GREAT AVIATION QUOTES
Manfred von Richthofen


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There are 13 quotes matching Manfred von Richthofen in the collection:


A glorious death. Fight on and fly on to the last drop of blood and the last drop of benzen — to the last beat of the heart and the last kick of the motor: a death for a knight — a toast for his fellow, friend and foe.

Captain Manfred von Richthofen, the 'Red Baron', Luftstreitkräfte

oast to Boelche, Jagdstaffel 2 mess. Quoted in the 1927 book The Red Knight of Germany.

von Richthofen

The duty of the fighter pilot is to patrol his area of the sky, and shoot down any enemy fighters in that area. Anything else is rubbish.

Captain Manfred von Richthofen

The 'Red Baron', Luftstreitkräfte, 1917. Richtofen would not let members of his Staffel strafe troops in the trenches. Quoted in the 2016 book History’s Greatest Pilots Close Up.

The aggressive spirit, the offensive, is the chief thing everywhere in war, and the air is no exception.

Captain Manfred von Richthofen

The 'Red Baron', Luftstreitkräfte.

Success flourishes only in perseverance — ceaseless, restless perseverance.

Captain Manfred von Richthofen, the 'Red Baron', Luftstreitkräfte

Quoted in 1962 book Fighter Pilot.

If I should come out of this war alive, I will have more luck than brains.

Captain Manfred von Richthofen

The 'Red Baron', Luftstreitkräfte. 1914 letter to his mother upon being decorated with the Iron Cross. Quoted in the 1927 book The Red Knight of Germany.

Of course, with the increasing number of aeroplanes one gets increased opportunities for shooting down one's enemies, but at the same time, the opportunity increases of being shot down one's-self.

Captain Manfred von Richthofen, the 'Red Baron', Luftstreitkräfte

80 combat victories. In his 1917 book The Red Battle Flyer, 1918 translation by T. Ellis Barker.

Everything that Boelcke told us was to us gospel truth.

Captain Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen, the 'Red Baron', Luftstreitkräfte

Top scoring ace of WWI. In his 1917 book The Red Battle Flyer, 1918 translation by T. Ellis Barker.

The Red Fighter Pilot

The quality of the box matters little. Success depends upon the man who sits in it.

Baron Manfred von Richthofen, The Red Baron

In his 1917 book The Red Fighter Pilot (Der Rote Kampfflieger).

Everything in the air that is beneath me, especially if it is a one-seater, a chaser, is lost, for it cannot shoot to the rear.

Captain Manfred von Richthofen

The 'Red Baron', Luftstreitkräfte, top scoring ace of WWI with 80 combat victories. The Red Fighter Pilot, 1917.

I started shooting when I was much too far away. That was merely a trick of mine. I did not mean so much as to hit him as to frighten him, and I succeeded in catching him. He began flying curves and this enabled me to draw near.

Captain Manfred von Richthofen

The 'Red Baron', Luftstreitkräfte, top scoring ace of WWI with 80 combat victories. The Red Fighter Pilot, 1917.

The important thing in aeroplanes is that they shall be speedy.

Baron Manfred Von Richthofen

May 1917. Quoted in Gunning for the Red Baron, 2006.

What’s the hurry? Are you afraid I won’t come back?

Manfred von Richthofen, 'The Red Baron'

Reportedly last recorded words, laughing in reply to a request for an autograph as he was climbing into the cockpit of his plane. He was shot down and died on that mission, morning of 21 April 1918.

When one has shot down one’s first, second and third opponent, then one begins to find out how the trick is done.

Captain Manfred von Richthofen

The 'Red Baron', Luftstreitkräfte. My Air Victories, Pearson’s Magazine, July 1918.

Published in the U.S. soon after his death, it was reportedly written “just after his fiftieth victory”, and reveals the writer, said the editor, “as somewhat callous, not to say cruel, with no pity for the vanquished and no compassion for the suffering he had brought upon the innocent”.

My Air Victories .


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