Curse you, Red Baron!

by chuckofish

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Today is the birthday of Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen (May 2, 1892 – April 21, 1918), also known as the “Red Baron” and Snoopy’s nemesis.

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A fighter pilot with the German Air Force during WWI, he was considered the ace-of-aces of WWI, being officially credited with 80 air combat victories.

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The Red Baron’s all-red Fokker

Charles Schulz introduced Snoopy as the WWI Flying Ace in 1965, and over the decades the Flying Ace became one of Snoopy’s most recognizable personas.

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He was even on a stamp!

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I was always a Peanuts fan and I loved Snoopy as the WWI flyer. Our pater, whose own father had been a pilot in WWI, was also a fan. His father had been shot down and pulled from the wreckage of his plane by members of the Royal Tank Corps. Our father corresponded with one of them for many years.

Well, FYI, there is actually a new traveling exhibit called “Snoopy and the Red Baron” from the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa, CA. It made it’s national debut at the Elmhurst History Museum–that’s in Elmhurst, Illinois in flyover country. It moves on to Virginia Beach, VA. in July. So if you’re interested, start planning your road trip!

Screen Shot 2018-05-01 at 11.35.43 AM.pngI think this calls for root beer and a viewing of Dawn Patrol (1938), don’t you?

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