Fighter Pilots and Fighter Planes: The Red Baron Quiz

Answer: Poland

In 1945 Breslau became a part of Poland as a result of the post-World War II Potsdam Agreement which established policy for the occupation of Germany.

Answer: Cavalry officer

Richthofen served on both the Eastern and Western fronts as a cavalry reconnaissance officer before his transfer to the flying service was approved.

Answer: He shot it down from an observer position

Richthofen's first assignment in the German flying service was as an observer on reconnaissance aircraft. From his observer position he fired his machine gun at a French aircraft but did not receive credit when it fell behind enemy lines. He was finally trained as a pilot in October 1915.

Answer: Albatros D.III

Richthofen flew all four of these World War I fighters, but is was the Albatros D.III that was first painted red and resulted in the famous and feared moniker and reputation of the Red Baron. Richthofen was born with the title Freiherr, which is equivalent to the status of baron in many other countries.

Answer: Oswald Boelcke

As the commander of Jasta 2,Oswald Boelcke became Richthofen's teacher and friend. Boelcke established a set a guidelines for fighter pilots, Dicta Boelcke, which is still valued today. Boelcke was the leading German ace with 40 victories when he was killed in October 1916.

Answer: Flying Circus

JG1 became known as the Flying Circus because of their brightly colored fighters and the unit's high mobility, which included the use of tents.

Answer: 80

Richthofen is officially credited with 80 victories. In depth investigation by British historian Norman Franks indicates that at least 73 kills can correctly be attributed to Richthofen. These inquiries also discovered unconfirmed victories that could put his total as high as 100.

Answer: Ordered an engraved silver cup

Following his first 60 victories, Richthofen ordered a silver cup engraved with the date of his most recent kill. After that, because of international embargoes placed against Germany, silver became a restricted item and the Red Baron was not able to continue the practice.

Answer: Hit by enemy ground fire

The RAF credited their Canadian pilot, Captain Arthur "Roy" Brown with shooting and killing Richthofen from his Sopwith Camel. However, it is widely acknowledged, because of the angles of the wound caused by the single bullet that struck Richthofen and the fact that he was flying quite low, that he was almost certainly hit by Australian anti-aircraft fire.

Answer: Erich Hartmann

Erich Hartmann, the all time leading ace with 352 victories, became the first commander of the Richthofen Wing. Hartmann had spent over ten years in Russian prisons following World War II before being released, following West German political pressure, in late 1955.