Ritter Hendricksen
1889 - Ritter Hendricksen is born in Germany.
1910 - 21-year-old Hendricksen joins the Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches, becoming one of Germany's first pilots.
1914 - 25-year-old Hendricksen flies in Paris during WWI.
1916 - 27-year-old Hendricksen begins piloting both Riesenflugzeug & Grosskampffluegzeug for the Luftstreitkraft.
1920 - 31-year-old Hendricksen becomes an outspoken naysayer of the nazi Party.
1933 - 44-year-old Hendricksen leaves Germany when Hitler comes into power.
1939 - 50-year-old Hendricksen tries to join the British air service when Germany invades Poland but instead joins the Blackhawks.
1941 - WWII begins.
1947 - 58-year-old Hendricksen & the Blackhawks help kill Hitler's brain.
1951 - 62-year-old Hendricksen retires when Janos Prohaska is lost.
1953 - 64-year-old Hendricksen becomes a speaker in the German Parliament.
1958 - 69-year-old Hendricksen dies of pneumonia.
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There are versions of the Blackhawks where Hendrickson, the oldest member of the squadron and resident explosives expert, is actually "Hans" instead of "Ritter", and is a native of Holland. It's understandable that having a member of the Blackhawks be German created a few narrative hang-ups, but we absolutely love the idea of a Soldier of Fortune actually fighting against his own countrymen because it was the right thing to do. He actually flew FOR the Germans during WWI. This idea gives us a lot of chances to explore the role of avionics during Germany war effort, and makes him an absolutely fascinating character.
The idea that he actually becomes a speaker in the German Parliament is entirely our own creation, but we love what is says about the evolution of the people involved in the war. |