PIECE OF STRUT FROM BARON RICHTHOFEN'S WAR PLANE IS PRESENTED TO NAZI MINISTER
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Famous Aerial Fight Between German Ace and "Wop" May Recalled
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(By ELMER DULMAGE)
(Canadian Press Staff Writer.)
BERLIN, Aug. 5—(C.P. Cable)
A piece of crimson strut from the plane of Captain
Manfred von Richthofen, famed German Great War ace, was presented to the German air ministry last night during an impressive ceremony.
The presentation was made by P.J. Mulqueen, chairman of the Canadian Olympic committee and accepted by General Edward Milch, secretary of state for aviation, at the air ministry.
Kept By May
Captain W. R.
Wop May of Edmonton, noted northland pilot, picked up the piece of strut after Captain
Roy Brown brought down Richthofen's plane, killing the "Red Knight." Richthofen was attacking May's plane when Brown flew to the rescue.
The strut, that held together the two wings of the German plane, was in May's possession until recently when he asked the Canadian Olympic committee to present it to the German government as a good will gesture during the Olympics.
James G. Merrick, Canadian member of the international Olympic committee was also [present] at the ceremony.
"We are returning this strut piece to Germany as a token of friendship and respect by the people of Canada and by the Canadian Olympic team," declared Mr. Mulqueen, as he handed it to General Milch.
General Milch, in behalf of General
Wilhelm Goering, Rich air minister, expressed thanks for the Canadians' gesture.
Gallant Adversaries
"During the war," he said, "German aviators always appreciated the gallant manner of their Canadian adversaries.
When Gen. Goering received the rudder piece he at once cabled his thanks to Capt. May.
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The air duel between Captain "Wop" May and Captain Manfred von Richthofen, "the Red Knight of Germany," was a prelude to the conquest of the great German aviator by another Canadian pilot, Captain a. Roy Brown.
It was in the spring of 1918, Captain May was one of the pilots engaged in a dog fight with the enemy. Disabled by a German shot, he was retreating to the British lines when Richthofen singled him out for attack.
Captain Brown saw his comrade's predicament and came to his rescue. The great Richthofen was brought down a few yards out from the lines held by Australian troops.
The Lethbridge Herald (Lethbridge, Alberta) - Wednesday, August 05, 1936
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