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

In the list is the "RAF BE2c"......

Just for the rules,

if one have a pilot in training, is he supposed to fill in the survey, or shall he enlist after training, when joining his deployment?

Well, try it out - if you use the same pilot, who will later fly the campaign,
and the two-seater-time is mentioned in the pilot logbook, then you can do that.
Just show a screen capture of his log's flights page at the end of the training,
before you start at the front.

Hi guys,

I'm getting ready to start a DiD campaign flying for Belgium, and I've got a question about the different levels:

I'm trying to decide between Level B or C and if I go with Level B how do I know who is doing what and what aces and squads I fought (for after action reports, etc). Or is that the trade off. I don't use the Tac or Targetting Cone so I won't need those, but can't decide about labels.

Thanks!

P.S. A big "Thank you" to Olham for making some Belgian marked skins to get me started!

Well, I hear tell that Albert Ward made a special flight to visit Artemus Burroughs in Bertangles medical ward to pay his respects!

Flight SubLt. Dudley Doorite
RNAS-5
August 6, 1916


Today was my first 'command,' a reconnaissance flight east of Armenieres with one companion. We were supposed to meet up with 5 Airco DH.2s as escort, but I believe the fact I went straight there defeated them. At any rate they never showed.

Pity. We could have used them.

We arrived without incident and began our patrol. East to the edge of No Man's land. Back to Armenieres. Back to Hunland. Our altitude steadily rose from 5,000 feet to around 9,000 during this stretch. I doubt our observers got much intel: On the way there it was mostly clear - a few cirrus clouds high over head, but there was this huge cumulus formation straddling No Man's Land.

Things went well enough, though I was turning very cautiously so as not to collide with my wingman, when I heard a new engine join the party and my observer swiveled. I couldn't see anything, so I turned the craft and below me: One little Eindecker.

I dove. Not sure what my wingmate did. I fired steadily as he fled. At one point I threatened to overshoot, but along with 'A' flying I've been using Doorite to teach myself to rely on blipping. I hit him some more and he went into a flat spin.

I started to follow him down, but that would have required a nearly 90 degree dive so I banked off. Apparently he recovered.

Up ahead I saw my partner with one on his tail. He didn't seem too worried about it, and anyway there was a third that passed just over my wings. I turned to engage - too quickly. Spun out but recovered. He passed over me again and Lt. Askew (my observer) gave him our compliments. I turned again, but now here was my partner's friend. He got behind us long enough to hit both me and my observer.

Still, my wingmate was still around and this wasn't a bad situation. Until I looked up and saw a flight of two more Eindeckers flying high. They didn't seem like they noticed us, but I had a strong desire to be elsewhere and flew home.

My partner got two claims. Indeed, my wingmates have done much better than I as far as claims go. Well, so be it. We arrived safely, though Lt. Doorite now gets a full week off to chat up the nurses.

Well, de rules is de rules... If you fly with labels on then you are a C pilot whether you use the TAC or not. You may as well use both then as I do. You can take note of your wingmen before you go to the field.

I once saw a tv program where they interviewed 2 men who had become 100. One was puffing away on his pipe and still used to drink when they allowed it, the other had never smoked or drunk alcohol. They didn't specifically ask about women, but the pipe smoker was chatting up the lady interviewer all the time.

Bucksnort, in the high reality LEVELS, you just observe and report, what you see.
The real pilots could not do more. They did not know, if they shot down an ace,
except if that ace plane was well-known in their unit.

.



And what a much appreciated visit it was! Artemus and Albert had a fine time catching up on each other’s doings since flying school. Captain Burroughs was pleased to see that Flight Commander Ward was doing so well and they congratulated one another on their achievements and honours. As Artemeus' wounds are not preventing him from moving about he and Albert sat outside and swapped stories and enjoyed several drams of the Glengoyne 17 Albert so thoughtfully delivered. The fruity, spicy, oaky-ness of the scotch went perfectly with the warm August sun that slanted down upon them as they talked. At one point Major Hawker dropped by and introduced himself to Albert, then gave him a ribbing about making a downwind landing at an unfamiliar aerodrome. However, the offer of a dram or two served as sufficient atonement and all was quickly forgiven. The time flew by and as the afternoon stretched into early evening Albert had to take his leave in order to make it home to Coudekerque before dark. Artemus promised a visit of his own to Albert’s camp just as soon as the war allowed it and the friends left each other with a hearty handshake and best regards.
Good times. Good, good times.

