Fokker Dr.1 – Red Baron's WWI Fighter

About the Fokker Dr.1 – Red Baron's WWI Fighter:

The ace of aces of the First World War, Manfred von Richtohofen claimed 80 aerial combat victories, earning fame as a hero in Germany and the respect of his enemies. Initially a cavalryman, Richthofen escaped the boredom that befell mounted troops as the conflict descended into stagnant warfare by joining a fighter squadron in 1915. Earning multiple victories and showing his skill as a tactician, he was promoted to command Jasta 11 and, later, Jagdgeschwader 1. He painted his aircraft a bright red, which, along with his deadly prowess in the air, attracted the attention of the enemy. His pilots followed, painting their aircraft bright colors and becoming known as The Flying Circus or Richthofen’s Circus. In an April 1918 dogfight, a bullet hit pierced Richthofen’s chest, killing him as the Red Baron crashed to the ground.

The Red Baron is most closely associated with the Fokker Dr.I. Claiming two victories in an early test model, he recommended that all fighter squadrons be equipped with the Dr.I. Its remarkable maneuverability allowed Richthofen and his pilots to loop and turn acrobatically around their enemy.