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Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen (2 May 1892 – 21 April 1918), widely known as the Red Baron, is considered the ace-of-aces of the First World War, being officially credited with 80 air combat victories, more than any other pilot of the war – before being killed in action near Amiens on 21 April 1918.
As the following list demonstrates, his victories are well documented. Victories are against English flyers unless otherwise noted. The † indicates death.
| Victory nº | Date | Hour | Defeated | Opponent/s unit | Opponent/s aircraft | Richthofen's unit | Richthofen's aircraft | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 September 1916 | 1100 | Lt. Lionel Morris †; Capt. Tom Rees †; |
11 Sqn. | F.E.2b (7018) | Jasta 2 | Albatros D.II(491/16) | Near Villers Plouich |
| 2 | 23 September 1916 | 1100 | Sgt. Herbert Bellerby † | 27 Sqn. | Martinsyde G.100 (7481) | Jasta 2 | Albatros D.II(491/16) | Bapaume |
| 3 | 30 September 1916 | 1150 | Lt. Ernest Conway Lansdale †; Sgt. Albert Clarkson † |
11 Sqn. | F.E.2b (6973) | Jasta 2 | Albatros D.II(491/16) | Near Lagnicourt |
| 4 | 7 October 1916 | 0910 | 2/Lt. William Fenwick † | 21 Sqn. | B.E.12 (6618) | Jasta 2 | Albatros D.II(491/16) | Near Equancourt |
| 5 | 16 October 1916 | 0500 | 2/Lt. John Thompson DCM † | 19 Sqn. | B.E.12 (6580) | Jasta 2 | Albatros D.II(491/16) | Near Ypres |
| 6 | 25 October 1916 | 0935 | (probably) 2/Lt. W.T.W Wilcox (WIA; POW) | 21 Sqn. | B.E.12 (6654) | Jasta 2 | Albatros D.II(491/16) | Near Bapaume- also listed as 2/Lt. Arthur James Fisher (vs Kurt Wolff) |
| 7 | 3 November 1916 | 1410 | Sgt. Cuthbert Baldwin †; Lt. George Bentham Andrew † |
18 Sqn. | F.E.2b (7010) | Jasta 2 | Albatros D.II(491/16) | NE of Grévillers Wood |
| 8 | 9 November 1916 | 1030 | 2/Lt. Ian Gilmour Cameron † | 12 Sqn. | B.E.2c (2506) | Jasta 2 | Albatros D.II(491/16) | Beugny |
| 9? | 20 November 1916 | 0940 | (possibly) Lt. Thomas Henry Clarke (POW); 2/Lt. James Lees (POW) |
15 Sqn. | B.E.2c (2767) | Jasta 2 | Albatros D.II(491/16) | S of Grandcourt (prob. versus Lt Kirmaier) |
| 10 | 20 November 1916 | 1615 | 2/Lt. Gilbert Sudbury Hall †; 2/Lt. George Doughty † |
18 Sqn. | F.E.2b (4848) | Jasta 2 | Albatros D.II(491/16) | Grandcourt |
| 11 | 23 November 1916 | 1500 | Maj.Lanoe Hawker VC DSO † | 24 Sqn. | D.H.2 (5964) | Jasta 2 | Albatros D.II(491/16) | S of Bapaume |
| 12 | 11 December 1916 | 1155 | Lt. Benedict Philip Hunt (POW) | 32 Sqn. | D.H.2 (5986) | Jasta 2 | Albatros D.II(491/16) | Near Arras |
| 13 | 20 December 1916 | 1130 | Capt.Arthur Gerald Knight, DSO † | 29 Sqn. | D.H.2 (7927) | Jasta 2 | Albatros D.II(491/16) | Menchy |
| 14 | 20 December 1916 | 1345 | Lt. Lionel George D'Arcy †; Sub-Lt. Reginald Whiteside (RNVR) † |
18 Sqn. | F.E.2b (A5446) | Jasta 2 | Albatros D.II(491/16) | Moreuil |
| 15? | 27 December 1916 | 1625 | (possibly) Capt. JB Quested (WIA); Lt. HJH Dicksee (unhurt) (Some sources claim that this was Sgt. James McCudden of No.29 Squadron, in a DH.2.) |
11 Sqn. | F.E.2b (6937) | Jasta 2 | Albatros D.II(491/16) | Quested/Dicksee were downed at 11.20 hours, 12 km east of Ficheux (probably versus Jasta 1)- inside Allied lines. Richthofen claimed his kill at 16.25 hours. McCudden, who returned to base, fits the time period. |
| 16 | 4 January 1917 | 1615 | Flt/Lt. Allan Switzer Todd  CAN †
|