.

I must report that Anthony Argrave, famous Sopwith 1½ Strutter pilot had met his end. Landing at Bertangles West he didn't see the fence coming. Although he went through the fence ok, WOFF insists he is dead. He had 30 hours in 34 sorties. I think something should be done about these fences

I also noticed while flying the strutter that it is tail heavy which is good for getting above your wingmates, but also that application of rudder only put on some bank as well. Is this correct for the aircraft?

Here is my new pilot ready to go! (and I have moved the date to 7 August 1916)

.

Another casualty of this damned war, sorry to learn of Anthony's inglorious demise, Jim.

A drink to the dead already, HOORAH! for the next man to die.

.

~S~ RIP Anthony Argrave.

Sorry to hear of Anthony's demise. It will be a long war and I fear more than a few will follow.

I think the worm has turned for Mfair. Edward Eastwood has just passed the 20 hour mark and now a small case of nerves has set in. Before DID campaign I do not think I ever had a pilot with more hours than victories. To be honest I have to look and see how many victories Edward has. Not really a concern anymore. Now I am totally concerned with getting home in one piece. Have to admit it is a whole new outlook on things. Thanks to all for your help on the journey.

Aarik Bachmeier is back from his injuries and was thrilled to be given a promotion to Leutnant, a medal, and transfer into jasta 1. Unfortunately he is still flying the Fokker EIII, but many of his squadmates are piloting the Halb.

He was tasked with leading a friendly air space combat patrol. Rather strange to see a Fokker EIII leading two halbs, but at least he didn't worry about falling behind. unfortunately his Fokker's engine wasn't developing full power and soon produced almost none. He was forced to land at a friendly field.

His next mission looked like a redo, but with slightly different waypoints. The Fokker engine ran great and soon the three planes were about 2 miles high patroling behind the lines when Aarik spotted black flak smoke trailing toward him from the east. He lead the two Halbs towards the anticipated direction of the enemy, spotted three planes approaching, and dove in. Morane two seaters...he landed three short bursts into the lead plane causing it to belch smoke and spin downwards. Suddenly he saw red as he heard rounds strike his Fokker. "Not Again!", he thought as he dove away from the remaing 2 on 2 df and watched the lead Morane crash into a farmer's field.

Aarik made it back to a friendly airbase and is once again in the hospital.

As a tyro sim pilot (except a bit of Wings of Glory many moons ago) I must say that OFF was difficult and WOFF is verydifficult. Rather than trying to become an 'ace' and shoot others down I spend most of my time trying just to stay alive. There is somewhat of an art to this that I am learning. Once I become a better pilot I may become more of a shooter but now I am just, as you say, wanting to get home in one piece. And even then, watch out for the bloody Titanium fences!

The WOFF Campaign in itself is well worth doing, and our DID Campaign just adds to it. When I see those EA coming it makes my heart beat faster just as it would have done in real life. That is 'immersion' to me! And so I am a learner now, as I would have been a learner then.

So many casualties, fortunately more wounded than dead! I'm starting to worry that the next pilot to get hit will be mine.

I think the Eindecker is even more of a deathtrap than the Aviatik at this point of the air war in WOFF. At least the Aviatik has two guns for the observer and you have somebody watching your back. The Eindecker isn't much faster or more manoeuverable than the Aviatik.

Yeah, with the EIII it is a challenge at times just to keep it in the air when the winds are strong.

Having crashed twice and been wounded once and completely ok once I would like the devs to look into this 'titanium fence' thing. Hit one, even when going slowly and you are DEAD! This is incorrect for the time and even now fences don't kill you.