"Encounter with a Legend"-Rich Thistle-Red Baron World War I Aviation Art

Rich has been profiled on national television and radio and his images appear on the covers of Canadian, American and British aviation books, magazines and in television documentaries. One of his paintings is depicted in bronze in the Royal Canadian Mint's Canada Remembers medallion set commemorating the 50th anniversary of D-Day.

Over the years Rich has given numerous, slide-illustrated presentations, featuring his paintings and his career as an artist with particular focus on the Canadian history behind his many aviation images, to service clubs, historical and community clubs, aviation associations and veterans groups. Rich has created commemorative, aviation posters for veterans' associations and various annual or special aviation events. He has written a number of articles about the aviation history represented in his paintings for the American magazine Aviation History and 33 monthly columns for Canadian Flight, the national publication of COPA, the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association.

Rich Thistle Signed & Numbered Limited Edition Print "Encounter with a Legend"

Manfred von Richthofen in his Fokker Dr I overflies two Sopwith Camels, his final two victories in WWI

On the evening of April 20, 1918, Manfred von Richthofen, Rittmeister and Geschwader commander led six of the pilots under his command into a clearing sky. Previously grounded by bad weather, they were anxious to shake off the gloomy mood which had settled on their forward airfield near Cappy, France. Anticipation of aerial combat and even more victories buoyed their spirits. The "Flying Circus" (so called because they moved from airfield to airfield on trains just like circuses) had been a highly successful unit. Confidently, behind their highly-respected leader, they set out to add to that success. But in fact, that evening would witness the final two victories achieved by Germany's legendary "Red Baron". Two quick victories over arguably the best British fighter of the war would put the cap on his meteoric flying career.

The final two adversaries of von Richthofen's flying career were both flying the Sopwith F-1 Camel, generally conceded to be the best British single-seat fighter of the war. Unfortunately, for Maj. Raymond-Barker, commanding RAF Squadron No.3 on that fateful April evening in French skies, the sometimes demonstrable superior flying characteristics of the Camel over the Dr .I proved insignificant. His Camel caught in the sights of the famous red triplane, the Squadron Leader quickly paid the ultimate price, coming to earth in a fiery crash. Then, almost immediately, von Richthofen attached himself to the tail of young 2nd/Lt. D.G. Lewis. After a desperate but fruitless attempt at evasive maneuvering, Lewis achieved the dubious distinction of becoming the final victim of the famous German flyer. His Camel riddled by the machine guns of the Dr .I, the cloth-covered fuselage beginning to burn behind him, the nineteen year-old RAF pilot force landed within sight of the burning wreckage of his commander's Camel.

In my painting ENCOUNTER WITH A LEGEND a shaken but otherwise unhurt Lewis walks away from his pranged Camel as a red triplane circles low to have a look, possibly considering the chances of landing to claim a physical trophy piece to add to its famous pilot's collection. But, as it turned out, Manfred von Richthofen had just achieved his final victory. By the next evening all that was left of Germany's most famous flyer was his bullet-riddled body and the wreckage of his famous red triplane. The ultimate German flyer, leader and teacher had become an aristocratic legend, the "Red Baron".

17.5" by 12" image size print, limited to 300, is signed by the artist.

A Limited Edition print is restricted to a certain number. For example, if 400 prints are made from an original painting, once they’re gone, that’s it. There is no limit to the number of open edition prints of a particular painting. That’s why Limited Edition prints are more expensive — and more valuable to collectors — than "open" edition. Rare objects are more valuable.

An Artist Proof (AP), generally, is the first 5% - 10% of the Limited Edition prints that come off the press. If the Limited Edition is 400 s/n, there would be 20 - 40 APs. This status is noted on the print. Collectors prefer APs because their value increases even more than a Limited Edition as time goes by.

All Limited Edition artwork is subject to availability at time of order. Although seller strives to remain currrent as to inventory, seller reserves the right to cancel a sale if item is no longer available at time of purchase.