“William Bishop wrote: “I had the sensation of joyful excitement that never left me during a combat” Also Richthofen was “addicted” to dogfights over a period of months: “It is the most exciting moment, the approach towards the enemy, if you can already see the enemy and you have still a couple of minutes time before the fight begins. I think I always turned pale but unfortunately I never had a mirror with me. I like that moment, because it is extremely exciting, and I love all such as this. You watch the enemy from afar, has detected the enemy squadron, count the adverse devices, consider the advantages and disadvantages.” Accordingly Richthofen liked the stress and the simultaneous need remain cool.”
Source: Joachim Castan, Der Rote Baron –Die ganze Geschichte des Manfred von Richthofen, Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart, 2. Auflage 2007
„[…] we approach while shooting at each other. In the nick of time I realize that I have scored. A blazed plane flashes towards me. I give my machine a hard turn a fly such a narrow curve that I almost fly on my back. By a hair's breadth flashes a sea of flames besides me manifested in the English. The observer has raised and watches the flames in horror. The English plane flies – completely in flames –a turn. Both man disembark on the way. The remains of the plane flutter in the air.“
Source: Manfred von Richthofen, Der rote Kampfflieger, Deutscher Verlag, Berlin 1933.
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Karl Bodenschatz, Jagd in Flanderns Himmel – Aus den sechzehn Kampfmonaten des Jagdgeschwaders Freiherr von Richthofen, Verlag Knorr & Hirth, München, 6. Auflage 1941
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