And, although I haven't actually performed it, I did write a take-off on "Snoopy and the Red Baron" that kind of fits here; I've been obsessed with WWI aircraft and aces ever since I was a kid (Air Force brat). I wrote it more as a "get it off my chest" kind of thing. I fully realize that I'm taking a bit of fluff way too seriously, but what the hell. If anybody's interested:
The Real Red Baron By Jim Partridge TTTO: Snoopy and the Red Baron by The Royal Guardsmen
You've all heard the story As it often is told 'Bout the funny-looking dog With the big black nose But behind the cartoon If you look back then In the skies over France Fought real, live men
Baron Manfred von Richthofen Was a brave man Told to use camouflage But he had his own plan He said a man doesn't hide From his enemy Had his plane painted red To be easy to see
20, 40, 60, 80, that was his score The Red Baron fought 'Till he could fight no more He died as he lived Fighting World War One But there's more to the man Than the cartoon Hun
He started the war In the cavalry But in 1914 That meant delivery He said, "I want to fight, Not just be in supply" So he transferred out And he learned how to fly.
He didn't do well But he was devout He crashed more than once And he almost washed out But he kept on trying And he finally won That bright silver badge That said he could fly alone.
20, 40, 60, 80, that was his score The Red Baron flew Like none had done before He fought for his country As a knight of the air But death was waiting for him With its empty eyed stare
The life of a flier Back in The Great War Was violent and brief Men died by the score Richthofen was lucky He was taught by the best And he kept on flying While death claimed the rest
Then finally one morning Over the Somme A Canadian flier By the name of Brown Saw an all-red plane About to shoot down a friend So he dove down A legend came to an end
The question's unsolved Down to this day "Who killed the Red Baron?" No one can say Some believe it was Aussies Firing from the ground Some still say That it was Roy Brown
20, 40, 60, 80, that was his score With a bullet in his heart He would ne'er again soar From us he deserves To be remembered more As the brave fighting man Not the cartoon bore
20, 40, 60, 80, that was the score Of the greatest flying ace Of the First World War Other men tried But failed to beat the spree Of the Bloody Red Baron Of Germany