Nova

Who Killed The Red Baron?

On April 21st, 1918, Manfred von Richthofen, Germany's most feared fighter ace known as the "Red Baron," took off on patrol over the Somme valley with his notorious red-painted "Flying Circus." What happened next has divided historians and air buffs for decades. NOVA's exciting new investigation of the Red Baron's death presents newly discovered documents that overturn the conventional theory of von Richthofen's demise. In accounting for the Baron's singular success, NOVA explores the origins of the first fighter planes and the evolution of aerial tactics. The show features thrilling re-enactments of hair-raising duels between the fragile fighters of World War I.