Death of Boelcke

Sorry Reinout, went back 15 mos. Couldnt find it. I really liked the Collishaw-Allmenroeder thread Sept/98 tho.
VBR
Rosebud

[Reinout]

Rosebud,

Yes I tried too, but there is indeed a gap in the archives from about May/June 99 to Jan 99, where the thread is supposed to be! Maybe Scott can tell us more?

Kind regards,

Reinout

[Richard_Schrader]

Rosebud;
You can find the picture of the crash scene in the book."The Illustrated Red Baron" by Peter Kilduff. As for the picture before the fatal takeoff, that is in the Albatros Press booklet on the Albatros D-2.
As for not being a real historian, if you had been on the forum longer you would know that it is my profession.

Richard,
Thanks for the book info. It's that sort of information I was after.
No offence intended on doubting your facts. My hope was to create a webpage that dispelled the many myths concerning the death of Boelcke. I was suggesting; if it is difficult to believe the stories the pilots themselves believed to be true; how does one seperate the injection of decades of folklore from the facts. Your input on this subject is greatly appreciated.

VBR
Rosebud

[Richard_Schrader]

Rosebud;
No offence taken, good luck with your research.

[Amy]

Rosebud:

I read your Web site about Boelcke's last flight. I disagree with you about Boelcke not having strapped himself in and here's why:

Leon Hale wrote passages out of "The Knight of Germany". These passages were taken from a letter Erwin Boehme wrote to his fiancee. Two things come in to play here: 1) Boehme was writing this to his girlfriend. Most men naturally "softened" up stories to the women back home. I believe Boehme did the same as this crash was a very bad one. Also, Boehme was probably still grieving and still blaming himself which may have done some clouding to the true nature of this crash. 2) Boehme wrote that Boelcke "never wore a CRASH helmet" and "never strapped himself in TIGHTLY". I think this here is the key to it all. All accounts show that Boelcke was very serious and very careful. I think translations of Boehme's words have been shortened through the years to "never wore a helmet and never strapped in" which gives a misleading view. When Boehme writes that Boelcke "never strapped in tightly" makes a lot of sense. Not strapping in tightly would allow Boelcke enough movement inside the cockpit to always be looking around him during patrols and dogfights.

I believe Boelcke was strapped in during his last flight, albeit not tightly. Needless to say, I don't think Boelcke would have survived with or without a seat belt fastened. Just some things to think about.

Cheerio!
Amy