I was that close to buying the farm!

U

UK_Widowmaker

Guest
Geez!...Patrolling in a flight of five Camels on a routine Recce artillery spotting sortie, when I turned my head, just in time to see a Pfaltz lining up on my ass!...Where he came from, I don't know...but he had brought some of his chums along to the party!

With horror I looked left and right, as I lost sight of him, only to see holes appearing in my left, lower wing, and tracers whizzing everywhere!!.... the Hun appearing again on my tail...but this time, close enough to see him grinning!!!

I yanked the stick hard left, and kicked the rudder, into a near stall, and he whistled over my head, his undercarriage just missing my top wing by Inches...Yanked open the throttle, pulled nose up slightly, and let him have it!...Heard him scream, as he was hit!...spirraled down belching white smoke, and hit the deck!..... God, I am alone in the sky...just an Observation Balloon...Ah good...Roundels... One of ours...but where are my flight?

Nowhere to be seen, quick check of the map, and I see a friendly airfield close by!..Camel's engine sounds like sh*t..gonna have to put her down..and soon!

OMG!....another German..closing fast..and heading straight for me head-on!

Must resist the urge to turn and run..I will be easy meat!... OK Matey-boy!...Bring it on!!....I squeeze every last ounce out of the complaining Camel.....and fly straight at the German flyer.

He opens up with a long burst, and his bullets fly true... hit again...the ghastly thud of lead on wood!...It's nearly curtains...surely!...but my nerve holds, and I save my best until last!

He is in my sights, and I can imagine his elation at seeing my crippled kite spewing smoke!..but today is my day...and I will make him pay...dearly!

I let him have it!....My guns spew fire and lead... His engine catches fire, and he falls away like a stricken wingless bird, and I watch with grim satisfaction as flame engulfs the cockpit, and his top wing tears off!...No Drinks in the mess tonight for him!..except those drunk by his comrades, in memory of him.

My poor Camel is in a right mess, and more due to luck than judgement, I nursed her down onto the grass strip of the friendly airbase.

Campaign mission number two, comes to an end..... And boy, do i need a stiff one in the Mess!!
 
Yepp, missions turned out to be very dramatic.....Yesterday I was on a recon mission. While my squadmates decided to hit the deck on WP1, and leave me alone, I spotted a massive formation of kites about 2 miles ahead of me.
This turned out to be a full flight of EIII, heading for my airfield. This was the very first time, I felt alone, in a computer game :help:! So I turned my Bristol Scout into their direction and tried to gain some altitude, for some E-fight. As I came closer, I counted them.....8,...oh boy:help:!
On my first pass, out of the sun, I did hit one, going down in smoke and flames....YEAHHHH, what a feeling! Cool, eh, I thought. Boah, what a feeling I thought twice, when I realized, I was unable to recover my scout from that dive, cause I was way to fast. A glance on the speedometer, and I read out 140 mph,..:help: I pulled on that stick, thinkin` "please,please, please...." Oh yeah, she rised up, little by little, as the ground comes clooooser. "VROOOOOM" I roared over the plaines......and crashed into some trees:faint:

Oh, no, not again, not another funeral, I thought, but surprisingly I just spent 10 days in the medical tent.:jump:
 
I know the pain....

Last night, with the 148th, I took my Camel out for a patrol over a friendly area, miles back from the front. Ha Ha milkrun I thought, and I have the home field advantage. Perhaps I'll run into a few two seaters, with 13 confirmed I want to get to 15 and away from any bad luck connected to the standing number.

Flying along with six other Camels, I feel supremely confident, and almost pity any fools who dare mix it up with us. Its one of those bright, puffy low clouds kind of day; perfect weather for a fight. My wingman has 4, the lead is an ace....what could be better. I'll just jump out to external and enjoy the view as I lazily circle around the lead.

Ho hum, I hoped there would be something near the patrol area. Never made it that far....

