Customer Reviews

UNDER GUNS OF THE RED BARON: Complete Record of Von Richthofen's Victories and Victims

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This book is not only a treasure trove of historical information, it also manages to evoke the humanity of the Great War. The authors have tracked down tons of information on Richthofen's victims - where and when they were born, some tidbits of their lives, where they were buried and who they left behind (or what became of them after the war if they survived). The book seems to reveal two sides of Richthofen, too - sometimes, a cold-blooded hunter, other times, more of a sportsman who delighted in meeting his adversaries after defeating them.

The authors have also very, very carefully investigated each confirmed 'kill' to try to determine which Allied loss, if any, it was - and in the process exposed the difficulties and inconsistencies in identifying enemy aircraft, determining what happened to them, and recording all the information correctly. Not surprisingly, their research has revealed that some of the 'victims' may have made it home after all - and that perhaps Manfred did not claim every enemy he shot down.

The book is packed with wonderful photographs, of victims and aircraft and, of course, Richthofen himself. There are color paintings of ten of the victories, along with the artist's comments on some of the historical accuracies and liberties he took.

The only problem - and one that is easily overlooked - is some sketchy editing. Some of the text is not as clear as it could be, and some of the text is not well organized.

Massive amoumts of research were obviously put into this book.UNDER THE GUNS OF THE RED BARON recounts every single one ofRichtofen's eighty enemy kills, and, the death of the Baron himself. It also contains a short biography of the pilots who were shot down, and what plane the victims were piloting. Although this may not be your typical history book, it should be in every aviation enthusiasts bookshelf.

This book is pretty much the last word on Richthofen's 80 victories.Many previously misidentified "victims" are finaly correctly identified.Another great work from Norman Franks.

I have not read this book but I've read many other Red Baron books. I'm writing to correct the statement made by another reviewer that the term victim is inappropriate for a soldier killed in combat. My brother researches family military history and has aquired several war diaries and in each officially written unit history the US military refers to soldiers killed in action on both sides as Victims. Victim is the correct term and if anyone questions this do some research before becoming an expert on the subject.

Frankly, I found this book rather sad and depression. It catologues in detail all the documented kills of the red baron in photos and short biographies of the allied pilots as well as the nature of the individual arial combat. Very well presented and researced. One could take any similar list of the war's victims, either axis or allied and come to the same conclusion, that this was a remarkable waste of precious human lives.

I collects antique books and found this book that my son loves it! He shows off his friends about victories and victims. Thank you!

I have read about von Richthofen and his squadren and his life, just not from this book. My review comes simply from the title, I would never read a book so obviously slanted to label people he killed in war as victims, they were there to kill people to and if they had the chance would have shot him, and eventually they did kill him. Civilians are victims in wars, soldiers are casualties. Richthofen killed soldiers, not civilians.