Aug.6 Edward Eastwood RNAS 4 Afternoon Patrol. I stood in silence as the Major told me I was to take my kite and hit a rail junction way southeast of Bethune. "Alone Sir?" I asked. "Of course not Eastwood, take your gunner with you, you idiot! Is there a problem?" "No sir" I said and walked out to my machine shaking like a leaf. The Major called out, "One machine will attract less attention Eastwood." Less attention my arse! We took off and climbed out to 12,000'. At Bethune I turned southeast and flew my way across the mud, looking constantly for any HA. When we made the target it was socked in with cloud. "Well Eastwood I tells myself, you have 2 choices. Go down low over Hunland and find the target or unload right here and get the hell out." I did not take long to make my decision. Down go the bombs and west goes my nose! Made it back without incident. I need a drink!
Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear or a fool from either end. BOC Member since....I can't remember!
Aug.6 Edward Eastwood RNAS 4 Afternoon Patrol. I stood in silence as the Major told me I was to take my kite and hit a rail junction way southeast of Bethune. "Alone Sir?" I asked. "Of course not Eastwood, take your gunner with you, you idiot! Is there a problem?" "No sir" I said and walked out to my machine shaking like a leaf. The Major called out, "One machine will attract less attention Eastwood." Less attention my arse! We took off and climbed out to 12,000'. At Bethune I turned southeast and flew my way across the mud, looking constantly for any HA. When we made the target it was socked in with cloud. "Well Eastwood I tells myself, you have 2 choices. Go down low over Hunland and find the target or unload right here and get the hell out." I did not take long to make my decision. Down go the bombs and west goes my nose! Made it back without incident. I need a drink!
Nice touch of sarcasm there Eastwood! I can almost see Clint's face saying that!
(System_Specs)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Trooper PSU: Ultra X3,1000-Watt MB: Asus Maximus VI Extreme Mem: Corsair Vengeance (2x 8GB), PC3-12800, DDR3-1600MHz, Unbuffered CPU: Intel i7-4770K, OC to 4.427Ghz CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Seidon 240M Liquid CPU Cooler Vid Card: ASUS GTX 980Ti STRIX 6GB OS and Games on separate: Samsung 840 Series 250GB SSD Monitor: Primary ASUS PG27AQ 4k; Secondary Samsung SyncMaster BX2450L Periphs: MS Sidewinder FFB2 Pro, TrackIR 4
Running away is one of my main methods. Another few are as follows: 1. A 180 to the far side of the Flight. 2. Fly higher 3. Turn and Fly under Top Cover when they are there.
Good advice for A/c type:
BE2: Run as soon as e/a are sighted. N-11: Engage only damaged e/a
Floated like Butterflies then Stung like Bees on the 1401 Armed Recon Flight to Loos.
WX. Broken at 3000ft clear on top at 6000ft. Vis unlimited.
Claims 4 out of 5 Fokkers encountered.
Remarks: B Flight 3 a/c attacked 5 Fokkers over NML near Loos. Nasty Tight turning fight amid Archie bursts. did a 180 to the far side of the formation and engaged while the Hun flight was breaking up. Shot at all then settled on the number 4 got hits. Spotted My Wing-man smoking one off to the lower left b ut did not see crash due to 2 fighters on my six. Corkscrewed then ran My Rear gunner got one. Crossing the lines Archie got one the right wing just fluttered down. Even Archie can get lucky. Landed at Buary to check overstressed a/c wires. Never did spot Top Cover,s 3 A/c LMF flight that was assigned to the flight.
Aug.6 Edward Eastwood RNAS 4 Afternoon Patrol. I stood in silence as the Major told me I was to take my kite and hit a rail junction way southeast of Bethune. "Alone Sir?" I asked. "Of course not Eastwood, take your gunner with you, you idiot! Is there a problem?" "No sir" I said and walked out to my machine shaking like a leaf. The Major called out, "One machine will attract less attention Eastwood." Less attention my arse! We took off and climbed out to 12,000'. At Bethune I turned southeast and flew my way across the mud, looking constantly for any HA. When we made the target it was socked in with cloud. "Well Eastwood I tells myself, you have 2 choices. Go down low over Hunland and find the target or unload right here and get the hell out." I did not take long to make my decision. Down go the bombs and west goes my nose! Made it back without incident. I need a drink!
I like that report. Especially the last three sentences....
"What the hell do I care, I know I got them!" Raul Lufberry
Nice to see the reports coming in. Makes for entertaining reading.
