"Between Heaven and Hell" The Bordeauxred Baron reports
Although I haven't got my own copy yet, I have the chance to use my neighbour's (see my thread: Great wingman borrowed me his plane) until he returns from his long weekend. So let's not waste time! After the first free flight (see above thread), I just had my first combat in a Sopwith Camel against Albatros D V (uprated), in a "Quick flight".
Not as strange as it may sound. I always wanted to fly the Camel anyway. And I can learn to know her this way; and I can see MY Albatros' performance. So, here we go (starting at 2500 feet).
With three wingmen, I'm flying my Sopwith Camel over a dreamy landscape in late summer, 1917.
I wish, I could look around - the lighting and weather is stunning. All around on the horizon, huge dark thunderclouds are towering. But we fly like in the quiet center of a storm. Over our heads, the sky is more open, there are smaller cirrus clouds. The landscape below looks inviting for a rest or a walk; or for flying over a long time.
But there appears the German flight. Four Albatros D V. The way they split, I'm sure they are veterans at least, if not aces. I avoid head-on approach; don't want to get an early burst from their Spandaus. I zig zag, till they pass overhead, and then pull up, almost a half loop, and get on the tail of the highest. He begins manoeuvering immideately, trying to avoid hits, but I realise, that his biggest chance is, that I don't know the Camel.
When my Albatros is a reliable, sturdy battle horse; the Camel is an Arabian racing stallion. She reacts on the slightest stick movement nervously, and I find it hard to aim.
The Albatros pilot can see my tracers around him and pulls up steep. But what for - the Camel can do that much better, and I'm almost at his rudder. A quick burst, before we collide; I roll left and pull away. After a half turn, I see him doing a long right turn down to gain energy, and up he goes again. Gee - that's like rockets now, but he must learn, he shouldn't do this. Second burst. Bit flying off. Must break again; this time I pull, until I have performed a whole looping. My god, this plane is light, flying like a kite - no way trying that with my Alb.
He dives and then zig zags, not knowing anything better to do.
Quick check around - I'm clear. In a long left curve, he get's a third burst. Now he pulls into a steep left curve, but the Camel can easily turn tighter; I'm inside his curve and shoot right into his cockpit from above. A scream let's me stop for a sec; he goes down in a long left curve, drawing a trail of dark smoke. Looks like he wants to steal away a tree top level. Coming in at his rear left, I give him another burst. He suddenly overturns and crashes into the wood in a nasty steep dive. Next target!
The next one is doing far more zigzagging, turning and ups and downs, but he can't shake me off. 478 rounds left - must be more precise. These Albatros can really chew some.
I hit him with short bursts, but he won't show any severe damage. Chasing towards the thunder clouds, I admire the beauty of that Albatros. It looks like a peregrine, and when the light falls on the upper surfaces, the dark green and violett shines semigloss. The fuselage is black, with a white band around it, showing a swastika. The Albatros looks elegant, dark. Just when I like watching it, he suddenly pulls up left steep, throttle full cut; and right down again. And is behind me! Dreamer!! I shout to myself. Pull into a left tight, roll, until I'm head over, and down it goes, only to pull up steep again! He's lost me! He must realise, I'm overhead again; performs a tight curve and tries to come up. But my curves are tighter, and as he's back up, I'm behind him again. Now he get's several bursts, but mainly into the wings. I still can't aim precisely - my banshee is on adrenalin! But he shows damage now - no tight turns, no zig zagging. He rather slithers through the air like a snake. Now it's easy. I feel shame, when I cover him with hot lead. White smoke - the cooling? We go lower and lower.
Quick check around - god! an Albatros comes right down on me! Pull up, that the stick might break! And she passes me. Call for help - I'm shocked! That was close! Help comes!
My wingman dives right after him, firing! Great, that man!
My Albatros flies in a distance, still going lower slowly. Deadly wounded. I follow her, give her two more bursts, then ammo is out.
From here on, I just followed "my" dying Albatros. Now, Barbers Adagio for strings would fit. The dark German plane in front of the threatening cloud formations, swaying left and right, but with little control for any severe action. Again, I saw the whole scenery, the strange light, the fields and woods below - very touching altogether.
We were now at some 200 feet, above a forrest, when the Albatros suddenly blew up! The fuselage went down like a misled rocket, the wings fell tumbling from the air... Over...
I returned to my wings, and they attacked the last Albatros so fierce - it didn't last much longer. And home we went. We assembled and united. All had survived. Only one Camel had to land right after the forrest; but he made it!
What a flight! Gee - I must stop now, and start a Campaign. With an Albatros, this time. But I'll be back for Pilot David Marlowe and his Camels.
