Manfred von Richthofen, more famously known as the Red Baron, is arguably the
most famous and widely recognised German fighter pilot to ever take to the skies
in the history of warfare. During his flying career in the First World War,
Richthofen was officially credited with 80 enemy kills, a number which dwarfs
other famous pilots such as Douglas Bader who scored 22 enemy kills. Originally
a cavalryman, Richthofen transferred to the Air Service in 1915 where his skills
as a pilot were quickly recognised. By 1918, he was regarded as a national hero
in Germany and his death in April rocked the nation.rnrnThis documentary tells
the true story of Manfred von Richthofen, using sensational original footage
shot during the First World War. It covers his life through its entirety, from
his birth in Schlesien through to the flying exploits of this astonishing German
hero, including the dog fights of June 1917 in Flandern. rnrnIn the air at this
time, the Allies securely maintained air superiority and all available German
hunter squadrons were thrown into the battle in order to subdue their opponents.
Richthofen and his fellow pilots mastered the tasks given to them brilliantly
and performed truly astounding feats in the air. The four hunter squadrons of
the JG 1 took over the airspace within a time frame of just two weeks, achieving
a staggering 40 aerial victories. rnrnWhile the Germans were flying high with
the recent turn of events, disaster struck when Richthofen failed to return
after an enemy flight. What happened on this fateful flight and how did the Red
Baron actually meet his end? The answer to that question, which has been asked
for almost a century, is finally revealed in this stunning documentary about one
of the greatest heroes of the German Luftwaffe. Complete with a selection of
bonus footage and scores of original photographs, some of which have never been
seen, this DVD will appeal greatly to military and aviation enthusiasts
alike.
