FlyerInOKC

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Because May was shooting at his cousin Wolfram and then sprayed everything in sight which the Baron knew was guaranteed to jam his guns.

FlyerInOKC

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Just as a side bar his a video of the Baron's funeral.

Ernie P.

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Top_Gunn; it's just my opinion, of course; but I think that's what happened. Lots of books from noted authors talk about the mystery of why Richthofen broke his own rule. Both May and Wolfram were on their first combat flight and both had been told to "Stay high and out of the fight. If you think you have an easy target, make one diving pass and keep going and head for home. Don't try to dogfight". Wolfram dove on a British plane, but then May went after Wolfram. Richthofen saw what happened and went after May. It makes sense. Richthofen was having trouble with his guns jamming and stayed after May way too long. He paid the price.

Okay; I'm done. I simply wanted to add a new thought to the whole "mystery" of the Red Baron's last flight. The floor is now with our new friend, FlyerinOKC. Thanks; Ernie P.

Ernie P.

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PS: There is a lot of talk about "Who killed the Red Baron". Be advised there was no controversy in 1918. Richthofen was killed by an Australian machine gunner on the ground. Roy Brown agreed in 1918. The "controversy" didn't start until many years later. Thanks; Ernie P.

FlyerInOKC

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I always thought it was the Aussies too.

Ernie P.

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Sir; you are up. Please post your question and first clue(s). I'm looking forward to seeing what you have for us. Thanks; Ernie P.

FlyerInOKC

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OK I'll give you guys an easy one.

Question: What warbird pilot am I describing?

Clues:

1.This famous warbird pilot was an ace?

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Just to get things started I'll trough out an extra clue guaranteed to be of no use what so ever!.

Question: What warbird pilot am I describing?

Clues:

1.This famous warbird pilot was an ace?

2. This ace was claimed as a distant relative by a friend of mine that passed away a few years back. (I warned you it be no help!)

proptop

My Feedback: (8)

Would that be Flt. Lt. Max E. Mumm...a not well known Yank in the RAF...but known amongst his peers for going all out whenever the need arose...

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Sorry Proptop it's not Max but here is another clue.
Question: What warbird pilot am I describing?

Clues:

1.This famous warbird pilot was an ace?

2. This ace was claimed as a distant relative by a friend of mine that passed away a few years back. (I warned you it be no help!)

3. He was the son of a sea captain.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Since it's be a day since anyone has hazard a guess I'll add another clue.

uestion: What warbird pilot am I describing?

Clues:

1.This famous warbird pilot was an ace?

2. This ace was claimed as a distant relative by a friend of mine that passed away a few years back. (I warned you it be no help!)

3. He was the son of a sea captain.

4. His military career started in the Merchant Marines before the war.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

FlyerinOKC; please confirm you are looking for the name of an actual pilot, and not the name of a Louis L'Amour character flying a one-off Grumman Duck. Thanks; Ernie P.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Nope he is not fictional he was a living breathing pilot. Besides I prefer Ernest Gann to Louis L'Amour. I give you a couple more clues No. 6 should really narrow the field.

Question: What warbird pilot am I describing?

Clues:

1.This famous warbird pilot was an ace?

2. This ace was claimed as a distant relative by a friend of mine that passed away a few years back. (I warned you it be no help!)

3. He was the son of a sea captain.

4. His military career started in the Merchant Marines before the war.

5. This warbird pilot was a decorated war hero.

6. One of his first ten victories was NOT an aircraft.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

I suppose if no one else will say it, I may as well try. How about Kapitanleutnant Friedrich Christiansen? Thanks; Ernie P.


Friedrich Christiansen (12 December 1879 – 3 December 1972) was a World War I German seaplane ace who claimed shooting down twenty planes and an airship; he was credited with thirteen of those claims. During World War II, he was the commander of the German Wehrmacht in the Netherlands; he was convicted for war crimes after the war. He was born in Wyk auf Fφhr, Province of Schleswig-Holstein, into an old seafaring family, the son of a sea captain. The generations-long seafaring tradition within his family charted an obvious course for his future.


In 1895 he joined the merchant marine, serving for 7 years and volunteering in 1901 for MTBs. After one year, he returned to the merchant marine, serving several years aboard the 5-masted Preussen (at the time, the largest sailing ship in the world,) as Second Officer. In 1913 he decided to deviate from this career, and learned to fly.


