Why did the Red Baron have his planes painted red ?

Manfred von Richthoffen - aka "The Red Baron" - wanted his WW1 fighter planes painted red so that enemy pilots would not see when he was injured.

http://www.hibn.com/pop_up/aerial_gallery/main_aerial_gallery.htm

Richthofen just did it to get noticed. His commander and hero had recently been killed (his plane had the nose painted red). Richthofen wanted to win the 'Blue Max' and was hungry for fame, so he needed to be recognised and get publicity. He chose to have his entire plane painted red for this purpose, although in his memoirs he says he just did it on a whim...not thay I really believe it..since he seemed to be hungry for publicity and he got the intial idea from his mentor. See
here.