aviation art print available from Cranston Fine
Arts.
Richthofens Flying Circus by Nicholas Trudgian.
In the history of aerial combat there is no
more famous name than Manfred von Richthofen, otherwise known as the Red
Baron. Richthofen's brightly coloured fighters were the scourge of the
Royal Flying Corps, and their antics up and down the Front earned them the
famous nick-name Richthofen's Flying Circus. In truth they were a highly
respected fighting unit, capable of sending up as many as 50 aircraft, and
were involved in many of the First World War's legendary dog-fights.
A mercurial leader, Richthofen was the premier German Ace. When
taking command of JG1 in 1917 he chose bright red paintwork to distinguish
his own squadron's aircraft from others in the wing - making easy and
quick identification possible during the turmoil of closely fought
dog-fights. Shunning the obvious target he made for himself, Richthofen
declared that the Commander's aircraft should be conspicuously painted so
that in the melee of large formation battles he could exert some control
over events. The painting recreates the scene near Cambrai, northern France on
the morning of March 18, 1918. Aware of a build-up of forces for a massive
German offensive, many RFC squadrons attacked German positions at very low
altitude. Responding with as many squadrons as they could muster,
including Richthofen's JG1 wing, there followed one of the largest
dog-fights o the entire First World War. In the foreground are a Fokker
Triplane and an Albatros, having "winged" a Sopwith Camel from
54 Squadron, as another Camel, and a Bristol fighter of 11 Squadron RFC,
turn to engage the German fighters.
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