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**DennyB** · 12-29-2010, 12:18 PM

Not to stir up an international hornet's nest but from everything I have read on the topic, Capt. Roy Brown actually did not shoot down Von Richthofen, Australian ground troops did.
Capt Brown swooped down at The Red Baron firing a burst then broke contact and gained altitude. Von Richthofen continued to pursue Lt. May at a lower altitude which took them over the area held by Australian ground troops all the while Von Richthofen staying very close and mimicking May's turns.
Suddenly, Von Richthofen threw off his goggles (something he had done when wounded before. These were recovered by an Australian) climbed slightly, then made a right bank and went to the ground.
When his body was recovered from the wreckage, it was taken to a tent and examined by Australian medical personnel (it seems like there was a doctor there) He was wearing his flight suit over pajamas. He had a single bullet wound that entered on his right side below the ribs and exited near the left nipple suggesting an upward trajectory. The bullet was recovered as it never exited the leather flight suit. (the bullet was lost in a house fire in the 1960s I think)
So, from this evidence I would say that Capt Brown was never in the position to have fired the fatal round as it came from below and he was always at a higher altitude and behind.

**Brad Posey** · 12-29-2010, 12:29 PM

Originally posted by DennyB View Post

So, from this evidence I would say that Capt Brown was never in the position to have fired the fatal round as it came from below and he was always at a higher altitude and behind.

That is the way I understand what happened - Australian MG fire killed Richtofen.

I saw a good documentary on it where they went to the scene and sort of walked the audiance through the way the believe it happened. As I remember they had forensic guys explaining the autopsy.

The article William posted is very interesting. I always assumed that their must be Richtofen DR-1 souvenirs out there somewhere, but I did not know where. I recently saw somewhere a photo of Australian soldiers standing around a pile or wreckage from his DR-1 including the two Spandau MGs. I wonder what happened to them, I do not think the article above states clearly that the one on display was Richtofen’s or not. Please correct me if I am wrong.

.

**PlaceOfBayonets** · 12-29-2010, 02:38 PM

I guess it only infers that the machine gun was on the Baron's plane. I too believe it was ground fire that killed him.

Just think had Richtofen lived he might have been in a high position in WWII and he would have had the most sought after baton ever!

W.

**RobNZ** · 12-30-2010, 07:13 AM

I knew the son of one of the Australian Vets who was witness to Richthofen's last moments and he was told by his father that it was fellow Australian gunners that caused him to crash land. His father told him that they ran to see where he had come down. Upon arrival at the site they found Richthofen dead in the cockpit. He had a bullet hole from one side of his waist diagnally up through his body exiting through the opposite armpit. So his father believed it was a shot from the Australian gunners almost directly below which claimed Richthofen. His father cut a large piece of fabric from the aircraft. It has since been donated to an Australian museum.

**Hoss** · 12-30-2010, 08:54 AM

There was or still is a display at the Imperial War Museum in London showing
various items from the plane including the engine, one of the guns, his leather helmet and goggles etc. Wonder if its still there?

Eric

**peleliuexplorer** · 12-30-2010, 12:48 PM

Originally posted by 704hoss55 View Post

There was or still is a display at the Imperial War Museum in London showing
various items from the plane including the engine, one of the guns, his leather helmet and goggles etc. Wonder if its still there?

Eric

I never saw such items when I was there a few years back. That would be a nice display.

-Eric

**Scott Powell** · 12-30-2010, 01:34 PM

I visited the Australian War Memorial in Canberra a couple of years ago and there is a nice display with artifacts from Von Richtofen

**ToddPZ** · 01-23-2011, 12:02 AM

I am not sure but I Think the Seat of his DR1 Is in the Canadian Military Academy

**Norman LaBarge** · 01-23-2011, 10:54 PM

Originally posted by 704hoss55 View Post

There was or still is a display at the Imperial War Museum in London showing
various items from the plane including the engine, one of the guns, his leather helmet and goggles etc. Wonder if its still there?

Eric

I saw the Red Baron display at the IWM when I was there in the early 1970's. My understanding is that the display has been moved or replaced from where I saw it in London.

I also believe that he was killed by ground fire and not by Brown. But, the controversy will continue.

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WW1 aviation buffs of"Red Baron" von Richthofen will likely enjoy this:

WW1 aviation buffs of"Red Baron" von Richthofen will likely enjoy this:

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