100 year old film footage of famed WW1 ace, Von Richthofen

[aeropilot]

Wow.......never seen this before!!

Film shot in Sept 1917 of Von Richthofen getting into his flying kit and his Dr.1 being preflighted and his brief to other pilots in the Jasta etc. (including what appears to be a brief glimse of Herman Goering at about 3.04)

Amazing live window into the past.

https://youtu.be/XIiuyijwKRs

[Simpo Two]

And at 5'12": Lt Algernon Frederick Bird, 43 Sqn; 2/5 Norfolk Rgt.

(This does not mean he was six feet tall!)

From 'Under the Guns of the Red Baron', p159 which has a still from a second grouping.

Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 5th October 12:04

[Riley Blue]

Fascinating - can anyone lip read German?

[aeropilot]

So, it's not Fat Herman G in the film, as he was still serving with Jasta 27 at the time, and wasn't awarded his PLM until after Von Richtofen's death.

[baldy1926]

Looking at the film i thought he was wearing a chin strap on his cap. I take it that the line around his skull was from his head wound or was it just a fault in the film.
There was a series of shots still used in documentaries now namely the group briefing.
Seeing the flight dressing part was great as was the bit with the prisoner op thanks for posting

[aeropilot]

baldy1926 said:

Looking at the film i thought he was wearing a chin strap on his cap. I take it that the line around his skull was from his head wound

While not easy to be definite, from what else I've read from people that have seen the film, the general conclusion is as you say, is its his head wound.

[Simpo Two]

aeropilot said:

So, it's not Fat Herman G in the film, as he was still serving with Jasta 27 at the time, and wasn't awarded his PLM until after Von Richtofen's death.

It looked very much like him though (not fat then of course!). Perhaps that bit of film was from a later date?

[aeropilot]

Simpo Two said:

aeropilot said:

So, it's not Fat Herman G in the film, as he was still serving with Jasta 27 at the time, and wasn't awarded his PLM until after Von Richtofen's death.

It looked very much like him though (not fat then of course!). Perhaps that bit of film was from a later date?

Its possible. That little clip of them all in service uniform and awards did seem a bit out of place to the content of the rest of the film before and after that point, so can't be ruled out.