In other words, the pilots who fought in the First World War were faced with a largely untested technology and they were often concerned whether the planes could actually fly. These concerns were combined with the problems and challenges of the new art and intricacies of combat in the air. Their aircraft were extremely primitive by modern standards and the pilots usually flew in open cockpits at a very high altitude where they were exposed to frostbite and narcosis form a lack of oxygen. (Rittmeister; a Biography of Manfred Von Richthofen ). As a result "… more pilots were killed because of accidents than in actual combat (Rittmeister; a Biography of Manfred Von Richthofen ). They also flew aircraft made of wood that were very susceptible to flames. Therefore, if we take these problems and challenges into account then the achievements of pilots such as Von Richthofen are even more astounding.

Von Richthofen was also well-known for his innovative organization and tactical skills and he helped organize jagdgeschwader 1 or the legendary group of flying aces known as the flying circus. Furthermore, he was also responsible for advancement in aircraft technology and tested new designs such as the Fokker D. VII. The following quotation highlights the role that he played in the advance of new aircraft technology.

During the January tests, Manfred...

While delighted with its maneuverability, he found it a little unstable, especially in a dive. To improve stability, Fokker lengthened the fuselage and added a vertical rudder fin, among other changes. The result was easy to fly, maneuverable, and safe. The Red Baron endorsed it wholeheartedly (Fokker D. VII).
However, in terms of his contribution to the art and science of aviation what stands out are the strategies and techniques related to air combat that he developed. These are still studied and used by contemporary jet fighter pilots.

References

Fokker D. VII. Retrieved September 7, 2009, from http://www.acepilots.com/wwi/fokker_dvii.html

Oswald Boelcke: German ace and tactician, 40 kills. Retrieved September 7, 2009,

from http://www.acepilots.com/wwi/ger_boelcke.html

Rittmeister; a Biography of Manfred Von Richthofen (Book Review). Retrieved

September 7, 2009, from http://www.flipkart.com/rittmeister-biography-manfred-von-richthofen/1421899574-fox3f6zzeb

The Red Baron. Retrieved September 7, 2009, from http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/theredbaron/The_Red_Baron.htm

The Red Baron: Rittmeister Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen. Retrieved September 7, 2009, from http://www.briggsenterprises.com/bluemax/