Hi All,
To another
I Get the Ordre Pour le Mérite
I HAD brought down my sixteenth victim, and I had come to the head of the list of all the flying chasers. I had obtained the aim which I had set myself. In the previous year my friend Lynker, with whom I was training, had asked me: “What is your object? What will you obtain by flying?” I replied, jokingly, “I would like to be the first of the chasers. That must be very fine.” That I should succeed in this I did not believe myself. Other people also did not expect my success. Boelcke is supposed to have said, not to me personally—I have only heard the report—when asked: “Which of the fellows is likely to become a good chaser?”—”That is the man!” pointing his finger in my direction.
[128]
photo of a crashed plane THE FORTIETH RICHTHOFEN VICTIM
Boelcke and Immelmann were given the Ordre pour le Mérite 
when they had brought down their eighth aeroplane. I had downed twice that number. The question was, what would happen to me? I was very curious. It was rumored that I was to be given command of a chasing squadron.
One fine day a telegram arrived, which stated: “Lieutenant von Richthofen is appointed Commander of the Eleventh Chasing Squadron.”
I must say I was annoyed. I had learnt to work so well with my comrades of Boelcke’s Squadron and now I had to begin all over again working hand in hand with different people. It was a beastly nuisance. Besides I should have preferred the Ordre pour le Mérite.
Two days later, when we were sitting sociably together, we men of Boelcke’s Squadron, celebrating my departure, a telegram from Headquarters arrived. It stated that His Majesty had graciously condescended to give me the Ordre pour le Mérite. Of course my joy was tremendous.
[129]
I had never imagined that it would be so delightful to command a chasing squadron. Even in my dreams I had not imagined that there would ever be a Richthofen’s squadron of aeroplanes.
Geoff.
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