8 RNAS | Sopwith Pup (N5193) | Jasta 2 | Albatros D.II(491/16) | Near Metz-en-Couture |
| 17 | 23 January 1917 | 1610 | 2/Lt. John Hay  AUS †
|
40 Sqn. | F.E.8 (6388) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.II(491/16) | S of Lens |
| 18 | 24 January 1917 | 1215 | Lt. John MacLennan (WIA: POW); Capt. Oscar Greig (WIA: POW); |
25 Sqn. | F.E.2b (6997) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.III(789/17) | O of Vimy |
| 19 | 1 February 1917 | 1600 | Lts. Percival Murray †; Duncan John McRae CAN †
|
16 Sqn. | B.E.2d (6742) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.II | 1 km SO of Thelus |
| 20 | 14 February 1917 | 1200 | Lt. Cyril Bennett (POW); 2/Lt. Herbert Arthur Croft † |
2 Sqn. | B.E.2d (6231) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.II | O of Loos |
| 21 | 14 February 1917 | 1645 | (probably) Capt. George Cyril Bailey DSO (WIA); 2/Lt. George William Betts Hampton (unhurt) |
2 Sqn. | B.E.2c (2543) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.II | SW of Mazingarbe; aircraft actually returned to base safely. |
| 22 | 4 March 1917 | 1250 | Lt. James Benjamin Evelyn Crosbee (unhurt); Sgt. John Edward Prance DCM (WIA) | 2 Sqn. | B.E.2d (5785) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.II | 1 km N of Loos; aircraft actually returned to base safely. |
| 23 | 4 March 1917 | 1620 | 2/Lt. Herbert John Green †; 2/Lt. Alexander William Reid MC † |
43 Sqn. | Sopwith 1½ Strutter (A1108) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.II | Acheville |
| 24 | 6 March 1917 | 1700 | 2/Lt. Gerald Maurice Gosset-Bibby †; Lt. Geoffrey Joseph Ogilvy Brichta CAN †
|
16 Sqn. | B.E.2e (A2785) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.II | Souchez |
| 25 | 9 March 1917 | 1155 | Lt. Arthur John Pearson MC † | 29 Sqn. | D.H.2 (A2571) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.III | Between Roclincourt and Bailleul |
| 26 | 11 March 1917 | 1200 | 2/Lt. James Smyth †; 2/Lt. Edward Byrne † |
2 Sqn. | B.E.2d (6232) | Jasta 11 | Halberstadt D.II | S of La Folie Wood |
| 27 | 17 March 1917 | 1130 | Lt. Arthur Elsdale Boultbee †; 2AM. Frederick King † |
25 Sqn. | F.E.2b (A5439) | Jasta 11 | Halberstadt D.II | Oppy |
| 28 | 17 March 1917 | 1700 | 2/Lt. George MacDonald Watt †; Sgt. Ernest Adam Howlett † |
16 Sqn. | B.E.2g (2814) | Jasta 11 | Halberstadt D.II | O of Vimy |
| 29 | 21 March 1917 | 1730 | F/Sgt. Sidney Herbert Quicke †; 2/Lt. William John Lidsey † |
16 Sqn. | B.E.2e (A3154) | Jasta 11 | Halberstadt D.II | Hill 123, N of Neuville |
| 30 | 24 March 1917 | 1155 | Lt. Richard Plunkett Baker CAN (WIA; POW)
|
19 Sqn. | SPAD VII (A6706) | Jasta 11 | Halberstadt D.II | Givenchy |
| 31 | 25 March 1917 | 0820 | Lt. Christopher Guy Gilbert (POW) | 29 Sqn. | Nieuport 17 (A6689) | Jasta 11 | Halberstadt D.II | Tilloy |
| 32 | 2 April 1917 | 0835 | Lt. Patrick John Gordon Powell †; 1AM. Percy Bonner † |
13 Sqn. | B.E.2d (5841) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.III(2253/17) | Farbus |
| 33 | 2 April 1917 | 1115 | 2/Lt. Algernon Peter Warren (POW); Sgt. Reuel Dunn † |
43 sqn. | Sopwith 1½ Strutter (A2401) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.III(2253/17) | Givenchy |
| 34 | 3 April 1917 | 1615 | 2/Lt. Donald Peter McDonald (POW); 2/Lt. John Ingram Mullaniffe O'Beirne † |
25 Sqn. | F.E.2d (A6382) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.III(2253/17) | Between Lens and Liévin |
