A LEGEND INSPIRES BAND NAME: KNOW THE RED BARON

The Red Baron: At the Aces.Like an eagle flying absolutely prey, the Red Baron fueled his predator instinct shooting down British, French and Canadian, during World War II. Despite their ferocity in the first dogfight's history, won the respect and admiration of his opponents - for which even was buried with honors of the true hero.Considered to Ace, Manfred Von Richthofen German had an amazing skill game that made neutralize 80 enemy planes. Manfred was also, in fact, a baron. The hereditary noble title of Freiherr (Baron) was granted to the family by the former Emperor of Prussia, Frederick the Great in 1741.Has built its reputation by destroying enemies between 1916 and 1918, however, obeyed the old cavalry honor code - to which he belonged between 1914 and 1915. In the fighting, after opponents shoot down aircraft, did not allow the pursuit of these already neutralized - usually on fire - only to kill the pilot. He never threw in the pilot to jump with a parachute or tried to escape ashore. Despite the horrors of war on land, Manfred believed that, at least in the air, the romantic medieval chivalry rules should be applied to the letter.In early 1917, Manfred decided to paint his red airplane (biplane Albatross D.III; later, the Fokker Dr. I triplane). Entirely painted his red plane for two reasons: the first as a reference to his former Cavalry Regiment of Uhlans (cavalry loyal to the Kaiser Wilhelm II monarchy); the second, being extremely challenging: for everyone to know who it was. After that, he earned several nicknames of his opponents - "Red Devil" and the French "Red Knight" and "Red Baron" of the English.On April 21, 1918, still wounded from a previous battle, the Red Baron raised his blood-red triplane into the air for the last time. In northern France, Manfred broke its own rule, leaving the training to get into dispute with Camel's (British biplanes).Manfred hunted his last trapped behind enemy lines, even got other fighters in pursuit. Attacked by heaven and earth, it was struck by a bullet that pierced his heart and lungs. The giant of the skies, which still had 25 years of age, was shot down just before the end of the war. Ironically, some time Manfred would have told himself: "If I get out of this war alive is because I had more luck than brains."By the greatness of the Ace, today there is an argument over who would have given clear shot. The British Air Force recognizes the English Roy Brown as author of the fatal shot; Australian gunner Robert Buie also claimed to have made the trip - among many others.After a reconstruction made in 1998, it was revealed that the straight shot had been fired from the trenches. The shot would have come out of the anti-aircraft machine gun Australian Cedric Popkin, who died without knowing of their supposed prowess.The Red Baron fell into enemy territory, but his body was veiled with full military honors, for his great performance in combat and an example to be followed. Manfred Von Richthofen became the biggest legend of world aviation - to the aces.A curiosity: Many believe that the Red Baron has some kinship with the father of Suzanne Von Richthofen - the who murdered their parents with the help of Cravinhos brothers. This alleged relationship was well publicized in the national press, but denied the pilot's descendants. The Suzane's father would be the mighty Red Baron grandnephew.
Text: Eudes Bezerra.Historical Images administration.