Manfred Von Richthofen - Honours, Tributes and Relics

Honours, Tributes and Relics

Relics

Decorations and awards

  • Prussian Order Pour le Mérite: 12 January 1917 (in recognition of his 16th aerial victory).
  • Prussian Order of the Red Eagle, 3rd Class with Crown and Swords: 6 April 1918 (in recognition of his 70th aerial victory).
  • Prussian House Order of Hohenzollern, Knight's Cross with Swords: 11 November 1916.
  • Prussian Iron Cross, 1st Class (1914)
  • Prussian Iron Cross, 2nd Class (1914): 12 September 1914.
  • Bavarian Military Merit Order, 4th Class with Swords: 29 April 1917.
  • Saxon Military Order of St. Henry, Knight's Cross: 16 April 1917.
  • Württemberg Military Merit Order, Knight's Cross: 13 April 1917.
  • Saxe-Ernestine House Order, Knight 1st Class with Swords (issued by the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha): 9 May 1917.
  • Hesse General Honour Decoration, "for Bravery"
  • Lippe War Honour Cross for Heroic Deeds: 13 October 1917.
  • Schaumburg-Lippe Cross for Faithful Service: 10 October 1917.
  • Bremen Hanseatic Cross: 25 September 1917.
  • Lübeck Hanseatic Cross: 22 September 1917.
  • Austrian Order of the Iron Crown, 3rd Class with War Decoration: 8 August 1917.
  • Austrian Military Merit Cross, 3rd Class with War Decoration
  • Bulgarian Order of Bravery, 4th Class (1st Grade): June 1917.
  • Turkish Imtiaz Medal in Silver with Sabres
  • Turkish Liakat Medal in Silver with Sabres
  • Turkish War Medal ("Iron Crescent"): 4 November 1917.
  • German Army Pilot's Badge
  • German Army Observer's Badge
  • Austrian Field Pilot's Badge (Franz Joseph pattern)

Tributes At various times, several different German military aviation Geschwader (literally "squadrons"; equivalent to Commonwealth air force "groups", French escadrons or USAF "wings") have been named after the Baron:

  • Jagdgeschwader 132 "Richthofen" (1 April 1936 – 1 November 1938)—Wehrmacht aviation unit
  • Jagdgeschwader 131 "Richthofen" (1 November 1938 – 1 May 1939)—Luftwaffe
  • Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (1 May 1939 – 7 May 1945)—Luftwaffe
  • Jagdgeschwader 71 "Richthofen" (from 6 June 1959)—the first jet fighter unit established by the post-World War II German Bundeswehr ("federal defence force"); its founding commander was the most successful air ace in history, Erich Hartmann.

In 1941, a newly launched Kriegsmarine (navy) seaplane tender was also named Richthofen.

The engine of Richthofen's DR.I was donated to the Imperial War Museum in London, where it is still on display. The control column (joystick) of Richthofen's aircraft can be seen at the Australian War Memorial, in Canberra. The Royal Canadian Military Institute, in Toronto, holds two parts of the aircraft: its seat and a side panel signed by the pilots of Brown's squadron.

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