Although I haven't got my own copy yet, I have the chance to use my neighbour's (see my thread: Great wingman borrowed me his plane) until he returns from his long weekend. So let's not waste time! After the first free flight (see above thread), I just had my first combat in a Sopwith Camel against Albatros D V (uprated), in a "Quick flight".
Not as strange as it may sound. I always wanted to fly the Camel anyway. And I can learn to know her this way; and I can see MY Albatros' performance. So, here we go (starting at 2500 feet).
With three wingmen, I'm flying my Sopwith Camel over a dreamy landscape in late summer, 1917.
I wish, I could look around - the lighting and weather is stunning. All around on the horizon, huge dark thunderclouds are towering. But we fly like in the quiet center of a storm. Over our heads, the sky is more open, there are smaller cirrus clouds. The landscape below looks inviting for a rest or a walk; or for flying over a long time.
But there appears the German flight. Four Albatros D V. The way they split, I'm sure they are veterans at least, if not aces. I avoid head-on approach; don't want to get an early burst from their Spandaus. I zig zag, till they pass overhead, and then pull up, almost a half loop, and get on the tail of the highest. He begins manoeuvering immideately, trying to avoid hits, but I realise, that his biggest chance is, that I don't know the Camel.
When my Albatros is a reliable, sturdy battle horse; the Camel is an Arabian racing stallion. She reacts on the slightest stick movement nervously, and I find it hard to aim.
The Albatros pilot can see my tracers around him and pulls up steep. But what for - the Camel can do that much better, and I'm almost at his rudder. A quick burst, before we collide; I roll left and pull away. After a half turn, I see him doing a long right turn down to gain energy, and up he goes again. Gee - that's like rockets now, but he must learn, he shouldn't do this. Second burst. Bit flying off. Must break again; this time I pull, until I have performed a whole looping. My god, this plane is light, flying like a kite - no way trying that with my Alb.
He dives and then zig zags, not knowing anything better to do.
Quick check around - I'm clear. In a long left curve, he get's a third burst. Now he pulls into a steep left curve, but the Camel can easily turn tighter; I'm inside his curve and shoot right into his cockpit from above. A scream let's me stop for a sec; he goes down in a long left curve, drawing a trail of dark smoke. Looks like he wants to steal away a tree top level. Coming in at his rear left, I give him another burst. He suddenly overturns and crashes into the wood in a nasty steep dive. Next target!
The next one is doing far more zigzagging, turning and ups and downs, but he can't shake me off. 478 rounds left - must be more precise. These Albatros can really chew some.
I hit him with short bursts, but he won't show any severe damage. Chasing towards the thunder clouds, I admire the beauty of that Albatros. It looks like a peregrine, and when the light falls on the upper surfaces, the dark green and violett shines semigloss. The fuselage is black, with a white band around it, showing a swastika. The Albatros looks elegant, dark. Just when I like watching it, he suddenly pulls up left steep, throttle full cut; and right down again. And is behind me! Dreamer!! I shout to myself. Pull into a left tight, roll, until I'm head over, and down it goes, only to pull up steep again! He's lost me! He must realise, I'm overhead again; performs a tight curve and tries to come up. But my curves are tighter, and as he's back up, I'm behind him again. Now he get's several bursts, but mainly into the wings. I still can't aim precisely - my banshee is on adrenalin! But he shows damage now - no tight turns, no zig zagging. He rather slithers through the air like a snake. Now it's easy. I feel shame, when I cover him with hot lead. White smoke - the cooling? We go lower and lower.
Quick check around - god! an Albatros comes right down on me! Pull up, that the stick might break! And she passes me. Call for help - I'm shocked! That was close! Help comes!
My wingman dives right after him, firing! Great, that man!
My Albatros flies in a distance, still going lower slowly. Deadly wounded. I follow her, give her two more bursts, then ammo is out.
From here on, I just followed "my" dying Albatros. Now, Barbers Adagio for strings would fit. The dark German plane in front of the threatening cloud formations, swaying left and right, but with little control for any severe action. Again, I saw the whole scenery, the strange light, the fields and woods below - very touching altogether.
We were now at some 200 feet, above a forrest, when the Albatros suddenly blew up! The fuselage went down like a misled rocket, the wings fell tumbling from the air... Over...
I returned to my wings, and they attacked the last Albatros so fierce - it didn't last much longer. And home we went. We assembled and united. All had survived. Only one Camel had to land right after the forrest; but he made it!
What a flight! Gee - I must stop now, and start a Campaign. With an Albatros, this time. But I'll be back for Pilot David Marlowe and his Camels.
