homepage Forums Air Combat & Civil Aviation Wings: Over Flanders Fields The "DiD Campaign Revival" - Intro, Rules, Reports & Records Chart

Wow, the Victoria Cross! Wiki said that was the highest military award you could receive!
Congratulations, Robert - even though you will yet have to earn it in our DiD Campaign
Awarding System.

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Yes Olham, it is the most prestigious award that was confered upon a WWI pilot. Well done Mushroom! However, as noted by our fearless DID Campaign leader, this is only the in-sim presentation of such an honour so you may only celebrate in the sim.

While the medal awards system is much improved over how it was in OFF they are still a weak spot that could use tweaking at some point in the future. My DID pilot has so far been awarded the Military Cross once, the Distinguished Service Order three times, and the Victoria Cross twice, and all this with under 100 hours of flying and 24 confirmed victories. Never would have happened in RL, ever.

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Yes Olham, I really don't understand why it was issued to Albert. I mean, what criteria did he meet. I would really like to know the WOFF criteria for earing this award. It has me scratching my head. Maybe the Devs could shed some light on how the awards system works.

Lou;

how does the system work in DiD?

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At Olham's request I am acting as the Clerk of Commendations for this DID Campaign. I am using a series of charts I developed a number of years ago for OFF that outline more 'realistic' criteria for the earning of awards by our virtual pilots. I adjust everything up from what would have garnered you such honours in RL and use that, along with historical context based on my goodly number of years studying the subject, and present awards accordingly. Your pilot BTW is likely going to be receiving some new bling very soon based on his record thus far.

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Lou, thanks for the explanation, as vague as it is !! You have the making of a politician Sir!!

I can appreciate that the issuance of awards is not cut and dried, but open to the vagaries of the superiors (would a bottle of fine single malt help here?) and I'm sure that is difficult to model in a sim. You Sir, have impeccable credentials and I'm sure you cannot be bribed, baught, or influenced!

Maybe he is brave as a lion, fought like a lion - and perhaps he even looks like one
(the nickname "Mushroom" suggests a guy with a "lion style" haircut to me).

Naw, seriously - you should enjoy the in-WOFF-medal; your pilot is really doing great
and I am expecting to see more awards and stuff in the future, if only he can make it
to stay alive as long as any possible.

Lou has a WW1 library which the Smithsonian would envy him for, and I trust him,
that he knows - if not all - then still by far the most about the WW1 "bling bling"
(maybe followed by our forum's Hasse) around our ranks here.
So I feel that we are in good hands with Lou's guidelines - even if that should mean
that I might possibly NEVER earn a "Blue Max".

Now - DiD medal or not - I think you should buy the drinks today, Robert - what do
you say, Lou and all?

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Oh yes Olham, he should most certainly be buying the drinks today!

As to the issue of bribery Robert, a bottle of Macallen 21 will in no way affect my considerations when it comes to the awarding of medals, any more than a Balvenie or Mortlach of similar age would. Actually, and bottle of fine single malt older than 20 years from any of the world's top tier distillers will carry absolutely no weight in my decision-making process. Test me on this point ... no really, I want you to.

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His Majesty King George V hereby confers the following honours:



A grateful people thank you for your service and loyalty.

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See now, above is proof positive of my integrity. Jim's DID pilot would have received this award whether I'd been sent that Aberfeldy or not.

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Seriously though, I look at each award situation as a stand-alone assessment based on the information shown in Olham’s chart and that available in the pilot’s after action reports, log entries, and other such postings in the forum here. I then weigh this against historical evidence and records and make adjustments to allow for the fact that we are flying in a sim and not in RL. And yes, the entire process is most certainly subjective to varying degrees. It is not a quick and easy process and I spend on average an hour or more on each award consideration.

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Jeeze, the time - now I feel guilty for talking you back into that, Lou!
But if I may make you a compliment: without your awarding system and your graphics of the
medals and the notes which come with them, this "DiD Campaign" would be a WHOLE LOT poorer.

As for the bribery: my pilot is too poor to buy you one of those delicate whiskies.
So I guess I'll have to really earn them.

