MvR pranks his father and Groos

On the ground, after duty, Richthofen was like a boy with a wonderful sense of humour. While Jagdgeschwader I was stationed at Marckebeeke, Richthofen nicknamed (WIlhelm-Gisbert) Groos 'Count Groos of Marckebeeke'. Major Albrecht von Richthofen, Manfred's and Lothar's father, visited the unit and Manfred introduced Groos by this joking title. The elder Richthofen, thinking he was talking to a fellow nobleman, began a long conversation with him. The talk got around to politics and the Major said: 'Politics are not for us. We are only suited for military services, nothing else.' When Groos told Manfred of this, the younger Richthofen nearly died of laughter and told his father that Groos was not 'noble'. The Major was very disappointed at first, but later he sent Groos a photo of himself with a special dedication to 'Count Groos of Marckebeeke.'