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Victory 25

Event ID: 167

Categories: 

Under the guns of the Red Baron, Norman Franks, Hal Giblin and Nigel McCrery

09 March 1917

50.32487108970978, 2.7906211827892107
Between Roclincourt and Bailleul
Roclincourt

Source ID: 13

Under the guns of the Red Baron, Norman Franks, Hal Giblin and Nigel McCrery p.  74 

ISBN: 9781898697275

“Combat Report: 1155 hrs, Vickers one-seater. No. on tail AMC 3425a. Between Roclincourt and Bailleul, this side of the line, 500 metres behind trenches. Occupant: Not recognisable, as completely burnt.

With three of my planes I attacked several enemy planes. The machine I had singled out soon caught fire and dashed downwards after firing 100 shots. The plan is lying on our side, but cannot be salvaged as it is nearly completely burned and too near the front. Weather: low clouds and snowstorms all day.”

This Post Has One Comment

  1. Uncertainty exists again regarding Richthofen’s Albatros. After Le Petit Rouge had been shot up by No.40 Squadron FE.8s on 6 March, it is unknown how long it took to prepare the machine for towing (photographs believed to be taken at that time reveal the elevator and horizontal stabilizers were removed and that the ailerons had been disconnected, likely as a precursor to removing the wings, all of which are associated with the vehicular towing of airplanes), return it to La Brayelle, and then, depending on the unknown extent of the damage, repair or even replace the fuel tanks and engine. Thus, while it is possible Le Petit Rouge had been repaired by the 9th, Richthofen’s description of “shot up” indicates the engine may have required more than passing attention and that he needed another Albatros for this sortie. 2006/16 is a perennial possibility, as is 1996/16, since Lübbert was still convalescing from his wounds three days earlier.

    Richthofen’s combat report reference of “A.M.C. 3425a” regards A2571’s batch number, not serial number. This also confirms that at least part of the rudder survived the pre/post-crash fires. Although ripe for the taking this rudder, either wholly or in part, has not been seen amongst the photographs of Richthofen’s victory souvenirs.

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