Richthofen' s Flying Circus depicted in
Richthofen' s Flying Circus depicted in
"Ride of the Valkyries"
Painting by Troy White 2006 ©, Oil on Canvas, 32" x 32" For sale
Canvas Giclée prints are now available for "Ride of the Valkyries"
The Red Baron's Flying Circus (Jasta 11) is seen in action over the western front in early April 1917. Rittmeister Frhr. Von Richthofen, flying in the red Albatros D.III scout, Lt. Kurt Wolff in the purple machine and Lt. Edy Lübbert in the yellow and blue aircraft prepare to engage Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutters as they emerge from behind a cloud.
Jasta 11 had a lackluster record until Von Richthofen was given command of it in January 1917. By the end of the month the unit began to reequip with the new Albatros D.III scout and Von Richthofen, who led by example saw his and the scores of his pilots rise. Aerial activity increased as the cold weather began moderating and before long Von Richthofen had his Albatros painted bright red so that his men could easily pick him out in the sky. His men followed suit by painting their machines in bright or distinctive colours.
In March the Flying Circus acounted for 27 enemy aircraft (more than twice the number scored by any other German unit that month). The Red Baron was the high scorer with 10 enemy machines to his credit.
April 1917 would prove to be a very good month for Von Richthofen and the men of Jasta 11. Conversely it proved to be a dismal month for the British who dubbed it "Bloody April" During April the Flying Circus destroyed 89 enemy aircraft with the Red Baron downing 21 machines himself. Von Richthofen' s April harvest represented a little more than a quarter of his final total of 80 confirmed victories!
Manfred von Richthofen boards his red Albatros D.III Scout and a lineup of Jasta 11 Albatros scouts of his "Flying Circus" at Roucourt photographed during the spring of 1917. Von Richthofen's aircraft is second in line.
The Red Baron sits in the cockpit of his Albatros D.III while his Jasta 11 pilots gather round for a portrait in April of 1917.
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