(System_Specs)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Trooper PSU: Ultra X3,1000-Watt MB: Asus Maximus VI Extreme Mem: Corsair Vengeance (2x 8GB), PC3-12800, DDR3-1600MHz, Unbuffered CPU: Intel i7-4770K, OC to 4.427Ghz CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Seidon 240M Liquid CPU Cooler Vid Card: ASUS GTX 980Ti STRIX 6GB OS and Games on separate: Samsung 840 Series 250GB SSD Monitor: Primary ASUS PG27AQ 4k; Secondary Samsung SyncMaster BX2450L Periphs: MS Sidewinder FFB2 Pro, TrackIR 4
August 6 Flight Sub Lt. Edward Eastwood. RNAS 4 Dawn Patrol: 3 machines with Marshall leading. We are only able to but 4 machines in the air today. Recon mission, Enemy front sector SW of Menen. Reaching patrol area, Turner, solo in flight B is attacked by 2 HA. Big mistake on their part as they obviously did not see us coming up behind him. I got a few hits in but Reynolds will be filing a claim for both. Formed back up and finished our mission and headed home. CO says "Excellent!"
Evening patrol:B Flight has 4 machines and I make up A flight alone. Recon front lines at Abschmitt. 5 Escorts. I meet the escorts on time and head for patrol area. Nearing patrol area 5 HA attack and I let the escorts have at them. I circle and keep an eye on them hoping Drury can do his spotting. B Flight catches up and as I am forming up with them 3 EIII's come out of nowhere. Next thing I know my right wing is shot up and my controls are a bit sluggish. I dive away into a cloud headed west. Coming out, one of the buggers is still coming for me. I turn to the left, as my kite already wants to go that way and as we pass by each other, Drury give him what for and sends him away smoking. I ease in behind him and finish him off. Not knowing if my machine will make Coudekerqe I head for Bailleul Asylum. We make a shaky landing and are both a little weak kneed getting out of the plane. I owe Capt. Drury a drink.
Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear or a fool from either end. BOC Member since....I can't remember!
August 6 Flight Sub Lt. Edward Eastwood. RNAS 4 Dawn Patrol: 3 machines with Marshall leading. We are only able to but 4 machines in the air today. Recon mission, Enemy front sector SW of Menen. Reaching patrol area, Turner, solo in flight B is attacked by 2 HA. Big mistake on their part as they obviously did not see us coming up behind him. I got a few hits in but Reynolds will be filing a claim for both. Formed back up and finished our mission and headed home. CO says "Excellent!"
Evening patrol:B Flight has 4 machines and I make up A flight alone. Recon front lines at Abschmitt. 5 Escorts. I meet the escorts on time and head for patrol area. Nearing patrol area 5 HA attack and I let the escorts have at them. I circle and keep an eye on them hoping Drury can do his spotting. B Flight catches up and as I am forming up with them 3 EIII's come out of nowhere. Next thing I know my right wing is shot up and my controls are a bit sluggish. I dive away into a cloud headed west. Coming out, one of the buggers is still coming for me. I turn to the left, as my kite already wants to go that way and as we pass by each other, Drury give him what for and sends him away smoking. I ease in behind him and finish him off. Not knowing if my machine will make Coudekerqe I head for Bailleul Asylum. We make a shaky landing and are both a little weak kneed getting out of the plane. I owe Capt. Drury a drink.
That Sir, was an exciting mission! Nice report
(System_Specs)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Trooper PSU: Ultra X3,1000-Watt MB: Asus Maximus VI Extreme Mem: Corsair Vengeance (2x 8GB), PC3-12800, DDR3-1600MHz, Unbuffered CPU: Intel i7-4770K, OC to 4.427Ghz CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Seidon 240M Liquid CPU Cooler Vid Card: ASUS GTX 980Ti STRIX 6GB OS and Games on separate: Samsung 840 Series 250GB SSD Monitor: Primary ASUS PG27AQ 4k; Secondary Samsung SyncMaster BX2450L Periphs: MS Sidewinder FFB2 Pro, TrackIR 4
Robert, I am so close to 25 hours I can taste it! In all these missions I have only had my tail feathers dusted 1 time but i thought I had bought the farm. Where they came from I do not know. But, I am still alive! Thank you Sir.
Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear or a fool from either end. BOC Member since....I can't remember!
7 August 1916 Achille Coppens Quatrieme Escadrille, Belgium Morning Patrol
So begins my first DiD campaign as Achille Coppens, the younger cousin of Willy Coppens. With the prospect for grand adventure and hearing tails of the sky from Willy (still yet to see combat himself) I have decided to follow in his footsteps. Will beat the trenches, and likely be much more safe I'm thinking.
After flight school I have been assigned to Quatrieme Escadrille (RFC 25) flying the Farman Pusher (F.E.2b). It was my understanding that the Farman was used primarily for recon but much to my surprise our duty roster says "Fighter" (at least at the moment). My first sortie was a Line Patrol heading south near Arras. The Farman is a gentle craft to fly, very forgiving and easy to handle. But I wonder how she will fair against the E.III and this new German Halberstadt craft I have heard about.
