1. Again deviating from his normal no-quarter modus operandi, Richthofen wrote in his combat report that he initially attacked a “Bristol Fighter” with Ltn. Siegfried Gussmann from Jasta 11, but “Leutnant Gussmann brought him down.” He next documented attacking a “Breguet or a Bristol Fighter” with Ltn Erich Löwenhardt from Jasta 10 but again credited Löwenhardt with the victory. Richthofen’s third attack resulted in Ivamy’s downing. This exemplifies a marked difference in the tenor of Richthofen’s 1918 combat reports, which early in his career focused on his personal involvement without mentioning other combatants, at times creating an impression of solitary involvement. Now, Richthofen notes the numbers of Germans flying with him, reveals the names, and credits some with victories he could have claimed. This contradicts modern accusations of Richthofen “stealing” victories from those under his command.

2. Richthofen noted operating at 5300 meters (17,388 feet), a high altitude for men (regardless of nationality) without supplemental oxygen. Exact atmospheric conditions at that altitude for that location on that day are unknown but, generally, the average Lapse Rate (rate at which temperature decreases with altitude) is approximately 6C/km or 3.5F/1000 feet. Thus, if the temperature on the ground at takeoff was 7C/45F, with an average lapse rate the temperature at would be -16F/-26C.