Manfred von Richthofen was a German World War I pilot. A legendary ace in the Great War, who some may know due to Snoopy’s battles with him (flying his doghouse) in Peanuts. The real Red Baron had a dog which he acquired as a puppy. The flying ace described him at that time as “the most beautiful … little lap dog, my Moritz.” But Moritz grew to be a big dog, yet was able to fit in the Red Baron’s plane as an ‘observer’ for one flight. Moritz’s size was evident when he tried to help his owner play billiards – he ended up destroying the balls and the billiard cloth. After von Richthofen was shot down a pilot in his squadron adopted Moritz and he lived on that Lieutenant’s farm after the war to an old age
