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

Bucksnort;

Re: 10 August 1916
Achille Coppens
Quatrieme Escadrille (RFC 25), Belgium
Farman F.40 Pusher (F.E.2b) - Afternoon Line Patrol at Abschnitt

Sorry to hear of the bad day! Well at least you get a break for awhile!

I hope your nurses are much better than the one I had a Dunkirk. She was a battle ax!

Carrick, did your wingman go down over enemy terrain? Poor sod...
Although - we won't treat him bad.

Buck, good recovery for Achille.
This was a warning shot, I guess - be even more careful when you can fly again!

Nope, His motor quit near St Andre AF by the Coast. I followed him down near a pasture, but couldn't tell if he got fenced.

MFair: Looks better then the Nurse I had.


upload gif

GEEz, with nurses like those two I hope my pilot stays out of hospital!!!

Seems you have never seen Schwester Diesel, Robert?

I'D Rather face the opponents in the air than those nurses!! At least in the air you have a chance to escape!!

Thanks for the well wishes, guys, and love the nurse photos

The doctors said it was only a scratch and I'll be back good as new in about a week:

Flight Lt Alex Ackworth - RNAS 4 - Coudekerque - 11 Aug 1916 (Mission 33)

While we were enjoying the weekend, our ground crews have received and prepared two new Strutters, so all of our six planes take off together this afternoon for an artillery spotting mission near Lens.

Weather is cloudy with a 3/5 cover, so not the best for this kind of job. We get over the target at 10.000 ft, make a couple of turns and head home. Shortly after being back in our lines, our leader decides to go down towards two little specks near the clouds under us. They turn out to be Fokkers on the way back home and we fall down on them. While I observe the fight to avoid collision with friendlies, I am bounced by a third one, a green Fokker coming out of the clouds. I take a few hits before disengaging and soon one of my flight mates comes for help.

Unfortunately the few hits made holes in the fuel tanks (which are between John and me, so we're lucky we've not been hit) and my engine stops. I try to glide down to Hesdigneul, but when I see I will be a little short, I prefer landing on a road near a church.

The ground crews from Hesdigneul will pick up and repair the plane, while John and I take a ride to Coudekerque with a car.

My flight got the three Fokkers, but we lost two planes again, and two others are reported missing. Not enough planes to fly tomorrow !

Nice report Corsaire. Always enjoy yours!

That last screenie is a doosie corsair. Fantastic.

I agree, just excellent!

After reading through the advice you guys gave and trying it out, I think that I'm finally getting the hang of avoiding getting shot down in an FE2b. I've managed to complete 5 missions so far with one confirmed kill. Out of the 5 missions, I only had to run away from a dogfight in one of them without completing the mission objective. I think that I'll need at least 5 more completed missions before I feel comfortable enough to commit to this DiD campaign. So, if I can get 10 missions in a row, I'll be a happy camper.

I need to focus on better handling of this crate during evasive maneuvors while flying below 1000 ft.

It seems like I'm walking on eggshells here and my pilot can die at any momment.

BTW - I'm still practicing with "A" level settings on normal air activity in Flanders area... I'm a glutton for punishment.

I was on a Recce mission with my BE2 squadron. With some Albert Ball as our flight leader))
The game suddenly crashed over the front line. Dammit, I thought, everything's over now. But after I confirmed the error the game switched to mission end details with me still flying and all of my squadmates missing in action (even my good friend Albert). It was like, ouch, could it get any worse now...
But after I pressed Done the game surprised me by confirming my long-awaited Transfer request to RNAS-1. And here I am again, riding my new Nieuport 11 along the shoreline of the English Channel.

It's good to be back to DiD!

Sounds familiar, because I also used to get random freezes and crash to WOFF manager. I think there's a conflict somewhere between TrackIR and Ankor's newest shadow mod. When I switched back over to the March 25th version, I'm not getting anymore freezes.

Hi, Grats on your transfer to the N11.

Just a heads up, the N11 is very fragile, don't dive prolonged time.
I guess it was Robert, who gaveout the tip of a leaf dive...... Idle throttle, nose, down, full rudder legt or right, and you sail down like a leaf.
And Ammo is very short, so get close, and IF you think you are close enough, get a bit closer, you can down an EIII with 20rounds.

Good hunting!

Buck, it's good they left the "filler" open in your badages, eyh?
Now you only need some good comrades for the "fuel supply"...

Fine report, Corsaire - and a beautiful picture!
Planes seem to be getting short on both sides of the lines.

The continuing career of Albert "Mushroom" Ward:




12 Aug 1916 @ 05h33 Bombing of Ghistelles aerodrome

The morning of 12 Aug 1916 arrived and still no sign of Hill. He is posted as missing either prisoner or killed. What a loss that will be if he doesn’t return. The C.O. called me into his office to inform me I have been promoted to Squadron Commander and that four outstanding claims have been confirmed. It doesn’t feel good stepping into Hill’s shoes this way.

I lead the flight today with Shook, Soar, Hervey and Chadwick accompanying. We had heavy cumulous from 4000 to 8000 feet and much ceres at 9000 to 10000 feet. The flight to the target area was uneventful but as we approached the target we met two EIII’s coming directly towards us. I attacked head on one strafing him as I passed and continued on to bomb the aerodrome which I missed. I then turned back towards the other EIII and I saw Shook attacking him. I had managed to force mine down and out of action so I went to aid Shook putting a few rounds in the second EIII which Shook finished off. I then pulled up and headed towards our lines. The rest of my flight failed to drop their loads and all turned back to our lines to land at Koksijde. I followed them but noticed a Hun sausage just south west of Ghistelles and took a run at it sending it down in flames. I took some hits causing light damage. I returned to Coudekerque and gave my strutter to the fitters for one day overhaul. I must speak to the boys about leaving the scene so early without my direction.

YouTube Video:


12 Aug 1916 @ 16h26 Artillery spotting for enemy troop movement and our arty shot fall south of Nieuport..

Escort of 2 Nieuport 11’s from RNAS-1 out of Furnes.

I had this assignment on my own. I guess the C.O. likes me!!
“a” flight sent two strutters flown by Shook and Chadwick to follow some time after me
I had heavy cumulous between 3000 and 7500 feet. The flight to the lines was uneventful except that upon approach I spotted a lone EIII looking to shake hands with me and coming from my 4 o’clock low on our side of the lines. I turned into him and we had at it. I forced him down but since I had no witnesses and the heavy cloud cover would probably prevent any of our troops seeing the action I didn’t expect the claim to be accepted and it wasn’t.. “A” flight showed up as I was on my way to land at Koksijde.

YouTube Video:

Hey Robert, Gratulation for your assignment and 4 more confirmed kills. Glad to have you on our side!

With some delay, here come the latest "DiD Campaign Chart" as well as the update for our fallen pilots' stone.

Robert, congratulations for crossing the 50 hour mark - you are only the second pilot to achieve that.
Also to your promotion to Squadron Commander - I guess you will live up to it.
The promotion is not yet in the chart though - next time.
Herzlichen Glückwunsch!

RAF28Jenkins and MFair, congratulations for reaching the 25 hours - well done, boys!

Bucksnort's Achille Coppens is our first Belgian pilot in the "DiD Campaign" - welcome, Achille!

And with LtCasey's new pilot we welcome our first American - he has yet to fly under the French flag,
until the Americans will join the war officially.

Seeing 6 wounded pilots again, I want to repeat my advice - concentrate your energy and awareness
on survival. You will only be able to serve your country long, if you return alive and well from each sortie.
The war will be much longer, and there will be many more chances for heroic deeds. Take care, boys!