The Red Baron's Best Friend

Via: theaerodrome

The above image from 1918 is widely believed to be the last known photograph of Manfred von Richthofen, sharing a lighthearted moment with his Danish hound Moritz. Richthofen was a German fighter pilot during World War I, considered the top ace of the entire conflict with a confirmed 80 combat victories.

Richthofen's cool, tactical flying combined with his flamboyantly painted Fokker DR-1 Dreidecker earned him the English moniker "The Red Baron" (German: "Der Rote Kampfflieger", French: "Le petit Rouge") and made him one of the most well known fighter pilots of all time.

Via: firstworldwar

From serving as a soldier in the trenches in 1915 to commanding his own fighting squadron by 1917, Richthofen's rise in the ranks was rapid, earning him an illustrious but brief position at the height of fame, often in the company of his beloved companion Moritz. Sadly, the hound would go on to outlive The Baron, as the national hero was shot down deep inside British lines on April 21, 1918 under often-debated circumstances.