VON RICHTHOFEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 272, 7 February 1928, Page 12

VON RICHTHOFEN

I #REATEST GERMAN FLYER WHO BROUGHT HIM DOWN? “An Australian major of the 11th Infantry Brigade deliberately lied so that Australians could claim the credit of having brought down Baron von Richthofen, the famous German ‘Red Knight/ in France in April. 1918,” says Captain Brown, a Canadian airman, writing ir> the last issue of “Libert}'.” Brown claims to have killed Richthofen himself. He says: “The Australians meant to grab the glory while the grabbing was good. The Australian major had the story pat.” The major denied that Brown’s plane was around when the Australian machine gunners shot Richthofen. “I know he lied,” Brown says. An Australian flying lieutenant saved from death by Brown’s attack on Richthofen, later asked Brown to withdraw his claim so that the lieutenant could claim the credit and Brown says he ordered him off the airdrome. He explains that he did not press his claims, although an examination of the Richthofen plane showed that it was shot from above, because he was informed that the Australian high command was demanding decorations for the Australian and it might have created ugly complications within the Empire. Mr. T. Hayes, a member of the staff of the Australian War Memorial, who is now studying documents in the historical section of the army collection after three years in London, challenges Brown. He says: “I’ve seen official papers both in London and Australia, and can assure the author of the statements that they are far from the truth. I feel that many of the alleged incidents he describes occurred only in his imagination. The Australian infantry certainly had a strong claim, but it is impossible to tell who was responsible for bringing the German ace down. “It is the firsts time I have heard of any claim by Australian aviators. The issue in the official papers clearly re-sted between Brown and the Australian machine gunners.” Mr. Hayes is enthusiastic about his work in Washington, and is planning to spend a month and will then visit Ottawa to study the Canadian records. How Richthofen Died Baron von Richthofen, Germany’s foremost war ace, whose famous Red Circus accounted for scores of Allied planes, was killed over the Australian lines on April 21, 1918. The credit of shooting him down has been disputed ever since, but the official history gives it to Australian machine gunners on the ground. A flight of German triplanes, after having attacked two Australian reconnaissance machines, diverted its attention to a formation of British scouts, and a pitched air battle took place within the sight of Australians on Morlancourt Ridge. Suddenly out of the mist, two machines dived for the ground, Richthofen on the tail of a British Camel. The machines flew over the heads of the spectators, the British plane trying to make for a landing spot. Suddenly Richthofen’s plane crumpled up, and fell to the ground, smashed into piecs. The pilot was killed instantly.