Snoopy has been a beloved cartoon character since the creation of the Peanuts cartoon show in 1983. Throughout the cartoons many episodes, Snoopy is seen battling the Red Barron from atop his doghouse. The Red Barron was a famous German World War I fighter pilot who was credited with eighty air combat victories. The Red Barron’s name was Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen. He served with the Prussian Army in the cavalry from 1911-1915. Since the majority of World War I was fought in the trenches, Manfred’s unit was dismounted, and used as runners. In 1915, Manfred transferred to the Air Service.
It was a rumor he wrote “I have not gone to war in order to collect cheese and eggs, but for another purpose,” in his application for the Air Services. He quickly became known for his fighter pilot skills, and became the leader of multiple air units. He was awarded the Order of the Red Eagle, House Order of Hohenzollern, The Iron Cross, and the Pour le Merite. The Pour le Merite was the highest military order in Prussia’s Military.
He reached the rank of Captain, before his death in 1918 fighting over Morlancourt Ridge near the Somme River in France. He was buried at Fricourt in France with full military honors. After requests from his family, and the German government, his body was moved to the Invalidenfriedhof Cemetery in Berlin. The Invalidenfriedhof Cemetery is a final resting place for German Officials, and highly decorated military personal.
Manfred used various skills and tactics to become an ace in the sky. His main tactic was flying high above the dog fight and swooping in when he saw his chance for a kill. He also was well known for using the sun behind him when attacking. Manfred had this to say about being a fighter pilot, “There is no art in shooting down an aeroplane,” he wrote. “The thing is done by the personality or by the fighting determination of the airman.” He was both feared and respected by Ally Pilots. In fact, when his plane was found after the battle, it was ripped apart by scavengers wanting memorabilia of him.
Today the Red Baron’s name carries on in Cartoons, and even has a frozen pizza company named after him. Charles Schulz created the Peanuts in 1950 as a comic strip, and it became a cartoon on T.V. in the 1960’s. Today the Peanuts are an ironic American Cartoon that families come together to watch. Snoopy and the Red Barron’s fame have even led to a traveling exhibit about the cartoon and the famed pilot.
Sources:
http://www.history.com/news/ace-of-aces-how-the-red-baron-became-wwis-most-legendary-fighter-pilot
http://acepilots.com/wwi/ger_richthofen.html
http://peanuts.wikia.com/wiki/Red_Baron
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