Combat Air Musuem's newest exhibit makes a safe landing in Capitol City

TOPEKA (KSNT) - A new exhibit featuring the world’s most famous fighter pilot just landed at Topeka’s Combat Air Museum. 

Artist Thomas La Padula and his son hand-delivered the 80-piece collection on Tuesday, July 29th, 2025.

The Red Baron’s Kills is a collection of illustrations, depicting the aerial victories of Manfred Von Richtofen during World War I. La Padula chose Topeka for the exhibit’s debut. 

"You know, I said to my wife, I said, we're going to Kansas. They want it, we'll bring it to them," La Pudula said. "It's as simple as that. I think it's important for people for people to see. I think it's important for people to understand what happened before then and why things happened, so you get the whole story of what happens whether it's air combat or it's american history or just the invention of the car."

The exhibit opens to the public on August ​5th and will run through Memorial Day, May 25th, 2026.

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