Red Baron and Swansea Connections
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| Manfred von Richthofen Red Baron |
Manfred von Richthofen, famously known as the “Red Baron”,
the German fighter pilot who fought during the First World War. He was officially credited with 80 air combat
victories, before he was shot down and killed near Vaux-sur-Somme, on the 21st
April 1918.
Canadian Arthur Roy Brown is credited for shooting down Richthofen. Richthofen received a military funeral, and
firstly buried at the local cemetery at the village of Bertangles. 1925, Bolko von Richthofen the younger
brother exhumed Richthofen’s body, for reburial at South Cemetery, Wisebaden,
along side his father and brother, Lothar von Richthofen grave.
13th April 1917, Richthofen claimed his 42nd
and 43rd victories.
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| James Allen Cunniffe |
Victory 42 – Between Monchy and Feuchy, 12.45
pm. A F.E.2b (Farman Experimental 2)
crewed by Sergeant James Allen Cunniffe and 2nd Airman W. J. Batten
who were on an observation patrol, crashed, and they survived. Richthofen wrote –
“Together with Leutnant
Simon, I attacked a Vickers two-seater, coming back from German territory. After a rather a long fight, during which I manoeuvered
in such a way that my adversary could not fire one shot, the enemy plane
plunged down to the ground between Mochy and Feuchy”.
James Allen Cunniffe hailed from Port Tennant, Swansea. The 1911 Census, Cunniffe aged 15 is residing
with his family parents and 3 siblings at British Wagon Works. His father, William Cunniffe, manager of the
Works.
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| 1911 British Census 2nd April British Wagon Works, Port Tennant, Swansea |
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| James Allan Cunniffe Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate |
15th October 1916, Corporal Cunniffe, was issued
his Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificate, from the Military School, Ruislip.
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| James Allan Cunniffe Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate |
It was the following April, that Cunniffe and Batten were
attacked by Richthofen. After the aircraft
crash to the ground, the men rescued by observer who was in a balloon at the
same time landed. Cunniffe was seriously
injured from the attack, that he spent two years in a hospital in Spalding,
Lincolnshire. Cunniffe returned to his post
at the Public Analyst Laboratory, Swansea.
After six months, learnt to fly again on his own after serving as an observer.
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| Bronze Medal for Military Valour |
May 1917, Cunniffe was awarded Bronze Medal for Military
Valour from the King of Italy for action on the 9th April, in this occasion
during a dogfight his observer was injured, and part of his nose had been blown
away. 10 days before his encounter with
Richthofen.
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| British Empire Medal |
During the Second World War, Cunliffe, who worked for the
Swansea Gas Light and Coke Company, Oystermouth Road was awarded the British
Empire Medal for his work maintaining the gas supply to Swansea during the
Swansea Blitz, February 1941.
Cuniffe, died in Pembrokeshire 1959.
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| Allan Harold Bates |
Victory 43 – Noyelles-Godault, near Henin-Lietard,
19.35 pm. A F.E.2b (Farman Experimental 2) crewed by 2nd Sergeant Allan
Harold Bates and Sergeant William Alfred Barnes were shot down and killed.
Allan Harold Bates hailed from Swansea. The 1911 Census, Bates, aged 14 is residing
at 44 St. Helens Road, with his parents and 3 siblings. His father, Archibald Bates is an
Ironmongers.
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| 1911 British Census 2nd April 44 St. Helens Road, Swansea |
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| South Wales Weekly Post 21st April 1917 |
After school, Bates, studied engineering at Swansea Technical
College and worked at an aeroplane factory.
He enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps.
He had only been at the front a week before his attack with the
Richthofen.
Bates and Barnes are buried at Noyelles-Godault Communal
Cemetery
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| Allan Harold Bates Noyelles-Godault Communal Cemetery |
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