Richthofen

13 March 2002, 06:25 PM

G'day all

Reading King of air fighters by

Ira Jones. In it he says there was an incident where a German pilot was chatting with Richthofen on Douai aerodrome,when a flight of SEs flew above.MVR called for a new pilot and asked him. "You see those enemies up there? Go kill them or be killed."The pilot went up and was shot down. Is this true or a fabrication on Ira's part. He gives no dates and does not name the "famous" German MVR was speaking to, who supposedly told this story first.

13 March 2002, 06:40 PM

I've been reading books about,MvR for 40yrs,I never heard that story before,sounds like fiction,or perhaps the by product of a male cow

Billy_Bishop · 13 March 2002, 08:50 PM

Ira "Taffy" Jones was very critical of MvR. In fact, I think he was critical of Germans period!

He claimed a great many things after the war. He claimed his dead friend,

Mick Mannock had 73 victories for one thing. He pounded on that so much it was soon accepted as gospel.

He also liked to tear down the German reputation for being exact record keepers whenever he could. He "CLAIMED" to have contacted German government officials when checking on the claim of Capt. Cobby for shooting down a German on June 19, 1918. Taffy "claims" the Germans said they suffered no losses that day. That was the final day of

Billy Bishop, he claimed 5 that day. Cobby claimed one.

Now, certain surviving German records actually do show some losses for that day. How Taffy would have gotten a negative answer to his question? Perhaps he didn't contact anyone. Perhaps he simply made it up and put in his book.

Just as some say he made up the score of 73 for his dead friend to try to get back at Bishop, by claiming one for more his dead friend than Bishop was credited with.

My opinion, I doubt if the story about MvR in Taffy's book has any merit.

But that's just my opinion.

VBR,

Al Lowe

Ginger. · 13 March 2002, 10:29 PM

Hate to have to disagree with my Hero Taffy,who only dealt in hard facts,but here goes.
We all know from his books that the Hun was sneaky and lacked real guts in a fight.It is therefore hard to believe that one of them would have the bottle to get airborne with a flight of SE's overhead.What the Von ( this is from an impeccable source ) actually said was.
"Last one in the shelter is a Bratwurst."

leo · 14 March 2002, 02:05 AM

I have noticed that the English and the Germans have a tendency to be critical of each other. Isn't it about time you guys kissed and made up?

frontflieger · 14 March 2002, 02:07 AM

...I read in the notes of C. A. von Schoenebeck that's once - at noon - some (British?) pilots made a flight over the JG 1 aerodrome, beliving: "At 12 o'clock they're eating!"

The allied lost - the bet with their comrades and their freedom, because they were all shot down! Alive.

PeterL · 14 March 2002, 02:29 AM

Leo: "Isn't it about time you guys kissed and made up? "

Crumbs Leo! Who do you imagine is going to kiss Ginger ???

BobE · 14 March 2002, 02:39 AM

Hey! Great! Looks like we get to have "The Great War" refought right here on our own private site. Ginger; hop into that "crappy red" Triplane that Missy built and Frontflieger will be up to meet you shortly.
Let the crumpets and dumplings fly!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Bob

rammjaeger · 14 March 2002, 05:30 AM

>>MVR called for a new pilot and asked him. "You see those enemies up there? Go kill them or be killed."<<

IMHO that is completely unbelievable. Only a bad and louzy leader would talk this nonsense. People like MvR expected that new pilots had guts but were also aware of their lack of experience. MvR is more likely to say: "We will catch these "Lords"! Follow me and look carefully what I do!"

VBR
Rammjaeger

PS: Maybe Ginger is not the first choice for a hun´s kiss but *maybe a hun would be more willing to kiss Missy? *8)

DerDrache · 14 March 2002, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Hate to have to disagree with my Hero Taffy,who only dealt in hard facts,but here goes.
We all know from his books that the Hun was sneaky and lacked real guts in a fight.It is therefore hard to believe that one of them would have the bottle to get airborne with a flight of SE's overhead.What the Von ( this is from an impeccable source ) actually said was.
"Last one in the shelter is a Bratwurst."

Ah, so now we're (I always play the German side on RB3D) sneaky and Manfred's a coward, neh? Let the mud-slinging begin . . .

And while I'm on it, who might this 'impeccable source' be?

Bah. At least I didn't cheat and bring other people with me when Mannock challenged me to a dogfight. >

-Der Drache von der Himmeln