"There were sometimes from forty to sixty English machines, but unfortunately the Germans were often in the minority. With them quality was more important than quantity"

Manfred von Richthofen’s statement shines a revealing light on the stark differences in approach and circumstance between the combatants of the First World War’s aerial battles. He observes the frequent numerical superiority of English aircraft, with squadrons of forty to sixty machines often opposing his German units, a situation making clear the scale and resources the Allies could bring to bear. This overwhelming presence in the skies was not just a matter of tactics, but also of industrial capacity and strategy, with the British focused on mass production and a relentless offensive spirit.

Contrastingly, Richthofen presents the German side as often outnumbered, caught in the difficult position of being “in the minority.” Yet, he does not simply lament this fact; instead, he frames it as a difference in priorities, hinting at a deliberate pursuit of excellence over sheer numerical advantage. For German aviators, quality was the keystone. This encompasses not only the technological superiority that they strove for in their machines, such as the agile Albatros or the famed Fokker Dr.I triplane, but also the rigorous training, discipline, and innovative tactics that defined elite German units like the ‘Flying Circus’ under Richthofen’s command. In his eyes, each German pilot and aircraft was expected to compensate for the lack of numbers through greater skill, experience, and better equipment.

There is an implicit pride and challenge in his words, a belief that being faced with numerous opponents forced the Germans to be better, sharper, and more daring. Richthofen’s perspective suggests a warrior ethos, where each engagement was as much a test of individual and collective excellence as it was a struggle for air supremacy. His quote encapsulates the paradoxical morale boost that can come from fighting when outnumbered, and reveals the fundamental tension between quantity and quality that runs through military history.