The lead spotted a flash low and we commenced our diving attack.....I spotted a few white specs as we dove. Dinner is served, or so I thought. As the ground rushed up, I looked around noticing my flight nicely spread out for the attack. Check mate.....unfortunately that only applies when there are strict rules, when you fight for you life there are none.

I noticed that there were at least 6 enemy, and at least one was a DVII the others were DVas. My rule is to always take any DVII out first or at least get some solid hits, and drive him down. No problem, I have all the advantages....

Clack clack clack....clack clack clack good hits, and the DVII pulls hard right...as I look over my shoulder I see him spewing fuel, and diving away. Thats enough for me to count him out, I pull hard to clear anything on my tail, look back and see at least 2 DVas trying to keep with me. But wait, they are diving...hummm...wasn't everybody still below or even? Well the first enemy flight was, but not this second group that we must have missed in our dive from 17000 to 10000.

I took a quick look around and to my horror, one Camel was on fire out of control, a second was already in a smoking death spiral. Suckered in, and jumped by another group of at least 5 DVas. I doubt the two groups were working together, but that didn't matter now. Time to buckle down. Pulling hard over, with full rudder, all that I could do was out turn them and look for a way out. Unfortunately this second group of DVas (who I noticed had green noses, as they flashed in front of me) where the best pilots I ever had the privledge to fly against. I quess I had made my living chopping up duds in DVas for too long, and had lost respect for the aircraft. But these men were different, and within seconds I heard the sickening sounds of wires breaking and canvas ripping, and my steed wanted only to pull up in the turn.

Fighting the controls to keep my turns tight, I noticed some SEa5 had joined the fray. Thank god for the Brits. They must have made the DVas nervous, as I only had one left definitely trying to kill me. I would say that there was now at least 20-25 aircraft fighting turning, diving or out of control. I was in the fight of my life, with a wounded bird, and nervous that I would go head on with someone, but still I wanted someone's blood for my squad mates. I was keeping even with the guy on me, when I noticed a Dr1(three different types of aircraft now!!) in a rather lazy climb coming into view, he must have been looking for a straggler to pounce. Checking the DVa, I figured I had enough time for a quick shot...pulled up and put a long burst into the Dr1, who the went wildly out of control. That Hun forgot his dicta, and paid for it with his life........

Enough, I dove away right through the fight and headed for the nearest airport. Checking my tail I found the green nosed DVa still intent on me. What?!?! you still want some? I think I said this out loud....turned hard and again heard the sound of hits on my aircraft. If it was real I think I would have started reciting Psalm 23. Now I was in a plane that truly wanted to crash, rather than fly. This green nosed ******* must have thought me dead, or at least had lifted his guard savioring my troubles, and pulled off to my right. But I had not counted myself out, he must have been astonished when I pulled hard and peppered his aircraft with a nice deflection shot. Needless to say that was enough fun for the both us, I was worried about landing, and this Hun must been worried about the approaching airfield; so we called it a day. I managed to land, almost ripping off a wing as my Camel suddenly shuddered at the last second. Came to a stop looked up and I watched as three green nosed DVas pass over the field. The ground gunners had opened up, and as I scurried off to end the mission, I imagined myself yelling to the gunners not to shoot these men down, they deserve to die by a pilots hand.

I will now have respect for the DVas, especially any near Arras with green noses
 
Good to read, that you others make mistakes, too. Yesterday, I had a fine flight and even brought two Camels down. But on landing, I realised (too late), that the Albatros in P3 comes in with much more drive! I was used to rolling towards the tents, and had known exactly were to cut off. But now, the tents came runnung towards me - oh, Gott - okay, stick to the right, rudder right; just missed the tents and a truck (who allows these trucks on the field, dammit!), but my Albatros happily rolled on, as if she wanted to have a joyride! No breaks! Why don't we have breaks?! Rolled over a meadow, in between trees - somehow I just managed to avoid them - and finally came to a halt in an open, surrounded by a little wood. Okay, I thought, I've made the landing - the rest is for the mechanics. I ended the flight; but I wonder, how they'll get the plane back out of that wood...
 
