Red Baron and his Swansea connection
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| Manfred von Richthofen Red Baron |
Manfred von Richthofen, famously known as the “Red Baron”, a 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 of April 1918.
Canadian Arthur Roy Brown is credited for shooting down Richthofen. Richthofen received a military funeral and was first buried at the local cemetery in the village of Bertangles. 1925, Bolko von Richthofen the younger brother exhumed Richthofen’s body, for reburial at South Cemetery, Wisebaden, alongside his father and brother, Lothar von Richthofen's grave.
13th April 1917, Richthofen claimed his 42nd and 43rd victories.
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| James Allen Cunniffe |
“Together with Leutnant Simon, I attacked a Vickers two-seater, coming back from German territory. After a rather 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. In 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 crashed to the ground, the men were rescued by an observer who was in a balloon at the same time landed. Cunniffe was seriously injured from the attack, and 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 |
In May 1917, Cunniffe was awarded the Bronze Medal for Military Valour from the King of Italy for action on the 9th of 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.
Cunliffe died in Pembrokeshire in 1959.
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| Allan Harold Bates |
Victory 43 – Noyelles-Godault, near Henin-Lietard, 19.35 pm. An F.E.2b (Farman Experimental 2) crewed by 2nd Sergeant Allan Harold Bates and Sergeant William Alfred Barnes was 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 Ironmonger.
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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 airplane factory. He enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps. He had only been at the front a week before his attack with the Richthofen.
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| Allan Harold Bates Noyelles-Godault Communal Cemetery |
Bates and Barnes are buried at Noyelles-Godault Communal Cemetery
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