The talisman for the pilots

Manfred was also extremely attached to his famous red bird. He shot down nineteen to fifty-two enemies with this machine. One day, Schäfer also wanted to fly the red bird. When he returned from the flight, he declared in horror that flying alone in this rickety old thing was life-threatening. He said it creaked at every joint. In his devotion to his machine, Manfred completely overlooked his advanced age. All older pilots, whether they admit it or not, have similar memories. Wolff had a pointed cap that he never took off. Manfred achieved all his victories in his old leather jacket, and Voß painted a skull on the front of his boots to frighten his enemies. Having your photograph taken at the front before take-off brings bad luck. Boelke was once photographed before take-off. He did not return from that flight. Schäfer suffered the same fate. Our enemies also had talismans. They had talismans painted on their aircraft in squadrons, such as storks, elephants and other guardian spirits. Among the enemy aircraft that are now being shot down, one often finds small cut-out pieces of the aircraft with which Manfred had to land over there.