Captain’s List — Manfred von Richthofen #80

Corsair’s Profiles in Leadership Series

The captains of fiction and history have much to teach us. They are leaders who often serve in times of great challenge and turmoil. Articles in this series focus on an individual captain and utilizes their quotes, their writings, and their actions to inspire core leadership elements in all of us.

Rittmeister Richthofen

A few years before Erwin Rommel would make his first mark on history as a young Hauptmann in the Great War, Manfred von Richthofen had already won the hearts of the German people. The young captain of Germany’s new air force was a hero on both sides of the Western Front. In Germany, he was known as ‘the Red Battle Flyer’. In England, he was known as ‘the Red Baron’.

The Flying Circus

Long before Monty Python, Richthofen commanded his own ‘Flying Circus’. Not only was he the greatest flying ace of the Great War, but he also trained many great leaders and aces in their own right. These men lived in encampment filled with brightly colored aircraft and canvas tents. This gave rise to the moniker of circus.

In his early career, Richthofen was known for his flamboyance. Despite many arguments against it, he painted his aircraft a brilliant red. Despite many arguments against it, his high command allowed it. He was not a rule breaker. His flamboyance was fully supported by a German High Command deeply in need of a national hero. His flamboyance inspired his men and his country.

Dicta Boelcke

The Red Baron believed deeply in rules. While a brilliant tactician in his own right, he also adhered to the Dicta Boelcke. It was a series of eight rules created by Richthofen’s commander and teacher, Oswald Boelcke. They were well tested and well proven in the skies of Europe.

Richthofen would add is own rules to those provided by Oswald. Rules he developed himself during years of continuous combat flights and dog fights. These were taught to his men bu never quite as formalized as Oswald’s. They included rules like:

Aim for the man and don’t miss him. If you are fighting a two-seater, get the observer first; until you have silenced the gun, don’t bother about the pilot.

In his final flight, Manfred would break several of his own rules. He flew too close to the ground, potentially fixated on a target, and was brought down (most likely) by ground fire. Theories swirl, much like the unusual wind conditions on that fateful day, about the possibility that an early head wound left him changed and erratic. There are even more for who actually fired the killing shot. And still more on his possible final words. On April 21st, 1918 — the Red Baron was kaputt.

Learning From This Colorful Leader

From Blue Max to his Flying Circus, the Freiherr (Baron) also known as the Red Devil and Little Red One in France, was a colorful figure. He used his flamboyance to lead an inspire. Few leaders achieve such fame, especially at such a young age. Manfred died before his 26th birthday.

But unlike many young leaders with an air of flamboyance, Manfred was not a rule breaker. He was a rule maker. In the chaos of a dogfight, often over enemy lines, he recognized the need for great tactics and principles. He adopted the rules of his best teachers and built in his own for good measure. His incredible success over the skies of Europe was a testament to that discipline and only add to his legend.

Many leaders would do well to model these powerful traits. Lead with color and distinction. Inspire your troops/employees. But also lay down a set of rules so they can truly model your behavior. Manfred’s men would not have been so successful on their own, if they had believed his success was built on individual greatness and personal flair. By providing rules, he helped them achieve their own greatness as well.

For more on the Red Baron consider:

Or enjoy this short song and video: