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Who Killed the Red Baron?
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Program Overview
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NOVA explores the controversial death of the World War I fighter
pilot Manfred von Richthofen, known as the Red Baron.
The program:
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recounts the conventional version of the downing of the Red
Baron by Canadian RAF pilot Captain Roy Brown.
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reviews alternative theories and claims about who was
responsible, including several Australian soldiers shooting from
the ground.
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relates the Red Baron's background, including his decision to
become a pilot in 1915 and his subsequent appointment to lead a
squadron two years later.
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tells how the Red Baron gained his legendary nickname by
painting his Albatros fighter bright red and explores why he
became a wartime celebrity.
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describes the development of military aviation during World War
I, including the invention of a device that allows a machine gun
to fire through the path of a propeller.
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discusses the evolution of air-to-air combat tactics and the
strategic organization of fighter plane squadrons.
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details the final battle in which the Red Baron was killed.
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examines ballistics, correspondence, and eyewitness accounts
surrounding the shooting.
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advances new evidence to confirm a leading theory for the Red
Baron's death.
Taping Rights: Can be used up to one year after the program
is taped off the air.
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