Manfred Von Richthofen

Manfred Von RIchthofen

When people hear the term "Red Baron" all sorts of ideas may fill a listeners head. If any teenager were asked they just might say, "frozen pizza", but any scholar will say that the Red Baron was the greatest fighter pilot of his era. Manfred Von Richthofen was born into Prussian royalty. As a young boy Manfred had a passion for hunting, but unlike his brother, Lothar, Manfred enjoyed the stalk of the hunt. His desire for the pursuit showed that Von Richthofen was destined to be a war hero. Later on in life, the Baron completed cadet-training ready to gamble his life for Vater Deutschland. Manfred had always enjoyed riding horses, so it only made sense that he joined a military cavalry unit. Unfortunately, World War I broke out with new technologies making warhorses obsolete for battle. This caused Von Richthofen to join up with a supply corps. Shortly after May 1915, Manfred took the position of aircraft observer, but then after an inspirational meeting with his hero, Oswald Boelcke, he decided to become a pilot. After joining Jasta II, his airplane squadron, he took down his first enemy plane over Cambrai, France on September 17, 1916. From then on, his career only made positive progression. On one occasion, he shot down an English flying ace, Lanoe Hawker. Richthofen soon won German hearts, as surprisingly not for being a good pilot, but rather for his aerial marksmanship. Consequently, he painted his plane a vibrant red to intimidate his enemies by making sure his presence was known. Richthofen was nearly on top of the world when after his eightieth kill he was shot down by an Australian anti-aircraft unit. Thus, ending his career.

Manfred by his Fokker Dr.I

Manfred Von Richthofen is an extremely admirable man. He made his life a living commitment to the land that he loved so dearly. Not only did he put forth amazing nationalism, but also he was a living example of it. Quite literally this man lived and died for his nation. The characteristic nationalism is very important to me and it is what I look for in a hero. Nationalism can also tie a character very close to other ethical traits such as loyalty and dedication, but if a person is missing those two traits, what kind of hero is he?

Manfred Von Richthofen also had an unswayable confidence in himself. Von Richthofen was not about to let neither Frenchmen nor Englishmen bring him down. In fact, it was almost a joke to him that they thought they could. Manfred once said, "The English had hit upon a splendid joke. They intended to catch me or to bring me down." This kind of confidence was good for Von Richthofen for it empowered him. His self-confidence made it clear to himself and others that no one would bring him down and he himself would secure that statement to the best of his ability. This confidence became a driving force in his war effort. Thus, it enabled him to do that which affected a war.

One of my favorite traits about Manfred Von Richthofen was his instinct of a true hunter. Manfred, as a boy, always enjoyed the stalk of the hunt. While his brother, Lothar Von Richthofen, would always go in the woods and shoot everything that moved, Manfred would always stalk and track. Then, he would wait for the optimal moment to deliver that lethal shot, which of course, affected his career later as a pilot. The Red Baron would always hover above the enemy and at then wait for the prime moment to swoop down and convey showers of lead onto the disputant aircraft. But if his marksmanship could not make the kill immediately, he always had his instinct to hunt it down.

In conclusion, Manfred Von Richthofen is my ideal hero. Not only did he dedicate himself to an entire nation, but also he died for it. Manfred used his instincts and gut feelings when he was flying. This makes a superb trait to admire because sometimes there is no logic for a situation; there are only actions a person instinctively thinks should be taken with a glimpse of on the spot life or death situations. These not only make Von Richthofen an idol, but in my eyes a greater than life hero.