NR, heroic ramming, as you call it, is always an option but not in DiD campaign. You only get to do it once. Fortunately for the AI, they’re not aware of the DiD rules.
I hope Baptiste will keep the “Vive la France” banner on the top wing when he paints his new mount. Perhaps it’s time to paint the guns blue white and red?
Flying without TrackIR is certainly more challenging. The Gong Fairy should definitely think about getting you and Albert a special achievement medal.
So, no flying and no taking the new bird up for a spin. I bet Baptiste’s trigger fingers are itching as hell.

Epower, glad to see Oliver is still at it. It’s been a while.

Albert, you should still see a fair number of Albatroses in the area and at least one other Jasta flying Fokkers.
So no singing pilots? Probably because none of them were Canadian.

And now the weather is flyable again and Murphy is getting most out of it. Two Fokkers in one go. Finally getting them confirmed too. Congrats on both. Isn’t it nice when they approve all your claims? Bet you if you were still flying as Sigmund half of it would be rejected.

Lou, let us know what Freddy thinks of the new Sopwith’s creation once he gets to ride her.

29 August, 1918 15:50
Montingen, Verdun Sector
Jasta 18
Hauptmann Klaus Gustav Raben AO PLM HHO EK1 EK2
Fokker D.VII
95 confirmed kills

The rain relented at noon and Jasta 18 was able to mount an afternoon mission to patrol the lines.
On the way to the Front Klaus spotted a flight of SPADs that must have been stalking the Schwarm for a while. When he made about turn he noticed one of the SPADs was already much closer and about to strike, but seeing that the Germans weren’t going to be surprised he abandoned his run and circled above, waiting for reinforcements. Apparently the rest of his flight was similar to that of Raben’s, in other words useless and stayed away from this fight, not realizing that the rest of the Germans were now approaching and they were in for some pain. The SPAD realized he wasn’t going to get any help and decided to join the rest of his flight and Klaus followed. They never reached the main fight. Another Fokker cut off his route and the two engaged in a dogfight with the SPAD getting on the Fokker’s tail. Klaus made his move at the same time and blasted the SPAD which went into its signature move of spinning upside-down and then rocketing up as if no damage had been done to his plane at all. He then was brought back down, where he made another flat spin and shot sideways back up to Raben’s level. It was like shooting a yo-yo. This time the SPAD miscalculated and ended up in front of Klaus’ guns. A few more rounds into the stubborn Franzose made him run for home, but Klaus wouldn’t allow it. He got on his enemy’s rear and send burst after burst until his adversary went into a downward spiral from which it couldn’t recover. Klaus couldn’t see any more enemy planes and signalled the Schwarm to return to base. That one SPAD really used up most of his ammunition stores.

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After the action Klaus was approaching the airfield and was about to enter the pattern when he heard sound of quickly approaching engines. He had just enough time to look back to see two Bréguet Fighters diving at him. He had no time to react before the bullets ripped into his plane. A ricochet smashed his goggles but the German ace was fine otherwise. He quickly positioned his plane behind one of the attackers and punished it for his indiscretion. The enemy was about to dive for the ground when another Bréguet came into view. Klaus had to make a quick decision. Either follow down the damaged plane, finish it off and risk being jumped by the other two-seater, or leave alone the one that was diving away and take care of the other Bréguet. He decided to let his current target go. He wasn’t going anywhere fast anyway and engaged the French machine that just now wandered in front of his gunsights. He opened fire and let him have it. The rear gunner responded with poorly aimed return fire. He may have been wounded at this point. Klaus continued to fire until the big bird went into a dive and the engine began to smoke. He could see Schwarm Eins taking care of the other Bréguet. That one was smoking profusely already and there was no way he was a threat anymore. Klaus made sure his target also wouldn’t bother anyone ever again. He watched it go down and attempt to land on the road below, but he couldn’t keep it straight and level and veered off the path and ploughed into the rough just beside.
Klaus could see the other Bréguet imitating a comet and as it passed below he fired a few parting rounds its way. The machine smashed into the ground near the road. With that, all the Fokkers turned towards the field and began their landing procedures.

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