Giant2111 said:
Yepp, missions turned out to be very dramatic.....Yesterday I was on a recon mission. While my squadmates decided to hit the deck on WP1, and leave me alone, I spotted a massive formation of kites about 2 miles ahead of me.
This turned out to be a full flight of EIII, heading for my airfield. This was the very first time, I felt alone, in a computer game :help:! So I turned my Bristol Scout into their direction and tried to gain some altitude, for some E-fight. As I came closer, I counted them.....8,...oh boy:help:!
On my first pass, out of the sun, I did hit one, going down in smoke and flames....YEAHHHH, what a feeling! Cool, eh, I thought. Boah, what a feeling I thought twice, when I realized, I was unable to recover my scout from that dive, cause I was way to fast. A glance on the speedometer, and I read out 140 mph,..:help: I pulled on that stick, thinkin` "please,please, please...." Oh yeah, she rised up, little by little, as the ground comes clooooser. "VROOOOOM" I roared over the plaines......and crashed into some trees:faint:

Oh, no, not again, not another funeral, I thought, but surprisingly I just spent 10 days in the medical tent.:jump:
Click to expand...

8 enemy aircraft is a real handful!..So easy to speed down to Ground level too!...ouch! :ernae:
 
Hehe, you should have seen my face, while watching my squadmates circling down to earth:faint:, then carry on that mission, just to realize to be outnumbered in a blink of the eye. But as a british fighterpilot, as history told us, you have to face the odds:ernae:!!!!!

Cheers *raise a beer*
 
I love these reads thank you. I am envious, my copy shipped 2/02 should be here in the next day or two (I hope!) But until then, keep 'em coming and thanks again gents.
Happy Days,
Conrad.
 
Conrad said:
I love these reads thank you. I am envious, my copy shipped 2/02 should be here in the next day or two (I hope!) But until then, keep 'em coming and thanks again gents.
Happy Days,
Conrad.
Click to expand...


You are in for a real treat mate!.... P3 is just superb!:ernae:
 
Flying with Layfayette Escadrille in September 1917, Sous Lieutenant Ghurly Mahnn took off in his nimble Nieuport 17 with 4 squadmates for a patrol along the front, behind friendly lines. Light puffy clouds drifted across the bright blue
mid-day sky. 5 claims with 2 confirmed so far, Lieutenant Mahnn was comfortable in the fragile but agile Neuport and his ability to generally out-maneuver any Albatros he encountered. As the flight neared the front, Allied flak puffs could be seen to the right behind the Allied lines. The flight swung over to investiate.

A flight of six or seven Albatros IIIs were circling an Allied airfield and a pair of Sopwith Strutters attempting to land. Lieutenant Mahnn ordered the flight to engage and picked out a target for himself. The observers of the two Strutters fought hard as the pilots weaved and doged, the ground guners from the airfiels thew up a veil of machinegun fire and flak. The Hun attack broke up into a disorganized fray spreading out low over the countryside, giving the Sopwith Strutters time to run, heading to an alternate airfield, one in trail of the other, smoking but airworthy.

Checking his tail, Mahnn saw no threat and hammered the Albatros he'd caught. The Hun pilot could do nothing to loose Mahnn, even weaving though the trees at hedgehopping height. Holed and shredded, the Hun's aircraft finally failed him and he lost control, cartwheeling through the trees and exploding.

Mahnn allowed himself a glance backward as he pulled up, then looking around for another target. He counted only three Nieuports... then saw one in the distance heading away - home, trailing a small stream of smoke. There was only one Albatros left, running from 2 of the Lieutenant's flight members. Several plumes of smoke rose from the trees and one from the airfield, marking the wrecks of the other German aircraft.

