Manfred von Richthofen briefly served in the trenches before transferring to the German Air Force in 1916. The star pupil of Oswald Boelke was a fast learner and achieved immediate success. A month after receiving his first Albatros, he had six victories against allied aircraft. The British called him the jolly "Red Baron" and the French called him the "Red Devil". He was shot down as he flew over the trenches in pursuit of Wilfred May on April 21, 1918. Before he died, he had 80 victories total.