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What?!? Horses do not explode? ...that's disappointing

Another item for the wishlist.

I remembered to fill out a survey this week even though I dozed off after dinner.

Here is the latest status report.

Journal Entry: August 15, 1915
Bertincourt

I'm sorry that I've been so remiss in writing journal entries; it defeats the whole purpose of keeping a journal if one doesn't write entries every so often. I would wager that the reason for the lack of journal entries would be caused by the lack of anything noteworthy happening in the last couple of weeks. I won't say that it is dull, because it's not possible for flying to be dull, but it is very routine. We get up, fly our daily sortie, come back to a delicious lunch and dinner and then spend the afternoons and evenings either resting, playing cards, listening to music or reading. I guess it is a rather lovely way to fight a war. I do have a sneaking suspicion that these halcyon days aren't going to last much longer. Just the other day, we heard a rumor of a new type of aeroplane that the High command will be releasing to certain units for testing. It's all very hush hush and we didn't hear of any details. I fear these relaxing, peaceful days where our only concern is what's for dinner won't be lasting too much longer.

Journal Entry: December 13, 1915
St. Pol-sur-Mer

Have you ever fussed and worried over a cocoa-nut and as soon as you finally reach the prize, your friend comes along and eats it before you can. Well, I had something similar happen to me today. Roderic and I were sent to fly a line patrol near Niewpoort. We had just arrived when we spotted a lone Aviatik flying along without a care in the world. That poor Hun saw us at the same time and quickly turned for home, but we are quicker and he couldn't get away. I swooped in and gave him a good burst after which he began belching smoke, but my Lewis jammed so I had to turn away. It was at that point that Roderic pulled up and quickly shot down my Aviatik. I had done all of the work and I wasn't very happy. When we returned, he just smiled and said, "What, I didn't think you wanted it." What could I do but laugh and together we walked to the RO's hut together.

Yup, my wingman does it all the time. It's not so bad now when the enemy is armed. I let them have the first go. They swoop down shoot each other up and limp back home. That's when I step in an sweep whatever's left over. Usually by then the rear gunner is knocked out and the plane on its last leg.
It was a totally different story with BI's - pretty much a "race" to get there first and try to shoot the poor #%&*$# down before the rest gets its turn.

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Greetings folks. I was able to get back to some flying in this campaign, now that I have the majority of my mapping project under my belt. It was very enjoyable catching up on everyone's pilots here and thank you all for the wonderful reports and such. However, what was not so wonderful was the engine trouble my pilot, Allard Tremblay, suffered in his first mission back. He and his gunner/obs were forced to land 10 kilometers behind the lines where they were immediately set upon by Boche troops and captured. They are now guests of the Kaiser for the next six months - six months! So, I now have a question. Would it be allowable to move Sous-lieutenant Tremblay to the "War Birds Rising" group in February when he makes good his escape? Elsewise I will be waiting a very long time for his return in this campaign. Thanks for your consideration on this point.

Allard and his G/O sitting in their now-useless mount moments before their imminent capture.



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sounds fine to me

I'm certainly ok with that. I do have a question for you Lou, would it be possible for you to work your medal magic in this campaign? It might be too late and I'm sure it's a lot of work, but it is one of the best parts of the other DID campaign and it's the only regret I have with this campaign.

Well, I'll start with Berthold Brecht, then LOL
...too sad, I hadn't got the Camera running.
On his 2nd "real" Mission, we were over the Lines, taking some Photos of the Mud below us, cruising along at 12hundred rpm in our two Aviatiks, when I noticed a Doubledecker far away and below us, who was heading in our Direction.
I turned Home at full Throttle, my Squadmate followed, but somehow he did not fly as fast as me.
The Problem:
This one Doubledecker brought his Friends, so there were 3 N-10 Single Seaters in Pursuit... and my Teammate had an unarmed Avi B.
Well, none of these Planes are particulary fast, so I had a long Time thinking about the Options at Hand...
Be egoistic and leave these two poor Guys as easy Prey, while my Gunner and I return comfortably? Or turn around and risk a Fight, allowing my Teammates to escape in the Meantime? (Player's Comment: I trained hunting down multiple Ns with an Avi C quite thoroughly in CQ. 2 Nupes are nothing more than Cannon Fodder for an Avi with a good Gunner. 3 is a somewhat different Situation...)
My Gunner never fired one Shot before, so I had no Idea, if he would just pump a lot of Holes into the Sky (or worse, our own Plane), or if he would rock the House.
Below us - on our Side - no Balloon or Ground Support of any Kind, so, no Sense in forcing them down into Ground Fire (Player's Comment: I've got the AA / Groundfire-Settings in Workshop @ Rambo4 / Terminator3)

All in all, it would be a totally silly Idea, to turn around and save my Teammates from certain Death... so, guess what I did
To make a long Stroy short:
After almost half an Hour (!) of circling around and hoping for my Gunner to place some lucky Hits, one of the Nupes went Kamikaze on me

That's too funny, I'm not laughing at you, but with you.


Hey, go ahead and post the info for your first pilot so that I can add him to our dead pilots roll. He should at least get honored in some way.

Okay, I filled in all the Blanks... sorry for not remembering the Name of my Aerodrome (I wrote "Marne"). I know exactly, where it is... the first one after the Bend of the River, right in the Middle of the two Bridges... but that doesn't really help, here

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Thanks Banjoman for giving the thumbs-up on my DID pilot's move. To the medals, I'd be willing to do that when time allows. I would ask though for a rundown on who is actually still active in the campaign so that I can focus on proper awards for those pilots.

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Mine is dead and gone. I will start over again maybe after X mas.

What happened?

Here's the latest status report.

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Thank you for the updated stats Banjoman, much appreciated. So, if a few medals were to be presented in this campaign would you be able to add them to the chart?

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Yep, I sure could. The chart is still evolving, so if you have any ideas on how to make it spiffier I would sure like to hear them.

Banjoman: He had a Mid-Air with his Target 2 seat Recon plane.