WGFD: Fall of the Red Baron: World War I Aerial Tactics and the Death of Richthofen

**Baldrick62** · 04-30-2012 12:39

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Book Title:

Fall of the Red Baron: World War I Aerial Tactics and the Death of Richthofen

Author:

Leon Bennett

ISBN:

978 1 906033 92 7

Category:

History

Format:

Hardback

Summary:

While invoking MvR as a good marketing tool, and to be fair maintinaing some focus on him throughout the book as a device to move the narrative along, this 212pp book's real focus, and value to gamers and those with an interest in aerial warfare, is on the development of tactics as the character of the war changes and technological advances allowed what was previously impossible to become reality. Chapters cover:
1. Richthofen versus the rifleman
2. Air Combat: Real or nonsense
3. Fokker Fodder
4. After the Fokker (ie, the E.III Eindecker)
5. Richthofen versus Two-seaters
6. Richthofen versus Scouts, 1916
7. Maneuverability Truimphs, 1917
8. Formations and Combat
9. Tactics and the Right Kind
Illustrated throughout with photos, drawings and charts, Bennett debates the strengths and weaknesses of manoeuvre, speed and marksmanship as decisive factors in achieveing success in aerial combat. There are also in-depth discussions on ballistics and aircraft design, and while I'd like to see some of his assertions debated by test pilots, aeronautical engineers and ballistics experts, he does make some compelling arguments. While many will disagree with his conclusion over who caused the death of MvR, his analysis and argument are certainly statistically well-found - that MvR most probably shot from the ground by an anonymous rifleman; one of potentially thousands who raised their weapon to take a pot-shot at a low flying enemy aircraft on 21 April 1918.

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**Oberst Hajj** · 04-30-2012 23:11

Sounds like an interesting read.

**john snelling** · 05-01-2012 09:02

It seems a very interesting book. I would like to read about his tactics.

**Grey Knight** · 05-01-2012 09:26

Does sound interesting.

**sirosis o liver** · 05-01-2012 10:38

sounds good to me

**7eat51** · 01-13-2013 19:55

I am looking for a good book on tactics. The following from your review is encouraging:

Illustrated throughout with photos, drawings and charts, Bennett debates the strengths and weaknesses of manoeuvre, speed and marksmanship as decisive factors in achiveing success in aerial combat. There are also in-depth discussions on ballistics and aircraft design ...

**Fat Wally** · 01-27-2013 10:55

This is one of, if not THE very best, book on WW1 aerial tactics I've ever seen. A real must for any WW1 aerial gamer. Forget about the fall of the Red Baron bit, this book is about so much more. It is packed with so much information on flying, surviving, and shooting down the enemy that I suggest you read it with a pencil and post it notes in hand to reference as you go along. It really has something for everyone.