In 1916, the Luftstreikrafte, otherwise known as the Imperial Germany Air Army Service, was formed. The Luftstreikrafte was not the first air force in the world as France and England was before it. The main role of the air force was reconnaisance for ground troops, though other missions took place, such as bombing and attacks. The Luftstreikrafte was flown in a variety of places from the Middle East to the Western Front to Russia. The Luftstreikrafte had one of the greatest flyers of World War 1: Manfred von Richthofen, popularly known as the Red Baron. Max Immelman, another flyer for Germany, one the first ever Pour de Merite, Germany's highest decoration of gallantry, which is why they nicknamed the award the Blue Max. Hermann Göring was another flyer who led Germany's air force in the e