Extremely rare signature of Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen, a German fighter pilot known as the Red Baron“, the most famous flying ace of World War I. Von Richthofen joined the army in 1911 and was a lieutenant in the German cavalry when the war broke out in 1914. He transferred to the air service in 1915 and joined Jagdstaffel 2, a new squadron of fighter pilots, in 1916. Within two months he had already scored a dozen victories in the air, including a win over Britain’s leading ace, Major Lanoe Hawker. At the beginning of 1917 Richthofen was made commander of Jagdstaffel 11, later known as the “Flying Circus” for their brightly colored aircraft. Richthofen, who had painted his plane red, was known in Germany as “Der Rote Kampfflieger” (“the red fighter pilot”) and he became a national hero for his spectacular skill and bravery in the skies. In June of 1917 he was made commander of the first independent fighter wing, Jagdgeshwader I, and was shot down two weeks later, shortly after his fifty-seventh victory. He recovered from a head wound quickly and returned to duty three weeks later. Richthofen recorded a total of 80 victories before being shot down and killed on 21 April 1918 over the Somme Canal in France. Von Richthofen signatures are very rare and there are very few known to be in circulation. This example of his signature, Manfred Frhr. von Richthofen, is on a small brown sheet or paper, possibly a bookleaf which also contains another unknown signature. Supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity. NOW AVAILABLE IN OUR CLEARANCE SALE!