| 35 | 5 April 1917 | 1115 | 2/Lt. Arthur Norman Lechler (WIA; POW); 2/Lt. Herbert Duncan King George † |
48 Sqn. | Bristol F.2a (A3340) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.III(2253/17) | Lewarde, S of Douai |
| 36 | 5 April 1917 | 1130 | Lts. Alfred Terence Adams (POW); Donald James Stewart (POW) |
48 Sqn. | Bristol F.2a (A3343) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.III(2253/17) | Cuincy |
| 37 | 7 April 1917 | 1745 | 2/Lt. George Orme Smart † | 60 Sqn. | Nieuport 17 (A6645) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.III(2253/17) | Mercatel |
| 38 | 8 April 1917 | 1140 | Lts. John Heagerty (POW); Leonard Heath-Cantle †; |
43 Sqn. | Sopwith 1½ Strutter (A2406) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.III(2253/17) | Near Farbus |
| 39 | 8 April 1917 | 1640 | 2/Lt. Keith Ingleby MacKenzie †; 2/Lt. Guy Everingham † |
16 Sqn. | B.E.2g (A2815) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.III(2253/17) | Vimy |
| 40 | 11 April 1917 | 0925 | Lt. Edward Claude England Derwin (WIA); Gunner H. Pierson (WIA) |
13 Sqn. | B.E.2d (2501) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.III(2253/17) | Willerval-fell inside Allied Lines. |
| 41 | 13 April 1917 | 0858 | Capt. James Maitland Stuart †; Lt. Maurice Herbert Wood † |
59 sqn. | R.E.8 (A3190) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.III(2253/17) | Between Vitry and Brebières |
| 42 | 13 April 1917 | 1245 | Sgt. James Allen Cunniffe (WIA); 2AM. W.J. Batten; (WIA) |
11 Sqn. | F.E.2b (A831) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.III(2253/17) | Between Monchy and Feuchy-crashed Allied side of Lines. |
| 43 | 13 April 1917 | 1935 | 2/Lt. Allan Harold Bates †; Sgt. William Alfred Barnes † |
25 Sqn. | F.E.2b (4997) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.III(2253/17) | Noyelles-Godault, near Hénin-Liétard |
| 44 | 14 April 1917 | 0915 | Lt. William Oswald Russell (POW) | 60 Sqn. | Nieuport 17 (A6796) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.III(2253/17) | 1 km S of Bois Bernard |
| 45 | 16 April 1917 | 1730 | 2/Lt. Alphonso Pascoe (WIA); 2/Lt. Frederick Seymour Andrews † |
13 Sqn. | B.E.2e (3156) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.III(2253/17) | Between Bailleul and Gavrelle-Allied side of Lines. |
| 46 | 22 April 1917 | 1710 | (possibly) Lt. Waldemar Franklin (WIA); Lt. William Frederick Fletcher; (WIA) |
11 Sqn. | F.E.2b (7020) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.III(2253/17) | Near Lagnicourt- one of four FE2b's downed by Jasta 11. |
| 47 | 23 April 1917 | 1205 | 2/Lt. Eric Welch †; Sgt. Amos George Tollervey † |
16 Sqn. | B.E.2f (A3168) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.III(2253/17) | Mericourt |
| 48 | 28 April 1917 | 0930 | Lt. Reginald William Follit †; 2/Lt. Frederick James Kirkham (POW) |
13 Sqn. | B.E.2e (7221) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.III(2253/17) | E of Pelves, SE edge of Square 6998 |
| 49 | 29 April 1917 | 1205 | Lt. Richard Applin † | 19 Sqn. | SPAD VII (B1573) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.III(2253/17) | Near Lecluse |
| 50 | 29 April 1917 | 1655 | Sgt. George Stead †; Cpl. Alfred Beebee † |
18 sqn. | F.E.2b (4898) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.III(2253/17) | SW of Inchy, Hill 90, near Pariville |
