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Richthofen chats with Jasta 10 Oblt. Hans Klein during the First Fighter Competition at Adlershof, near Berlin, January 1918. The purpose of the competition was to have airplane manufacturers submit new designs to be demonstrated and then test flown by combat pilots, with the goal of developing and securing a production order to provide the best fighter possible for Germany. Although present in an official and military capacity, several candid photographs taken during the competition show Richthofen engaged, relaxed, and smiling. (Greg Vanwyngarden) (picture source: Inside the victories of Manfred von richthofen - Volume 2, James F. Miller, Aeronaut Books, 2016)

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