RICHTHOFEN’S CIRCUS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17525, 30 April 1925, Page 6

RICHTHOFEN’S CIRCUS.

ENEMY AIRMAN S DEATH. SOME OFFICIAL FACTS. Controversy raged in France during the last year ot' the war round the death of Baron Yon Richthofen, there being stubborn differences of opinion as to who brought him to eaitn. Many of those who spoke apparently with most knowledge of the facts were far removed from the activities oi the famous flying man and his ‘ circus, and generally the air of assurance diminished in inverse ratio to the nearness to the actual scene of the dramatic climax, those on the spot admitting to a lingering doubt. This discussion has recently been revived in Australia. In the circumstances it is interesting (says the “Argus”) to recall some of the evidence collected through official channels at the time. Richthofen was an intrepid aviator, who was in the zenith of his fame when the Australian scouting squadron appeared in France. He had taken over the first “circus” of machines which had been organised under Boelcke, and it was the ambition of every pilot to pun him out of action. The “circus” was usually a formation of experienced and daring airmen combined to work together on roving commissions. Richthofens name was mentioned with bated breath among the infant;y, and in ail units he and his organisation had generated a combination oi interest. admiration and dislike. Early in 191 She made frequent appearances near Douai. In his account of the Flying Corps, which forms Volume VIII. of the “Official History of Australia in the War,” Mr F. M. Cutlack says that Richthofen rarely fought alone. When battle was joined, and a “dog fight” was on, his own tactics were to remain hovering high above it until his chance came to dive upon some straggler on its fringe, or upon some opponent who happened to be at a temporary disadvantage. At this moment Ricnthofen would descend like a hawk upon the selected victim. “Everything that is in the air beneath me,” he boasted, "is

Jost.' 5 The machines of his circus were painted red from nose lo tail; its pilots were all crack airmen, and they did no other work but hunt for British and French machines to destroy. They were not for reconnaissance nor for any sort of escort work, save wizen they escorted those decoy machines which our own men learned to treat with much wariness. Richthofen was credited with having brought down eighty opponents, but his record was not assessed upon the same conservative lines as those adopted on the British side. Richthofen flew to ins final bout on April 21, when the circus made its appearance over the Australian lines. Mr Cuthlack says that ‘‘the honour of shooting down the redoubtable German leader was much disputed, but the evidence of the time clearly indicated that it belonged to Australian Lewis gunners on the ground, though a British squadron of Camels has never abandoned its claim to him as its own victim. ’’ The fight began at 10.40 a.m.. commencing with an attack on two photographing machines fiom No. 3 Australian squadron. Soon after Camel machines came on the scene, and the British and enemy formation.; flew straight at each other, the infantry on the ridge at Morlancourt being spectators of a first-class battle in the air. Air CviHack’ story goes on to teii how the watching gunners of the 53rd Australian Field Artillery Batter}-. Fifth Division, near the crest of the ridge, saw two whirling and twisting forms suddenly emerge from the haze where the popping of the machine guns had been heaviest. Then one machine dived for the ground, with the other on its tail. They darted about wildlv for a few seconds. Suddenly the pursued aeroplane, evidently in dcsoerate straits, made straight for the crest of the ridge near the battery. The gunners saw that it was a British machine, and its pursuer was a red biplane. The Lewis gun on the near flank of the battery made ready to fire, but at first could not, tor the machines were flying so low and close that the fleeing Camel blocked the gunner's sight of the German. The German was firing rapid, short bursts at the Camel, just beyond lus nose, and the hunted British machine was making no attempt to turn and fire l . The pilot afterwards explained his hopeless position by saying that he had his guns jammed, had’no room to manoeuvre so near to the ridge, and was making a dash for a landing as his only hope. The official historian, in describing the last phase of all. says that “the machines flew on right overhead, careless of everything else except their own duel: and at this point, at about 1 00yds range, the artillery Lewis gunners and a machine gun from another Australian camp behind the c.icst of the ridge opened fire on the German. Splinters of wood were seen to fly off immediately from near his engine The t r {plane wobbled, side-banked up. swerved across to the left in a hail' circle, obviously crippled, then dived -straight into the ground about 100 rls “way *nd was smashed to pieces. The Australians into whose territory it fed; ‘discovered from the watch and papers on the dead pilot that he was KiciUoten. No. 3 Squadron salved his bodv j and the remains of his machine that evening, and buried him a couple of days later." Sergent-mechanic Vincent Smith (popularly known as “Vin Blanc"), who afterwards died in Caulfield Hospital, said that he was among the first to reach Riehtofen as lie fell, lie related that there was some hesitation in approaching the machine for fear of treachery, but it was realised that the pilot had been hit there was a rush to relieve him. but he was found to be dead. He also mentioned that it was difficult for the Australians to believe that the clean-shaven, handsome, refined-looking young man with fair hair, who now lav so limp, was the devil of the air who had caused terror ior so long None, however, could help admiring the fearlessness of tnc man He was buried with full militai v honours. Sergeant-mechanic Smith bein-in charge of the firing squad.