| 51 | 29 April 1917 | 1925 | Lt. David Evan Davies †; Lt. George Henry Rathbone CAN †
|
12 Sqn. | B.E.2e (2738) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.III(2253/17) | Near Roeux |
| 52 | 29 April 1917 | 1940 | Flt. Sub-Lt Albert Edward Cuzner CAN †
|
8 RNAS | Sopwith Triplane (N5463) | Jasta 11 | Albatros D.III(2253/17) | Between Billy-Montigny and Sallaumines over Vimy |
| 53 | 18 June 1917 | 1315 | Lt. Ralph Walter Elley Ellis †; Lt. Harold Carver Barlow † |
9 Sqn. | R.E.8 (A4290) | JG I | Albatros D.V(789/17) | Hof Struywe, Square V.42 |
| 54? | 23 June 1917 | 2130 | (possibly) Lt. Robert Wallace Farquhar (unhurt) | 23 Sqn. | SPAD VII (B1530) | JG I | Albatros D.V(1177/17) | N of Ypres- landed back at base at La Lovie, slightly damaged. |
| 55 | 24 June 1917 | 0910 | Capt. Norman George McNaughton MC †; Lt. Angus Hughes Mearns † |
57 Sqn. | D.H.4 (A7473) | JG I | Albatros D.V(1177/17) | Between Keibergmolen (former windmill, located in Beselare) and Lichtensteinlager. |
| 56 | 25 June 1917 | 1840 | Lt. Leslie Spencer Bowman †; 2/Lt. James Edward Power-Clutterbuck † |
53 Sqn. | R.E.8 (A3847) | JG I | Albatros D.V(1177/17) | Near Le Bizet |
| 57 | 2 July 1917 | 1020 | Sgt. Hubert Arthur Whatley †; 2/Lt. Frank Guy Buckingham Pascoe † |
53 Sqn. | R.E.8 (A3538) | JG I | Albatros D.V(1177/17) | Deulemont |
| 58 | 16 August 1917 | 0755 | 2/Lt. William Harold Trant Williams (WIA; POW; † from wounds) | 29 Sqn. | Nieuport 23 (A6611) | JG I | Albatros D.V(2059/17) | Near Polygon Wood |
| 59 | 26 August 1917 | 0730 | 2/Lt. Coningsby Phillip Williams † | 19 Sqn. | SPAD VII (B3492) | JG I | Albatros D.V(2059/17) | Between Poelcapelle and Langemarck |
| 60 | 1 September 1917 | 0750 | Lt. John Bristo Culley Madge (WIA/POW); 2/Lt. Walter Kember † |
6 Sqn. | R.E.8 (B782) | JG I | Fokker F.I(102/17) | Near Zonnebeke |
| 61 | 3 September 1917 | 0735 | Lt. Algernon Frederick Bird (POW) | 46 Sqn. | Sopwith Pup (B1795) | JG I | Fokker F.I (102/17) | S of Bousbecque |
| 62 | 23 November 1917 | 1400 | Lt. James Alexander Vazeill Boddy (WIA) | 64 Sqn. | D.H.5 (A9299) | JG I | Albatros D.V(4693/17) | SE edge of Bourlon Wood-rescued from no-mans land |
| 63 | 30 November 1917 | 1430 | Lt. Donald Argyle Douglas Ian MacGregor † | 41 Sqn. | S.E.5a (B644) | JG I | Albatros D.V(4963/17) | Near Mœuvres. Noted elsewhere (Gibbons) as 56 Sqn's Capt. P.T. Townsend. However, Townsend was downed 15.45 some 34 km further north west. |
| 64 | 12 March 1918 | 1110–1115 | 2/Lt. Leonard Frederick Cyril Clutterbuck (POW); 2/Lt Henry James Sparks MC; (POW) |
62 Sqn. | Bristol F.2b (B1251) | JG I | Fokker Dr.I(152/17) | N of Nauroy, Square 2858 |
| 65 | 13 March 1918 | 1035 | Lt. Elmer Ernest Heath CAN (WIA/POW)
|
73 Sqn. | Sopwith Camel (B2523) | JG I | Fokker DR.I (152/17) | Between Gonnelieu and Banteux, Square 1853 |
| 66 | 18 March 1918 | 1115 | 2/Lt. William George Ivamy CAN (POW)
|
54 Sqn. | Sopwith Camel (B5243) | JG I | Fokker DR.I (477/17) | road Molain–Vaux-Andigny |
| 67 | 24 March 1918 | 1445 | Lt. John Percy McCone CAN †; OR Lt. Donald Cecil Tucker (WIA/POW) |
both 41 Sqn. | S.E.5a (C1054 or C6399) | JG I | Fokker DR.I(477/17) | Combles; Gibbons listed Lt. W Porter of 56 Sqn, although he was killed an hour earlier versus Jasta 34b. As Richthofen's combat report states the enemy aircraft disintegrated, McCone would be the more likely victim. |
