The Red Baron's Last Flight: A Mystery Investigated

by Norman L.R. Franks, Alan Bennett

Much has been written about Manfred von Richthofen's last flight and combat on the morning of April 21st 1918, and much controversy remains to this day. Both authors have travelled to the sight of Richthofen's final crash, studied the landscape and have discovered what many eye-witnesses of the time could see, and more importantly, what they could not have seen.

During research for "Under the Guns of the Red Baron", a file of letters written by eye-witnesses to von Richthofen's crash, dated in the 1930s, was discovered. These letters were written many years before later reports became clouded in the mists of time.

The final result is a detailed account of von Richthofen's last flight in which he persued a Sopwith Camel across the allied front line, and ended in a mortal wound from a single bullet.

Genres: History

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Norman Leslie Robert Franks was an English militaria writer who specialised in aviation topics. He focused on the pilots and squadrons of World Wars I and II.

Reviews

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, published in 2006 (reprinted 2010) attempts to answer the question “Who killed the Red Baron?” There are several candidates and you can eliminate Snoopy right off. This is an investigation and it reads like one. It’s not the liveliest of accounts; the writing’s quite dry and covers a lot of detail, but it does give us answers. Points covered are the flight paths of the aerial combatants, the wreckage and salvaging of the Fokker triplane (spoiler: The Baron lost the fight), medical investigations, other investigations and boards, and conclusions. The chapter titled “Lieutenant ‘Wop’ May’s Adventure” is a good account of Lt. May’s flight path, and, since he was following him, the Baron’s as well. The Red Baron (Rittmeister Manfred, Freiherr von Richtofen) should have been able to finish May handily, but encountered several problems, covered in the book. Also covered is the “flight path” of the fatal bullet through von Richtofen which helps to substantiate from where it came. There are three raised relief maps tracing the final flight’s route, which unfortunately do not point out the locations of the anti-aircraft guns figuring in the story. Authors P.J. Carisella (Who Killed the Red Baron? ) and Dale Titler (The Day the Red Baron Died), reviews of whose books are in “My Books” here, were also consulted. The answer of who did the deed is as definitive as one could get; you have to read it for yourself and it's on page 114 of the 2010 paperback. On the same page (first whole paragraph) there is another candidate with a slight possibility. Until time travel becomes reality, this is as close as we’re likely to get.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

While The Red Baron's Last Flight has all the qualities of a textbook - dry and aged facts, paired with antiquated maps and grainy photos - it reads as a mystery novel. The initial chapters are concerned with Baron von Richthofen's Ace reputation and the circumstances of WWI that brought German forces against the Allies in Northern France in March 1918. The setting having been established, the numerous claims for downing the infamous red Fokker Dr.I triplane are then chronologically doled out. As each new claim is revealed, inaccuracies and inconsistencies are (sometimes comically) exposed through the authors' insight and proofs. As this is the first book I've read on the Red Baron, I can't comment on the qualitative accuracy or any bias on the part of the authors. However, it seems that Franks and Bennett were thorough in their investigation and I am convinced of the identity of the one true claimant.

[Agatha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Red Baron's Last Flight: A Mystery Investigated reads much like a textbook. Franks was concise and subjective as to presenting the mystery behind who shot down the Red Baron, also known as Manfred von Richthofen. The beginning of the book briefly explains why Richthofen was a German hero. The Allied enemies considered him a uniquely valuable target during WWI. The book chronologically presents the facts behind who shot down Richthofen, but soon it is realized that the facts don't add up and that the claim of Captain Brown killing the Red Baron is riddled with holes.

[Read1000books · Rating 4 out of 5]

The amount of moment by moment detail here is fantastic! Full of photos, maps, diagrams, and records. Think Canadian Captain Roy Brown got Von Richthofen? Read this and be persuaded otherwise!