Böning describes MvR

Walter Böning, Staffelführer of Jagdstaffel 76, first met MvR on 14 April 1918. When asked about Richthofen as a person, Böning said to Bruno Schmäling in 1975: "I only met him twice, but both times I was deeply impressed by his personality. People were strongly attracted to him, and he radiated confidence and reliability. He was a man that you trusted implicitly and that gave you the impression of being 'a man of his word'. He was charismatic and was a natural-born leader without being overbearing or aloof. On the contrary, he seemed completely down-to-earth. I also saw that he had a sense of humour when we were at lunch together. When I learned a few days later that he had not returned from a flight against the enemy, which was then followed by the news that he had been killed, I was deeply affected even though I had only known him for a short time."