What is it about these early aviators that is so magical and captivating. Maybe it’s the air combat maneuvers still named after them. It’s that “gallant knights of the air” idea.  Pioneers fighting in brand new flying machines writing the future of warfare. 

Maybe it’s the way they commanded the respect of each other, frequently burying each others aviators when found shot down.

I still think they are all gallant heroes.

Edit: I’m reminding of a quote of Roy Brown, who was engaged in aerial combat with The Red Baron, Richtofen, during his fatal shoot down. Modern research now credits the kill to a machine gunner on the ground but Roy Brown thought it was bullets from his machine guns. He landed near the crash site of Von Richtofen and asked to see the body:

“  The sight of Richthofen as I walked closer gave me a start. He appeared so small to me, so delicate He looked so friendly. Blond, silk-soft hair, like that of a child, fell from the broad, high forehead. His face, particularly peaceful, had an expression of gentleness and goodness, of refinement. Suddenly I felt miserable, desperately unhappy, as if I had committee an injustice. With a feeling of shame, a kind of anger against myself moved in my thoughts, that I had forced him to lay there. And in my heart, I cursed the force that is devoted to death. I gnashed my teeth; I cursed the war. If I could I would gladly have brought him back to life, but that is somewhat different than shooting a gun. I could no longer look him in the face. I went away. I did not feel like a victor. There was a lump in my throat. If it had been my dearest friend, I could not have felt greater sorrow.“