Red Baron - Early War Service

Early War Service

When World War I began, Richthofen served as a cavalry reconnaissance officer on both the Eastern and Western Fronts, seeing action in Russia, France, and Belgium. As the war bogged down to one of trench warfare traditional cavalry operations became outmoded, and Richthofen's regiment were dismounted, serving as dispatch runners and field telephone operators. Disappointed and bored at not being able to directly participate in combat, the last straw for Richthofen was an order to transfer to the army's supply branch. His interest had been aroused by his examination of a German military aircraft behind the lines, and he applied for a transfer to Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches (Imperial German Army Air Service), later to be known as the Luftstreitkräfte. He is supposed to have written in his application for transfer "I have not gone to war in order to collect cheese and eggs, but for another purpose". In spite of this unmilitary attitude, and to his own surprise, his request was granted, and he joined the flying service at the end of May 1915.