Mahnn swung in behind the remaining Hun flyer from above as they passed in opposite directions. The dance started again, the Hun unable to avoid the peppering from the Nieuports behind him. The fight went down to feet and inches weaving around trees, over hedges and between farm buildings. The fight slowed as the Hun's plane began to spew smoke and the engine sputtered. Mahnn hung back and began to climb gently, satisfied that the German was doomed and moments from meeting the ground. The other members of the flight however, unconvinced of the Hun's certain demise, continued to fire.

There it was, the golden B-B, the german pilot screamed and the Albatros reared up, coming into full view, just in front of Lieutenant Mahnns Nieuport... no maneuver, no matter how nimble the aircraft, how skilled the pilot, could have saved him... the Lieutenant's Nieuport rammed the crippled Hun aircraft, dead-center over the cockpit. The two aircraft crumpled, wrapping themselves around each other in a sickening sound of splintering wood and shredding fabric. They fell as one, crashing into the ground in a fireball. Neither aircraft was distinguishable from the other.

RIP: Sous Lieutenant Ghurly Mahnn
 
Another two excellent write-ups! :) Keep it coming chaps, it's inspirational stuff. :)
 
Great stuff :applause:
I am seeing the real beauty of the game every day as I play as well. Finally after tweaking my new 9600GT, managed to get 25-30 fps with sliders on 5/3/4/5/1 and the real fun has finally began.

April 11 1917
Yesterday me and my 2 flight members from RFC-56 engaged with 4 Alb. DIII with black and white stripes on their tails. Just above the trenches of Arras, with the great battle below us raging, through the smoke of the gas and the debris from the Artillery shells, we fought for our lives. I got to isolate one Albatros off his comrades and after hitting him hard, he crashed in the middle of no man's land. I could almost hear the cheers from the soldiers 500 feet below me..
Looking around I noticed that both my flight members, Lt. Tom Andrews and wingman Cpt. Luke Edward were still airborne and on the chase of the last Albatros. Climbed to 1500 and charged onto him to finish him off. He turned east to land behind his lines. My wingman kept chasing him. When I got on his six, I noticed the bullet holes on his plane and grey smoke puffing off his engine. He didnt need many bullets to crash. After a few well placed rounds, he dove at full speed. But my Se5 was a great diver, and I stayed there, 150 yards behind him, at 160mph guns blazing. He was flying really clumsily now but I got greedy. I didnt break off but kept shooting. Then I realised that he had pulled me behind the German front line. Too late though, as I was at 500 feet over the German trenches. The ground machine guns opened fire and my tail and wings got severely hit. I turned frantically while climbing and dodged the last of them. My engine sounded pretty bad, so I prayed that I could reach the nearest friendly airstrip to land ASAP. The cunning German was behind me, slowly losing control of his steed. Saw him diving and I completely lost him, as he landed into the gas right behind the trenches and into the artillery bombardment zone. He was out of action for sure. My 2 unhurt wingmen passed above me, carrying on our mission (patrol behind enemy lines it was). I couldnt go on of course (that Jerries below me knew how to shoot eh..)..landed on the closest airbase where I was greeted by some fellow airmen. Jumped off my plane and saw the bullet holes all over the plane. Their riggers were very helpful and after some time of patching and engine inspecting, I was airborne again and back to Vert Galand for lunch and booze at the mess :d.
After a good claim report, both claims were confirmed and now I am an Ace with 5 kills total :woot:. Pity I lost my wingman (Luke Edward ws his name) from Archie the next day though. :faint:.
 
Wow, five confirmed kills? That´s great!:applause::applause: Nice read,though!
 
They key is to write the right stuff in the notes. Thats about the 90%. Write down the members of your flight in a piece of paper with their ranks. You fly with the same people all the time and you gotta know their names for your claims (great feature! Increases realism by far :ernae:). I have had 5 claims and all 5 have got confirmed that way. Just put in the enemy's colours of his plane, number of aircraft in total, and place of crash. Write the notes in a formal way.
 
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