Christophe

The wreckage od the tri-plane. Ch. Pic : Imperial War Museum - London.

The signboard. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Saint Colette brickworks. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Another view of the field with the Saint Collette brickworks in the background. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

OoV, If I see one myself, I would certainly buy one... as a variety, but without historical value... Cheers. Ch.

Here is the field where its red tri-plane crashed. The pannel indicates the exact location. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

On the occasion of my recent trip in the Somme region, I paid a visit to the Red Baron crash site in Vaux-sur-Somme. Manfred Alfred Freiherr von Richthofen (2 May 1892 - 21 April 1918), the Red Baron, is still regarded today as the "ace of aces". He won 80 air combats during World War I. The Red Baron met his death on April 21, 1918 from a single bullet, while flying over Morlancourt Ridge, near the Somme River, as he was in aerial combat. At the time he had been pursuing a Sopwith Camel piloted by a Canadian, Lieutenant Wilfrid "Wop" May of No. 209 Squadron, Royal Air Force. In turn the baron was chased by a Camel piloted by a school friend of May, Captain Arthur "Roy" Brown;In an effort to get away from his pursuer, Richtofen had dived down to tree top height near the French town of Sailly-Laurette. With the Somme canal beneath him. Directly to the north of Vaux-Sur-Somme up the ridge is the Saint Collette brickworks. During the phases of combat, the Red Baron turned to check the tail of his plane, that is, in the direction of Brown. He was then caught by the bullet, shot from behind and below, which passed diagonally through his chest. Von Richthofen then made a hasty but controlled landing, in a field on a hill near the Bray-Corbie road, just north of the village of Vaux-sur-Somme, in a sector controlled by the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). His Fokker was not damaged by the landing. One account claims that von Richthofen died a few moments after Allied soldiers reached the plane. No. 3 Squadron (3 Sqn) of the Australian Flying Corps, the nearest Allied air unit, assumed responsibility for the Baron's remains. The identity of the person who shot the baron remains unknown; 0.303 ammunition was the standard ammunition for all machine guns and rifles used by British Empire forces during World War I. It is now considered all but certain by historians, doctors, and ballistics experts that von Richthofen was killed by an anti-aircraft (AA) machine gunner, as the wound through his body indicated that it had been caused by a bullet moving in an upward motion, providing ample evidence for a shot coming from the ground. I have found an interesting article here : http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2003/12/25/13258/202 Ch.

Back to the Order. My first comment would be "fake", just as many of them seem to come to eBay in a short time... But, maybe someone has dicovered a cache ... I've read all your other comments. Could we imagine this order which looks like the 1985 version, and so has been largely awarded, has been produced in some former Soviet republics after they gain their independance, for veterans to buy / replace them ? Of course, these "new" would have been locally and privately made (no more by the Soviet mint) with standards close to the German style... I'm here thinking about former Soviet Baltic republics... I know this theory is complicated, and I have no element to assert it. Pure speculation , but... Ch.

As these questions (in my opinion) don't have the same level of "obscurity", the winner will be the one amongst you who earns the most, with points "attributed" for each complete answer. Answering question 1 gives 1 point. Q2 = 3 pts. Q3 = 1 pt. Q4 = 2pts. Again, here are the questions : 4 questions : 1. Who has been the first recipient of the 1st Class of this Order ? 2. And when ? 3. Who has been the first recipient of the 2nd Class of this Order ? 4. And when ? Good hunt or good luck!!! Ch.

The Star. Ch. Pics : www.award.adm.gov.ru

Sorry for the delay... Here is my question : This question is related to the Order of Merit for the Country of the Federation of Russia. This order is the highest order of the Russian Federation. It has been established on 2 March 1994, by decree of President Yeltsyn. It is conferred to the citizens of the Federation and foreigners for outstanding contribution to the development of Russian statehood, economy and strengthening of friendship between the Federation and other countries. It has several classes : 1st Class (Grand Cross), 2nd (Commander with Star), 3rd (Commander), 4th (Member), and a gold and silver medal as a lower degree. Below are pics of the insigna and the star of the 1st Class. Now, here are my questions; I don't know if they will be too easy or too obscure... 4 questions : 1. Who has been the first recipient of the 1st Class of this Order ? 2. And when ? 3. Who has been the first recipient of the 2nd Class of this Order ? 4. And when ? Good hunt or good luck!!! Ch. Pics : www.award.adm.gov.ru

don, My pleasure. Ch.

Ed, others, Finally, what do you think ? A replica or a real one ? I know it is not easy to determine from my pics, but... Ch.

Thanks Myke. At the present time, I have no data on who he could be... Sorry. Ch.

Joe and Ed, Thanks for the nice words. Cheers. Ch.

Forgot to mention he also wears the rosette of the Grand Croix of the L?gion d'Honneur (France). Ch.

Here are Prince of Wales' medals worn last week : The Queen's Service Order(New Zealand), awarded 1983. The Coronation medal, awarded 1953. The Silver Jubilee medal, awarded 1977. The Golden Jubilee medal, awarded 2002. The Canadian forces decoration, awarded 2002. The New Zealand commemorative medal, awarded 1990. Ch.

Close-up pic of the Prince of Wales medals. Sorry for the not so good quality of the pic. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Klaus Neubert ans his wife are here talking with the Prince of Wales. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

On this pic, Klaus Neubert is the second one from the left. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Yes, Gerd. Thanks!! The German representative was The German Ambassador in France, His Excellency Klaus Neubert. Ch.

Close-up pic. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Impressive... Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Thiepval cemetary. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Funeral wreaths. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection