This is a lavishly illustrated and narrative study of the combat career of Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron. Using all original artwork painted by the author, The Red Baron's Kills details every one of his 80 aerial victories. Using original source material. the author recreates the moment in combat the Red Baron shot down each of his victories to make him the leading ace of the First World War. Of special interest is the fact that the Red Baron flew a variety of aircraft other than his famous all red Foker D.l. triplane. The paintings will provide a visual scene along with descriptive text to explain the situations behind each victory or kill in a clear, graphic timeline. The First World War was the first time aviation was used on a grand scale. The biplanes and later triplanes they flew were sometimes brightly colored like that of the Red Baron's, making him unmistakable while flying. The planes were constructed of wood, doped canvas, wire cables and sheet metal. They groaned to go more than 125 miles per hour. Pilots were considered to be heroic knights of the air, the Red Baron chief among them. AUTHOR: Thomas La Padula graduated from Parsons School of Design with a BFA and earned his MFA from Syracuse University. For over forty years, Tom has illustrated for national and international magazines, advertising agencies, and publishing houses. Tom is a member of the History of Illustration Project. He wrote the chapter, "Wartime Imagery and Propaganda? for the book The History of Illustration, published by Fairchild Publishing, (2019). Tom has lectured extensively on illustration history throughout the country. He began teaching illustration at Parsons School of Design in 1984. Since 1986, the author has taught a variety of illustration courses at Pratt Institute, where he also held the title of Illustration Coordinator. The artist maintains a home and studio in New Rochelle, NY. www.tomlapadula-aviationart.com 83 colour illustrations
