homepage Forums Air Combat & Civil Aviation Wings: Over Flanders Fields Deep Immersion DiD campaign -- Player Instructions (UPDATED 28 Nov 2018)

Lou, looks like Swany is enjoying his time without the Fokkers.And that looked like a major malfunction of Le Rhone. Glad he made it back safe and sound. oh, more Georgette delays. I hate delays.
Carrick,
Welcome to the club. Remember, you can now shoot forward!


4 April, 1916 noon
Senard, Verdun Sector
Escadrille N37
Sous Lietenent Gaston A. Voscadeaux
9 confirmed kills
Waiting for a claim confirmation

The priest made the cross sign with his forearm and everyone gathered around the freshly dug grave followed with a cross sign of their own. The end of the funeral was nigh.
“- Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord!”
“- And let the perpetual light shine upon him.” Was the crowd’s response.
The final words of the solemn ceremony rung clear across the entire tiny cemetery: “- And may the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”
The casket was lowered into the grave and the undertaker started to unceremoniously drop dirt onto it. Lieutenant Dagonet was standing closest.
“- We’ll never meet another one like him.” He said to Caporal Tsu, standing next to him. Tsu nodded in response but said nothing.
“- How did it happen?” Adjutant Barnay who was away and joined the entombment midway through asked the man standing beside him. Caporal de Geuser replied: “Last evening he was trying out one of the newly arrived Bebes over the airfield. He took off and attempted a chandelle only 30 meters of the ground. The kite stalled and he smashed into the ground. Killed on impact. What a shame.”
Gaston was standing alone. There were many pilots standing right next to him, but he felt alone. Capitaine Louis Quillien, their C.O. was an extraordinary man and the first squadron leader who liked him. He will miss him immensely. Dagonet is right, they will never meet another like him.
It was past noon and they were walking back to the aerodrome. The sun was shining, birds chirping and the insects buzzing around. The spring was in full swing. Gaston’s thoughts hovered over this morning’s mission.
It was an early morning line patrol between Aisne and Meuse Rivers. As they were flying over the front, Gaston thought he saw puffs of anti-aerienne against the white clouds above Verdun. He decided to investigate. For a long time he didn't see anything and was beginning to doubt himself when two shapes emerged from the clouds. Gaston had to get closer to recognize the threat. Two Aviatiks were molesting some target below. When they saw Voscadeaux approach, they ceased their attack and started to climb. Little did they know that Gaston's Bebe could climb like a monkey and soon he was on their tails. He aimed for the leader, who was flying lower than his wingman. The attack would come from behind and below, so that was the reasoning for his choice of prey. He was getting close, just a little bit closer. He was firing into the fuselage and dealing great damage but the plane stayed on course. In the meantime, the wingman dropped down enough to give his gunner enough room to attack Voscadeaux from the side. Gaston quickly dove under to avoid more damage. As he made his loop to get back on his tail he noticed the leader falling behind. That suited Gaston just fine. He attacked and dove under to avoid the return fire. He eventually spent all his ammo yet the Aviatik kept on going, albeit slow and losing altitude. Gaston followed from a distance and watched. They crossed the frontlines. It looked like the two-seater would land in the first open field available, but no. He was going to reach the aerodrome, which was coming now into view. Gaston had seen enough and wasn't coming anywhere near the aerodrome. It was then that the ailing bird attempted a landing. He must have hit something because the crate cartwheeled as soon as it touched down. Voscadeaux was satisfied and turned back for home. He had no witnesses but put in another claim. Who knows? Maybe one of the observation balloons saw the whole thing?



4 April, 1916 14:00 afternoon mission
Senard, Verdun Sector
Escadrille N37
Sous Lietenent Gaston A. Voscadeaux
9 confirmed kills
Waiting for 2 claim confirmations

It was another useless exercise this afternoon. They were to attack enemy troop camp near Flirey. The flight path will take them across the entire Boche occupied St. Mihiel salient. It seemed dangerous and would be pointless. Even with Le Prieur rockets loaded Gaston wished to have been flying his old Caudron. Without bombs he was toothless. As expected, the rockets scared Boche more than inflicted any damage. A lot of smoke but Gaston wasn't even amused by it anymore.
"Why don't they send us against the gas bags with these rockets? Wouldn’t that do more good?"
The flight returned to Senard. A new C.O. was settling in. He cleaned out all Capitaine Quillen’s belongings except for the autographed picture of Pegaud on the desk in the office. Capitaine Marcel Paul Auguste Feierstein was born same year as Voscadeaux. A professional soldier and a military pilot since 1912. He invited Gaston to discuss how the unit can improve and what can be done about the current rate of failed missions. Gaston was too tired to complain about the rockets, the missions, the weather. He was getting old. Complaining seemed to be a sport to him now. He would have to get back to the new C.O. For now, he needed sleep.


Capitaine Marcel Feierstein