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Martin, it can be stated with NEAR certainty that ground fire was responsible for MvR's death. When you consider the testimony of the 4/21/18 event, provided by literally hundreds of men from both sides who were there, it is nearly impossible to believe that the fatal shot came from the air.
It is a fact that von Richthofen died from a right-to-left shot through the side/back of the trunk, with the bullet exiting below the left nipple. Such a wound, regardless of whether or not the bullet struck the heart, would have been immediately traumatic to the individual hit. As reported by hundreds of observing ground troops, MvR continued to pursue May's Camel turn for turn, at tree-top level , for 90 to 120 seconds after Brown had fired into him. If Brown had delivered the fatal shot, how could/why would vR continue to pursue his intended victim turn for turn? Would such an action even be possible for a mortally wounded man? Seems highly doubtful, at least to me.
More likely an unwounded vR continued after his man until he noticed the ground fire being directed at him. Upon turning for home, the slug with his name on it finally caught up with him.
Carisella's research makes an excellent case concluding that the team of Popkin and Weston most likely killed MvR. Based on the evidence presented, I come to the same conclusion. While it is certainly possible that someone else on the ground fired the fatal shot, it is impossible for me to conclude that the killing shot came from the air.
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