World War I saw the emergence of aerial combat, and with it a number of expert fighter pilots.

Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron, is perhaps the most well known, but his mentor, fellow German flier Oscar Boelcke, compiled eight rules for fighter pilots that have endured for decades.

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Before the Red Baron Manfred von Richthofen was Germany's air power hero, it was Oscar Boelcke, a German air ace and the mentor to von Richthofen and the "Flying Circus."

Boelcke was one of Germany's first fighter aces and, when he took command of a group of fighters, he did all that he could to pass on the knowledge that would keep the men alive. He came up with eight rules that would stand for decades, and most still apply today.

There were multiple versions of the rules, all with variations in wording. But they all carried the same eight sentiments: