Zeppelins were substantial, metal-framed, long-distance airships. Even before the war, they represented German national pride. In 1900, Graf Ferdinand von Zeppelin (1838–1917) successfully launched his first airship. By flying above enemy lines well above gunnery range, they were used fairly immediately after the conflict began to gather intelligence. Zeppelins were dispatched to … Read more
He was Manfred von Richthofen. During World War I, he was known as the Red Baron because he piloted a red plane. British called him Red Baron. In France, he was called “Le Petit Rouge,” and in Germany, “Der Rote Kampfflieger” (which means “the Red Battle Flyer”). Manfred Albrecht “Freiherr” von Richthofen … Read more
Presidents of the United States come from different walks of life to serve in the country’s highest political office. Some are entrepreneurs, while others are farmers and lawyers. There are people who have worked as teachers and farmers. Some worked in police enforcement, while others were engineers, surveyors, tailors, and journalists. Here … Read more
Wilbur and Orville Wright were American aviation pioneers. Wilbur and Orville Wright, two brothers from Dayton, OH, made history when they flew the Wright Flyer, the first manned, motorized, heavier-than-air “flying machine,” at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903. The Wright Brothers’ lifelong fascination in flight was sparked by a … Read more
Hans Baur as a Pilot Hans Baur begins his story by saying, “Without the war, I may have spent my life in an office.” Born in southern Bavaria in the late 19th century, Baur had an ordinary childhood in Munich until 1914. For countless millions across Europe, the First World War marked … Read more
The majority of 19-year-olds are still learning to drive. Zara Rutherford, on the other hand, had her gaze raised. The British-Belgian teen aspired to be the world’s youngest woman to fly solo around the globe. Rutherford realized a lifelong dream on January 22, 2022, when she successfully landed her two-seat ultralight aircraft … Read more