A team of researchers has determined that Baron Manfred von Richthofen wasn’t himself when he followed a British plane behind enemy lines and was shot down in 1917. Researchers Daniel Orme and Thomas Hyatt claim von Richthofen was exhibiting the classic symptoms of the aftermath of a head wound he suffered nine months earlier. In their paper, the researchers claim that the Red Baron’s behavior changed after his injury, saying he was moody, disinhibited and exhibited “target fixation” when he chased the British plane into a virtual shooting gallery in enemy territory. “He clearly should not have been flying,” said Orme, who added that the real credit for the downing of the Red Baron was the machine gunner whose “lucky shot” had creased the Baron’s skull.
The Red Baron, A New Theory On How And Why
Key Takeaways:
- Researchers suggest Baron Manfred von Richthofen's fatal decision to pursue a British plane behind enemy lines was due to the lingering effects of a head wound sustained nine months earlier.
- His post-injury behavior included moodiness, disinhibition, and "target fixation," leading him to exhibit poor judgment by chasing the enemy plane into a vulnerable position.
- The researchers conclude that von Richthofen should not have been flying, attributing his downing to this impaired state rather than skill, with the actual fatal shot considered a "lucky one" from a machine gunner.
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