BARON VON RICHTOVEN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 41, 18 February 1938, Page 6

BARON VON RICHTOVEN

Sir, —As the wife of an Air Force officer who fought opposite to the "Circus,” as il was called, of Baron von Richtoven and his friend and compaire von Richter, 1 feel it to be a pity Lor the people of Wanganui who saw the film, "Crimson Romance" at the Regent this week, to believe that Baron von Richtoven—one of Germany's greatest flying "aces” was in any way like the bloodthirsty bully in the film. The man portrayed by von Stroheim, who would insist on an unarmed enemy being shot down was 1 not in the least true to life. These German "aces” as they were called, were almost all courteous and highborn gentlemen. I know for a fact that when fighting in single combat they would follow their defeated foe to lhe ground in salute. This was a custom on both sides. Several times they came over the aerodrome where my husband was and instead of bombing it, they dropped notes sayln< "Come up and scrap,” and would wait until our ’planes were up and ready before starling to attack. It was weU known that von Richtoven spent his leave from the front in the Black Forest boar-hunting. He said it was more exciting than the war! He wa* a young man, a dare-devil, and a gentleman.—l am, etc., WINIFRED L. GRANVILLE. 34 No. 3 Line, Wanganui.