He was also called "Little Red" or the "Red Devil" ( in French ) in reference to the colour of his ‘plane, a Fokker Dr. l triplane ("Dr." is the abbreviation of the German word "Dreidecker" meaning "three wings" ) which was commissioned in 1917.
The Red Baron, whose real name was Manfred von Richthofen, was a WW1 German aviation legend. This aristocratic ace-of-aces was, at one and the same time, admired for his aerial prowess, and feared for the disastrous record, for the allies, of 81 enemy ‘planes shot down. His death in battle, at the age of 25, on 21 April, 1918, still remains a mystery. His reputation was such that, in spite of everything, and because of their great respect, the British have gave him a solemn and full military funeral.
Manfred von Richthofen’s autobiography was re-published in 2013. We went to an airport to see if his name was known, or otherwise, to our interviewees. Watch the video to find out.