Lou I suspected as much. It is just my wry sense of humour that comes through at times. I must admit I had no idea what went into the decision making process and I must extend many thanks for your involvement. I don't know where you find the time given your occupational commitments, DiD flying time and its reporting, working on those excellent maps you produce, skins and medals you develop and now this effort on awards.
I have to wonder at your efforts. Thanks you very much for all you do for us, it is appreciated very much Sir.

Oh wow, I'm not just alive but I have a medal as well! Well I do have 3 victories and (almost) 25 hours. I now have to go and fly the strutter with 70 RFC and we shall see what happens .... First I have to sew the ribbon on my pyjamas.

And Lou gets it right because as a Sergeant I could not get an MC (or in 1918 a DFC) as only orficers got those. They changed the rules a couple of years ago and scrapped the MM DFM AFM and GM. Now everybody gets the cross (but not retroactively). Some of the best RAF pilots got the DFM before getting commissioned. Lacey, Kingaby for example.

The VC was the odd man out in that all ranks could get it if they were courageous and lucky and mad enough.

BTW Lou's job is much harder than mine because I take NO decisions - I just produce charts on what you pilots send to me.

Thanks Robert. Unfortunately for me the landing was the only good flying I did in the entire fight! Congrats on the VC.




After Albert's minor wounds heal, I think his chances of making a successful escape are quite good. Sometimes you just have a feeling about these things

Yes but he is out of action for 15 days so it seems.... I sometimes think these 'wounded' days are a pity for our DID Campaign because you might get mighty bored waiting for those days to pass.

I thought that maybe you could take on another pilot and carry on. Except Olham will have you shot at dawn or even earlier. However, you could take on another ID (ie 78Scout) and then have 2 pilots in the Campaign. I see no rule against that. (Now Olham will shoot ME at dawn!) Or maybe Olham2 will do it!

Augustus Snodgrass
Sgt, Rfc
70 Sgn

2 Aug 16.

Remarks: 8 e/a engaged.

I was Tail end Charlie for B flights 4 machines while A flight put up 2 a/c for Top Cover (6) on a hop behind the lines to Mons-en-Chaussee Aerodrome. Top Cover was far behind, as we attacked a Roland over the base. Soon, 5 Rolands came rushing down ( Top Cover ?) in the swrilling mess I fired 82 rds, Rear gunner got off 12 Maybe 3 hit a camo a/c . Rat a tat tat 4 hits from my six, 2 Fokkers ( E-IV Jasta 1 ?) sat back there. Dove and ran for it.

Results: B Flight Lost 1 dest +2 damage w a pilot Wnd. Huns ? maybe 1 + damage.

Offzstv. Bernhard Harms, Kasta 18, Pronville, 2. August 1916

Yesterday's afternoon sortie went fine - we reached the lines totally unmolested and
took our photographs and made notes about the trench systems at Athies, east of Arras.
We didn't see a single Englishman.
I was wondering why, but Lt. Leber seemed to know. "It was 15:30 h - that must be the
Englishmen's tea time!" Sounded believeable to me - we should always fly at half past
three then!

This morning, we made our observations at Mercatel, south of Arras. I lead our flight
of three Rolands. Approaching the lines, I spotted 5 specs over the area and so I led
my flight south and into some light clouds. We approached Merctael from the south now,
while our specs were 3-4 kilometers north of Arras.
We could just grab our informations, when they returned, flying south along the lines.
Our Flak fired some black puffs to warn us, and I went into a fast descend towards
Pronville. When we dive, we are faster than any Nieuport, but these guys followed us
all the way back to our field, where they received a "warm reception" - our Flak and
machine guns all fired after them.
Lt. Leber should have been the last to land, but since two of our three persecutors
had turned and run back to the lines by now, Leber turned and engaged the last N 16!
Immediately the guy turned round and ran after his comrades - he didn't seem to have
expected such a cheekiness from a two-seater pilot!

Congratulations on all the shiny medals folks. No matter what the process for awarding medals, may I say,"Hell of a job Lou!"