MvR Help

[Rick]

Dear Forum,

I'm looking for a quote by MvR which went something like, 'if I had to do it all over gain I'd fly with a Schsta and help my bothers-in-arms in the trenches'. Or somethng to that extent. I know I've seen it, but can't put my finger on it. All help gratefully appreciated. And please cite your reference so that I can check it out. Thanks for any and all help provided.

Rick

[Rick]

Now, if only I could spell "again"!!

You are right. This quotation exists. Sandly, I do not have this book by hand now, I am sure that this senctence is to be found at the end of the book. Richthofen writes on other types of fliers, like the infantrie-flyer... I could not find this sentence on-line...

[stephen]

Seems like I saw that in the sappy propoganda stuff in his autobiography somewhere. If he wrote that sentence at all, I have a hard time believing it came from the heart. Do we really think he wanted to give up the Roucourt chateau to sleep in 8 inches of mud?

[Kirby]

Stephen

I've read a statement to that effect too. I always interpreted it as meaning that rather than spend his time engaged in combat against other aircraft, he would have flown as air support for infantry movements and assaults. Perhaps I'm wrong.

VBR
Kirby

[rammjaeger]

I have only the German text and you can maybe easily find the English translation because there should exist an English version of "Der rote Kampfflieger" in the WWW (but I guess you are owning the book).

German headline of the chapter is "Infanterie-, Artillerie und Aufklärungsflieger".

The first sentence in the text reads:
"Wäre ich nicht Jagdflieger geworden, ich glaube, ich hätte mir das Infanteriefliegen ausgesucht.
...(and so on)."

You can find Der rote Kampfflieger online at:
http://www.richthofen.com

I believe the corresponding lines in english are:
"HAD I not become a professional chaser I should have turned an infantry flier. After all, it must be a very satisfactory feeling to be able to aid those troops whose work is hardest. The infantry flier can do a great deal to assist the man on foot. For that reason his is a very grateful task."

[Rick]

Thanks to all you forumites. I found it, as you all said, it was in 'Der Rote Kampfflieger'.

[Kirby]

I believe he meant, "Had I not become a fighter pilot, I believe I would have sought out Infantry flying for myself."

I believe he meant flying in support of infantry. I don't think he ever expressed any desire to fight in the infantry.

VBR
Kirby