My first sortie was fairly uneventful, although we did see two Fokkers tangling with our top cover about a mile ahead of us just as we approached the front line. But by the time we got there the fight was already over, with the Fokkers retreating back across their lines and two of our planes breaking formation to head home. Later we learned that Capt. Lucien Batsleer and his pilot Sgt. Alfons Vanoutryve were seriously wounded but did mangage to get their craft on the ground at a nearby British field.
If we continue in this fighter role I may pursue a transfer to a squad of Nieuports or Strutters where I will feel I have a proper craft for the job of fighting!
Dogfighting is what you do "after" you drop your bombs and blow something up! Can you say "JABO!"
Flightreport for Charles C Johnson by Lt. Louis Triegiers, Instructor:
Caporal Johnson managed to navigate from homefield (Paris) to destination field (Verdun area, exact Location classified) and back in 97 minutes. This has happened in very heavy weather conditions, during flight.
Due to the circumstances and a sound threepoint landing this flight is rated "excellent"
This was flight one of 4 in the navigational lesson.
Louis Triegiers
Last edited by LtCasey; 08/08/1408:36 AM.
"What the hell do I care, I know I got them!" Raul Lufberry
Welcome to the "DiD Campaign", Achille - as the first Belgian you arrived just in time to see the beginning of the air war with real conceptional fighter craft and units.
Vice-President of the BOC (Barmy OFFers Club) Member of the 'Albatros Aviators Club' - "We know how to die with Style!"
8 Aug 1916 @ 06h04 Recon enemy troop and vehicle movement south of Nieuport
Hill lead the flight with myself, Parsons, Booker, Soar, and Huskisson accompanying. “A” flight sent 2 strutters to follow. The flight to the lines was quiet and peaceful. Winds were 6 km from the SSW and we had scattered cumulous from 4000 to 6000 ft.
Upon crossing the lines we encountered 6 EIII’s and Hill gave the command to attack. I stayed higher than the others at first, circling to look for a likely target. I did not have to wait long. I made passes on three different EIII’s scoring on each of them. “A” flight joined in and took down two of them. Booker, Soar, Hill and myself each got one. We finished up on our mission and headed home. Huskisson was the only one lightly damaged on the mission and his craft will be out of service for 2 days.
YouTube Video:
8 Aug 1916 @ 14h53 Artillery spotting of troop positions and shot fall SE of Armentieres.
I lead the flight, with Hervey, Soar, and Huskisson accompanying. “A” flight sent 2 strutters to assist. The mission was uneventful and we returned safely to base.
YouTube Video:
(System_Specs)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Trooper PSU: Ultra X3,1000-Watt MB: Asus Maximus VI Extreme Mem: Corsair Vengeance (2x 8GB), PC3-12800, DDR3-1600MHz, Unbuffered CPU: Intel i7-4770K, OC to 4.427Ghz CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Seidon 240M Liquid CPU Cooler Vid Card: ASUS GTX 980Ti STRIX 6GB OS and Games on separate: Samsung 840 Series 250GB SSD Monitor: Primary ASUS PG27AQ 4k; Secondary Samsung SyncMaster BX2450L Periphs: MS Sidewinder FFB2 Pro, TrackIR 4
Great, thanks! And very nice medal art, as always.
Looks like there's going to be a bit of a celebration in the mess tonight. The only remaining officer in the Abteilung was killed yesterday, so we NCOs get to enjoy all the drinks.
"Upon my word I've had as much excitement on a car as in the air, especially since the R.F.C. have had women drivers."
James McCudden, Five Years in the Royal Flying Corps
Aug. 8. Flight Sub LT. Edward Eastwood RNAS 4 Capt. Drury and myself arrived back at Coudekerqe in the wee hours of the morning only to find that B Flight is missing rom yesterdays mission. The CO told me that had been promoted to Flight Lt. but I really did not care at this point.
Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear or a fool from either end. BOC Member since....I can't remember!
Flightreport for Charles C Johnson by Lt. Louis Triegiers, Instructor:
Caporal Johnson managed to navigate from homefield (Paris) to destination field (Verdun area, exact Location classified) and back in 97 minutes. This has happened in very heavy weather conditions, during flight.
Due to the circumstances and a sound threepoint landing this flight is rated "excellent"
This was flight one of 4 in the navigational lesson.
Louis Triegiers
Sounds like Johnson is a natural! He will be at the front in no time, up to his ears in it! Poor fellow doesn't know what he is in for!
(System_Specs)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Trooper PSU: Ultra X3,1000-Watt MB: Asus Maximus VI Extreme Mem: Corsair Vengeance (2x 8GB), PC3-12800, DDR3-1600MHz, Unbuffered CPU: Intel i7-4770K, OC to 4.427Ghz CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Seidon 240M Liquid CPU Cooler Vid Card: ASUS GTX 980Ti STRIX 6GB OS and Games on separate: Samsung 840 Series 250GB SSD Monitor: Primary ASUS PG27AQ 4k; Secondary Samsung SyncMaster BX2450L Periphs: MS Sidewinder FFB2 Pro, TrackIR 4