| 68 | 25 March 1918 | 1555 | 2/Lt. Donald Cameron † | 3 Sqn. | Sopwith Camel (C1562) | JG I | Fokker DR.I(477/17) | road Bapaume–Albert |
| 69 | 26 March 1918 | 1645 | (possibly) Lt. Allan McNab Denovan CAN †
|
1 Sqn. | S.E.5a (B511) | JG I | Fokker DR.I(477/17) | S of Contalmaison. Several other victims have been postulated over the years, but Donovan is the best fit for time and location. These others include Lt W Knox (54 Sqn), who was actually killed two days earlier, Lt ATW Lindsay (54 Sqn), who was lost two hours earlier, and one of two 19 Sqn. Sopwith Dolphins lost that day. |
| 70 | 26 March 1918 | 1700 | 2/Lt. Vernon Jack Reading †; 2/Lt. Matthew Leggat † |
15 Sqn. | R.E.8 (B742) | JG I | Fokker DR.I(477/17) | 2 km NE of Albert, Somme |
| 71 | 27 March 1918 | 0900 | Capt.Thomas Sydney Sharpe DFC (WIA/POW) | 73 Sqn. | Sopwith Camel (C6733) | JG I | Fokker DR.I (127/17) | Ancre, 1 km N of Aveluy, N of Albert |
| 72 | 27 March 1918 | 1630 | Lt. Edward Treloar Smart; 2/Lt. Kenneth Purnell Barford | 2 Sqn. | A/W F.K.8 (B288) | JG I | Fokker DR.I(477/17) | 2 km O of Foucaucourt. (Some sources suggest that this may have been a DH-4 of 5 RNAS.) |
| 73 | 27 March 1918 | 1635 | 2/Lt. George Halliwell Harding  USA †
|
79 Sqn. | Sopwith Dolphin (C4016) | JG I | Fokker DR.I (477/17) | 1 km N of Chuignolles, S of Bray-sur-Somme |
| 74 | 28 March 1918 | 1220 | 2/Lts. Joseph Bertram Taylor †; 2/Lt. Eric Betley † |
82 Sqn. | A/W F.K.8 (C8444) | JG I | Fokker DR.I (127/17) | Near Mericourt |
| 75 | 2 April 1918 | 1230 | 2/Lt. Ernest David Jones †; 2/Lt. Robert Francis Newton † |
52 Sqn. | R.E.8 (A3868) | JG I | Fokker DR.I (477/17) | Hill 104, NE of Moreuil |
| 76 | 6 April 1918 | 1545 | Capt.Sydney Philip Smith (MIA) | 46 Sqn. | Sopwith Camel (D6491) | JG I | Fokker DR.I(127/17) | NE of Villers-Bretonneux, near the E edge of Bois de Hamel |
| 77 | 7 April 1918 | 1130 | 2/Lt. Albert Vernon Gallie | 73 Sqn. | Sopwith Camel (D6550) | JG I | Fokker DR.I (477/17) | Near Hangard |
| 78? | 7 April 1918 | 1205 | (possibly) Lt. Ronald George Hinings Adams (WIA/POW) | 73 Sqn. | Sopwith Camel (D6554) | JG I | Fokker DR.I(477/17) | 500m E of Hill 104, N of Villers-Bretonneux. (Possibly a different Camel from 73 Sqn; three were lost.) |
| 79 | 20 April 1918 | 1840 | Major Richard Raymond-Barker MC † | 3 Sqn. | Sopwith Camel (D6439) | JG I | Fokker DR.I(425/17) | SO of Bois de Hamel |
| 80 | 20 April 1918 | 1843 | 2/Lt. David Greswolde Lewis  RHO (POW)
|
3 Sqn. | Sopwith Camel (B7393) | JG I | Fokker DR.I (425/17) | NE of Villers-Bretonneux |
The Aerodrome n.d.
Citations
- Shores, Franks & Guest 1990, pp. 242–255.
- Franks, Giblin & McCrery 2007, p. 46.
- Franks, Giblin & McCrery 2007, p. 163.
- Franks, Giblin & McCrery 2007, p. 174.
- Franks, Giblin & McCrery 2007, p. 178.
- Franks, Giblin & McCrery 2007, p. .
- "Manfred von Richthofen". The Aerodrome. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
Bibliography
- Franks, Norman; Giblin, Hal; McCrery, Nigel (2007) . Under the Guns of the Red Baron – The Complete Record of Von Richthofen's Victories and Victims Fully Illustrated. London/New York: Grub Street/Caxton/Barnes & Noble. p. 224. ISBN 978-0-7607-1209-2.
- Gibbons, Floyd (1930). The Red Knight of Germany. Mount Pleasant, SC: Arcadia Press (last published 2016). ISBN 978-1-5413-7451-5.
- Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell F. (1990). Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.