The Western Front Today - Red Baron Crash Site
Baron Manfred von Richthofen, otherwise known as the Red Baron, was credited with 80 kills before he was shot down in his vermilion Fokker triplane DR-1 425/17 on 21 April 1918 in front of the Sainte Colette brickworks.
Controversy remains over von Richthofen's demise, various people having laid claim to shooting down his aircraft. What is known is that he was involved in an active dogfight with British RE 8s and Camels led by Captain Arthur Roy Brown, a Canadian with 11 kills to his credit.
Brown naturally claimed the victory, but so did Australian Lewis gunners of 14th Artillery Brigade near Vaux-sur-Somme.
Today it is believed that the Lewis gunners deserve credit for the action, given that the angle of the entry of the bullet through von Richthofen's chest was from below, whilst Brown was above von Richthofen.
Von Richthofen was buried with military honours in Bertangles on 22 April by the Australians. His remains were later moved to Fricourt German Cemetery and in 1925 were moved to Berlin and finally again in 1976 to his family home in Mainz (to the Sudfriedhof Cemetary in Wiesbaden).
Film Footage of Red Baron Crash Site (1)
Film Footage of Red Baron Crash Site (2)
References:
Before Endeavours Fade, Rose E.B. Coombs, After the Battle 1994
Major & Mrs Holt's Battlefield Guide - Somme, Leo Cooper 2000
A bunker comprised a fortification largely built below ground level.
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