The Illustrated Red Baron: The Life and Times of Manfred Von Richthofen [Hardcover]

Peter Kilduff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1999

Drawing on extensive resources and material, Peter Kilduff has compiled an extensive photo-history of the short but glittering career of the Red Baron, the legendary German nobleman and air-ace.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Kilduff, a distinguished historian of World War I aviation, here offers almost equally distinguished, illustrated coverage of the career of Manfred von Richthofen, the legendary Red Baron. Making use of material, including photographs, from Richthofen family archives that were long sequestered by the Communists, Kilduff comprehensively summarizes Richthofen's career, mentors, comrades, aircraft, and opponents. The fragility of World War I aircraft and the death rate of those who flew them have to be studied carefully to be believed. Kilduff, a careful student, acknowledges dire reality and makes no pretense of speaking to more romantic aviation buffs. Instead, he valuably supplements his excellent Richthofen: Beyond the Legend of the Red Baron (1993), not least with a superior collection of graphic material concerning World War I aviation generally. Roland Green

About the Author

Peter Kilduff is the author of The Red Baron and Richtofen - Beyond the Legend.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Arms & Armour; annotated edition edition (March 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1854094149
• ISBN-13: 978-1854094148
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,496,998 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary job!, October 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Illustrated Red Baron: The Life and Times of Manfred Von Richthofen (Hardcover)

This book is a gem. Peter Kilduff has done an extraordinary job in compiling a wide variety of contemporary photos of the men and machines that made up the brief life of Manfred von Richthofen. What can you say about a man who shot down 80 allied aircraft, killing 59 men, was himself shot down once, and then killed in combat at 25? It was a brief spectacular warrior's life and the photos give it all substance. The photos are given extensive captioning which makes for the narrative flow. It is almost like watching a documentary film. Something I found particularly interesting was the possibility that von Richthofen was shot in the head and almost killed by friendly fire as he was attacking an FE2. The observer of the 20 Squadron aircraft has long been credited with wounding the Red Baron, but Kilduff, using photos albeit briefly, makes a case for the wounding shot being fired from behind. Also missing is the usually drawn out argument of who actually killed von Richthofen, Captain Roy Brown or Australian ground gunners. Personally, I favour the ground fire theory. At any event, this is a great book well-presented and a worthy additon to the literature about the Red Baron.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Peter Kilduff has done it again, another superb MvR book, May 1, 1999

By 

Bill Bacon ([e-mail]) (Canyon, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Illustrated Red Baron: The Life and Times of Manfred Von Richthofen (Hardcover)

A wonderful addition to the von Richthofen files. Peter has done it one more time. Another wonderful book on Germany's greatest ace of the Great War. It is refreshing to read about the man and see many pictures which are completely new. Most MvR books hash and rehash how he died and who killed him. In my library, I have almost every book and article (good and bad) that have been published. Peter's other two books complete the most infomative, well researched and well documented history of a German hero who, until now was more myth than substance. Thanks to Peter's efforts, we now have substance of von Richthofen's short life. The histor of the Geat War is better for Peteer Kilduff's efforts.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully illustrated and carefully researched., March 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Illustrated Red Baron: The Life and Times of Manfred Von Richthofen (Hardcover)

A recent addition to my library, Peter Kilduff's newest offering on the life and times of Avations most legendary 'Ace' is already a gem and a great tool for historians and aviation enthusiasts. It was pains takingly researched and documented and every part of Manfred von Richthofen's life, his family and friends comes together in word and photo. Many of the photos have never been published before, making this book a unique and highly useful research tool. Mr. Kilduff obviously has a great respect for the subject and his objectivity is admirable. The Illustrated Red Baron is a remarkable historical document of German aviation through the camera lens and eyes of Germanys foremost fighter pilot of the Great War. The reader discovering the intricacies of a heroes rise to fame, war and the making of a legend and military genius.