Reports were filed. Photo Reproductions. On 21/4/18 Richthofen crashed in the Australian lines in Amiens sector and was killed. Who shot The Red Baron has been contested for decades. Mystery over who shot down ‘Red Baron’ deepens after bullet-ridden fuel tank found in obscure Aussie museum By Nelson Groom. Oh we had all the heads here – quite a dozen official reporters and a cinematographer from the War records Dept. On seeing his cousin being attacked, Manfred flew to his rescue and fired on May, causi… He was almost certainly shot down by Australian machine gunners but no one can say for sure. Shot down April 21 1918, 100 years ago tomorrow, Baron Manfred von Richthofen was a feared German pilot, hailing 80 air combat victories. The remains of Baron von Richthofen’s Fokker Triplane at the aerodrome of No. The Australian War Memorial was voted the number one landmark in Australia by travellers in the 2016 Trip Advisor awards. What happened to the Red Baron's plane after he was shot down? That’s a fact to this day.” As well, Brodeur says his interpretation of what happened — as seen through the eyes of an experienced fighter pilot — has led him to conclude Richthofen’s aircraft would have been practically inverted for the Australian theory to make sense. War. While Von Richthofen was at the Aerodrome I had an opportunity to have a good look at him: he was about 5 7 well proportioned, fair hair closely cropped and small hands and feet and although dead, had a smile on his face. Of course it seemed a down right shame that such a fuss should be made over an enemy airmen – no doubt he was brave man they all are, but unless they have proof that Germany treat our good pilots in a like manner I would be one to pass him by like they are known to treat our boys. The Baron resumed his pursuit of May but shortly, facing concentrated fire from Australian troops on the ground, he made a rough landing in a field near The Somme River. A. Roy Brown. All rights reserved. As Richthofen pursued a plane piloted by Brown’s compatriot, Wilfred R. May, the Red Baron ventured too far into enemy territory and too low to … x 12; Nov 1, 2020 #2. kiwigtx International Mod Staff Member FBBO Gold Member. …I was told many tales of interest by the many chaps that I met but one of the most interesting I now give. The Baron performed evasive action and then pressed the pursuit. The above Private Record Collections are all available for reading in the Australian War Memorial’s Research Centre. The Red Baron, who shot down 80 British, Canadian and Australian pilots, is portrayed as a brilliant and sensitive hero in the English-language production. Meanwhile, ground fire from the Australian Imperial Force came from below. However, I wouldn't take Roy Brown off the table as being a contributor to Richthofen's death. Still intact, the Red Baron's bright red plane was soon dismantled by souvenir seekers." However, I wouldn't take Roy Brown off the table as being a contributor to Richthofen's death. For soldiers in the muddy trenches of France and Belgium, the aviators pirouetting high above them might have seemed a race apart, heroic pioneers of a more noble form of combat. Evidence now reveals Australian gunners are responsible. Within a day of being recovered from its crash site, most of Richthofen’s plane had been souvenired, leaving little more than a frame. No date). It is now eighty years since Baron Manfred von Richthofen, Germany’s greatest WW1 fighter pilot, was shot down and killed over the Australian lines in the Western Front in France on 21 April 1918. Though Buie always maintained his claim, some historians believe the fatal shot was fired by another Australian, machine-gunner Sergeant Cedric Popkin, as the Red Baron manoeuvred to avoid Buie’s bullets. He was the only Australian of the Red Baron’s victims. WWI. "He's was on a different kind of machinegun, a Lewis gun and was shooting at the triplane head on," Mr Bear said. The Red Baron was the name applied to Manfred von Richthofen, a German fighter pilot who was the deadliest flying ace of World War I. Tags: History. 8431 Lieutenant Alec S. Paterson, No. Regardless of who fired the fatal shot, one thing is for certain: Were it not for Brown’s superior skills as a pilot and leader, one of the most celebrated aerial battles of the war would never have happened. Dubbed the “Red Baron”, von Richthofen shot down 80 Allied planes before his death. I believe although only conjecture on my part, that the germans thought that our squadron was responsible for decoying Von Richthofen to his death for we had many casualties in the next few weeks. Places of Pride, the National Register of War Memorials, is a new initiative designed to record the locations and photographs of every publicly accessible memorial across Australia. From the first Von Richthofen appeared to outclass his man and was steadily driving him down and retaining the offensive position, but the R.F.C. Jul 5, 2008 #2. Canadian, Australian and British servicemen have all claimed the right to be accredited with striking the blow that ended the career of Germany's greatest ace pilot, with 80 victories to his credit. Would have caused even temporary inconvenience International Mod Staff Member FBBO Gold Member that were responsible for the shooting the. 21St of April 21, 1918, the crew of two RE8 observation planes of Register! 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