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**Wilhelm** · 10-18-2015, 01:05 PM

In the autumn of 1915 Manfred's squadron was transferred to Belgium. On October 1st. he met the great Boelcke. Richthofen saw Boelcke as the "German air god". Boelcke had shot down 4 enemy aircraft, a momentous accomplishment. As they shared a bottle of Rhine wine Manfred asked his hero, "Tell me how you manage to shoot them down?" Boelke replied " Well, it's quite simple, I fly close to my man, aim well, and then, of course, he falls down."
Richthofen decided at that moment to become a pilot. He had to fly a Fokker. Flying school would be a true test of his skills. A dangerous test.

**Wilhelm** · 11-01-2015, 01:44 PM

And so, at the end of October 1915 it was time for Manfred to make his first solo flight. He was secretly worried that he could not fly well enough, he was right. He was flying by the book, not instinct. As he came in to land the plane was not on an even keel. He was going far too fast! CRASH! Another brush with death. His plane was a "pile of splintered struts, twisted wire braces, and torn fabric." He did not get a scratch. He would need to study and work day and night. He was determined to fly.

**Wilhelm** · 12-25-2015, 02:03 PM

And so, Manfred's extra studies did pay off for him. On Christmas Day 1915 he was notified that he had passed his 3rd. exam and was now a pilot. Except that he was still in Berlin.

**Wilhelm** · 01-10-2016, 09:55 PM

While Berlin is indeed a wonderful place Richthofen wanted action of course. In a letter to his mother dated January 11, 1916;

"Since spending the New Year at Schwein, I have not flown once. It rains incessantly here, and we seem to be making no progress. I should love to be at the front right now. I think there is a lot going on there."

Over the next weeks he made practice flights around Germany. He landed at the family home in Schweidnitz. He also studied the Fokker engines at the plant.

**Wilhelm** · 03-23-2016, 12:56 PM

March, 1916, Richthofen arrives at the front. He is a pilot. He is assigned to the "Second Fighting Squadron". They are in the line behind Verdun. Manfred is eager for combat. But there is still a problem. He pilots a 2 seat Albatross. The machine gun is in the rear cockpit for the observer to use. So, he copies the French. They have built in a forward firing machine gun on the Nieuports. Above the upper wing so that it can fire upward or forward. Some other pilots think this ridiculous, but Manfred is proud of his work. Now all he needs is an adversary.

**Wilhelm** · 04-26-2016, 07:43 PM

April 26, 1916. Richthofen and his observer spot a French Nieuport. The Frenchman started to fly away. This would have been a safe move, had Manfred not mounted the forward firing gun on his plane. Richthofen flew within 60 yards of the enemy and fired a short burst. The Nieuport zoomed up and side slipped on one wing. It then fell over in the air. He thought it might be a trick, but the plane was out of control. The observer yelled "He's falling! He's done for! You hit him." The plane crashed in the thick forest near Fort Doauamont, behind the French lines.
That day the German war communique read:

Two hostile flying machines have been shot down in aerial fighting above Fleury, south and west of Doauamont.

The next day Manfred wrote to his mother:

Before Verdun, April 27, 1916

Liebe Mamma:
In haste- some gladsome news. Look at the war communique of yesterday, April 26. One of these planes was shot down by my machine gun and is to my credit.
Manfred

But not so fast. The army had a rule, as the plane went down behind French lines the victory could not be counted to the flyer's record. Manfred was angry that his great achievement would not result in public acknowledgement. But his pride was great. He knew he had served the Fatherland.

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