Could this be Von Richthofen in this photo??

[big ned]

How tall was the Baron, judging by the brickwork from ground to top of his head estimated at each brick being standard size , allowing for the angle of the photo , this guy appears to be just over 6feet

Hi Dave,

Manfred was not a tall man, if he was, then looking at his father and brother in the picture i have already posted, they must both have been 6'6" plus! The French nickname for Richtofen was "Le petit rouge" or "Little red".

As a banal aside, those bricks are not 'standard' size if you take u.k house bricks, they are 8" long x 4" wide x 2 1/2" deep. Looking at the assumed 'continental' bricks in the photo i would say that the 'headers' are 6" and the 'stretchers' 12".

Regards, Ned.

[davejb]

Thanks Ned, i can only assume then that this guy is possibly the Baron

[NickM]

Sorry, I know this is an old thread, but there are so many inaccuracies I can't leave it as it is.

Firstly, "Le Petit Rouge" referred to MvR's red-painted aircraft, not his stature.
Secondly, he was 1m72cm high, roughly 5'8".

Lastly, the photo of the old man IS Albrecht. That image is very similar to one I have, which shows Lothar, Albrecht and MvR.
Compare the two.

[NickM]

Back to the original photo (below) it is not Manfred. The stance is wrong, the face is wrong. On top of that the stance is too butch for Manfred. Compare.
I also have video showing the effeminate arm-in-arm, which doesn't sit right with your original photo.

[big ned]

Are you seriously suggesting that Richtofen 'batted for the other side'?

[NickM]

No, but until you have seen video of his movements and actions (the same as others of the day) you will understand that that's how they were. Men standing arm in arm today is unheard of, but back then it was normal and wasn't a sign of being the other way inclined.

It's more apparent with MvR and his friends than it is with stiffly regimental types like Boelcke or Immelmann. Bearing in mind that nearly all of those he flew and associated with were people he personally selected, it is probably fair to say they were friends more than just soldiers in the same unit.
As he lost nearly every friend around him due to war actions, maybe he tended to be closer to friends while they were alive than maybe we do today.

[NickM]

94 years today

[NickM]

Are you seriously suggesting that Richtofen 'batted for the other side'?

No, but take a look at the film of him in this page and you will see what I mean about "effeminate":
Der rote Kampfflieger | Manfred von Richthofen

[Glenn66]

Would be ironic if he was a pilot AND a rear gunner at the same time!

[Walkwolf]

No, but take a look at the film of him in this page and you will see what I mean about "effeminate":
Der rote Kampfflieger | Manfred von Richthofen

I see nothing 'effeminate' in that film footage link. If anything, it is the cut
of the wrinkly uniforms which look off and ill-fitting.

And the 'arm-in-arm' thing is exactly what folks did back then when posing
with their buddies or close pals for a pic. Today, a guy would pose for
a photo like this by putting the other in a headlock.........!