Having graduated and gaining licence No. 707, he became a flying instructor at a civilian flying school. In August 1914, Christiansen was called up and posted to Zeebrugge as naval aviator. He flew Hansa-Brandenburg W.12 seaplanes over the North Sea, the English Channel, and Britain. For his bombing missions on Dover and Ramsgate, he was awarded the Iron Cross Class 2. From 1915 to 1916 Christiansen went on numerous reconnaissance and bombing missions, helping to make his unit at Zeebrugge one of the most successful in the German Naval Air Service. On 27 April 1916, as Leutnant der Matrosen Artillerie (Lieutenant of Naval Artillery,) Christiansen was awarded the Iron Cross Class 1 and Knights Cross with Swords of the House Order of Hohenzollern.


Christiansen claimed his first air-to-air victory 15 May 1917 by shooting down a Sopwith Pup off Dover. On 1 September 1917 he took command of Naval Air Station at Zeebrugge, and being promoted to Oberleutnant zur See, shot down a Porte FB2 Baby off Felixstowe the same day. On 11 December 1917 he shot down the non-rigid coastal class airship C-27, Cdr. Flight Lieutenant John Francis Dixon, DSC, near the Belgian coast. Christiansen continued to carry out reconnaissance, rescue, and bombing missions, such that by December 1917, he had completed 440 missions, including shooting down Airship C27. At this time he was also awarded the Pour le Mιrite ("Blue Max"), the first of only three given to naval aviators and the only one to a seaplane pilot. He was promoted to Kapitδnleutnant in 1918.


On 15 February 1918 Christiansen shot down a Curtiss H12B flying boat off Felixstowe, followed by 2 more on 24 April and 25 April. In June he claimed three more Felixstowe F2As. On 6 July he surprised and damaged British submarine HMS C25 in the Thames estuary, killing its captain and five crewmen (the submarine reached harbour). By 11 November 1918 he raised his personal tally to 13, as well as some shared victories, which cumulatively may have brought his total to 21.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

You got it Ernie! Friedrich Christiansen! Holder of the coveted Blue Max (only Naval Flier to receive one in WWI! No. 8 victory was for a submarine as mentioned above.

My friend Erik told me the didn't talk a lot about Friedrich in the family but they did acknowledge the connection. Erik was big into R/C WWI German Warships, he owned a Dreadnought built by a craftsman in Germany. We would argue which was better scale Airplanes or Ships. Erik passed away in his mid twenties from Pneumonia. He was working in Amarillo, TX when he took sick and was on the way home to spend Christmas with his family. He stopped at a urgent care clinic because he really felt bad. They checked him out, gave him a prescription and recommended he follow up with his own doctor when he hit town. This was Christmas Eve. He spent Christmas Day with the family and the next day his parents took him to the hospital where he died two days later. I don't think he realized how sick he was or the doc in the box failed to make him understand how serious his condition was. I have had a close call with pneumonia myself, I loss a good deal of lung function from it, you don't screw around with that stuff.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Thank you, Sir. I'll try to get something up later today. Thanks; Ernie P.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

This thread is a great way of learning a little aviation history.

Hydro Junkie

It's a good way to learn but it's also a royal pain at times, research wise

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

It does take some work to solve the mystery at times.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Hopefully, you will all find this aircraft amusing. There was probably a bit of amusement at the time. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:
1.This aircraft was designed to perform a very specific role.

2.But the need went away and therefore, so did the aircraft.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Morning clue. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:
1.This aircraft was designed to perform a very specific role.
2.But the need went away and therefore, so did the aircraft.
3.And it could be argued the entire idea was a bit farfetched in the first place.

elmshoot

My Feedback: (6)

B-36 with a nuclear reactor on board. Common misconception was it was Nuclear powered, no it just carried the pile. probably developed enough energy to run a flashlight

Sparky

proptop

My Feedback: (8)

Maybe the Parasite Fighter concept...bombers carrying their own fighter escort(s)

elmshoot made me think of the B 36...and then the Goblin F 85

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

I got it, the Japanese Aichi M6A Seiran float plane designed to be carried and launched from Admiral Yamamoto's brain child the I-400 class submarines. Only 3 I-400 subs were built only two made it into service and third was completed 5 weeks before the war ended. Counting operational prototypes, trainers, and operational aircraft I think they numbered less than 30 aircraft. The aircraft became obsolete after all 3 subs were scuttled by order of the U.S. Navy.

Incidentally I have the Aichi M6A-K Nansan land based trainer with the retractable landing gear on my short list. It will be based on Dr. Michael Hawkins Aichi M6A Seiran which had problems getting airborne due to a lack of power.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

No correct answers thus far. And, in my opinion, all of the above were eminently more feasible than the subject aircraft of this question. Thanks; Ernie P.

Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?


Clues:
1.This aircraft was designed to perform a very specific role.
2.But the need went away and therefore, so did the aircraft.
3.And it could be argued the entire idea was a bit farfetched in the first place.
4.Nonetheless, military planners like to have a backup plan. This was one.