F RICHTHOFFEN FLYING CIRCUS WW I

The German air force was organized in 1913 under the name of die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches, to change its name to in 1916 Luftstreitkräfte. At the time of the outbreak of World War I, they played a decisively subordinate role to the ground forces and were, moreover, quite strictly subordinated to them. It is worth adding that each German infantry division included a reconnaissance company of 6 aircraft in August 1914. However, very quickly the German air force began to expand and play an increasingly important role over the battlefield. In 1918, they had a total of about 2,700 aircraft and about 240 other aircraft. This significant quantitative development was possible, among others, thanks to a strong industrial base and a well-developed aviation industry with such factories as: Albatros Flugzeugwerke, Fokker, Pfalz Flugzeugwerke or Siemens-Schukert. The German air force also introduced many successful aircraft in the years 1914-1918, including the great Fokker Dr.I or Gotha G.IV or GV fighter, but also such unusual designs as the Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI. The German air force was also able to undergo organizational changes during the Great War, as evidenced by the establishment of specialized fighter units (German: Jagdstaffeln) in 1916. Manfred von Richthofen, known as the red baron, was undoubtedly one of the greatest Luftstreitkräfte aces, but it is also worth remembering about such pilots as: Max Immelmann, Wilhelm Frank, Oswald Boelcke, Ernst Udet or later Luftwaffe commander Herman Göring.Manfred von Richthofen was born in 1892 and died in 1918. He was one of the most famous German pilots of the First World War and probably the greatest fighter ace of that war with 80 confirmed kills. He was nicknamed the Red Baron. Manfred von Richthofen joined the army of imperial Germany in 1911, and began his service in the 1st Cavalry Regiment. In the period 1914-1915 he served both on the Eastern and Western Front as a cavalryman. In May 1915, however, he asked to be transferred to the air force. Initially, he flew in reconnaissance and bombing units - in this capacity took part, among others at the Battle of Verdun. From September 1916, Manfred von Richthofen served in the famous Jagdstaffel 2 (Jasta 2) unit, becoming a fully-fledged fighter pilot. He also very quickly began to prove his great talents in this role, achieving the first confirmed victory in the new unit just a dozen or so days after being assigned to it! Until January 1917, he became one of the best fighter pilots in Imperial Germany, for which he was decorated with the order of Pour Le Merite. At the end of August of the same year, he switched to the Fokker Dr. I plane, which he had to paint red. It is commonly associated with this plane, and its color gave it the nickname - the Red Baron. Manfred von Richthofen was shot down and died in April 1918 in what is now France. In the course of his service, the Red Baron was considered a great tactician, able to use the advantages of the machines he piloted to the maximum, as well as minimize their defects by skilful piloting. He was one of the most famous, if not the most famous fighter pilot of the First World War.The roots of the German air force go back to 1913, when it was established Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches, or Die Fliegertruppen for short. It is worth adding, however, that the first planes appeared in the equipment of the German army as early as 1910 and performed strictly reconnaissance tasks. These tasks were, moreover, carried out at the outbreak of the Great War by 34 Feldflieger Abteilung, i.e. field air troops, each of which consisted of six two-seat reconnaissance machines. However, in the course of World War I, bomber units (Ger. Kampfstaffel - Kasta for short) and hunting (German Jagdstaffel - Jasta for short). From 1916, the German Air Force changed its name to Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte or in short - Luftstreitkräfte, and their commander was General Ernst von Hoeppner. On his initiative, the fighter squadrons (Jasta) were combined into larger units called Jagdgeschwader. It is worth noting that the Luftstreitkräfte at the end of World War I had approximately 2,700 aircraft ready, 4,500 pilots and 75,000 ground crew. During the Great War, the Luftstreitkräfte lost approx. 4,580 crew members and approx. 300 ground personnel.