After flying some missions, I decided to do a little "free fly" bomber escort which I enjoy since I'm often pitted against two to four Fokkers and I want to see how long I can defend the bombers against them. Usually it's my demise!

I battled them in my Camel and was doing fairly well at keeping them off the bombers, but finally one of them riddled the end of my wing and since my control was poor, I decided that since “discretion is the better part of valor”, I would get away from the fight, which I did. After deciding that no one was following, I put down in a field to check over my Camel for damage.

While looking the plane over and listening to the birds in the meadow, I heard planes approaching. One Fokker went over, but the next two spotted me and deciding, I guess, to make sure I wasn't taking off again, they came down and strafed me! Tracers were smoking around me, dirt was flying, and they put more holes in my Camel. Fortunately they didn't make more holes in my flying suit!

I was surprised but 'delighted' (?) at this unexpected attack and I watched them fly off! What great immersive action detail! I haven’t seen this before, but then I know that I don’t fly nearly as much as some of you do.

Curse you, you Fokkers! (I did shake my fist at them!)

Hi

This kind of situation sure looks good, but it's not the first time I witness this kind of behavior coming from AI planes.

I guess from the moment the AI has spotted you, it is programmed to take you down, whatever your altitude is, and as long as you are not dead.

I remember it was the same in IL2. Land in a field with AI planes around, and they will strafe you.

Anyway, whether this is a deliberate from the programers or just the AI doing its job, it looks good indeed

Hi Arnow,

Although I got a surprise from the AI action, I suppose that you are right about their behaviour.

Mostly, I was even more surprised at the fact that although I felt that I had left them far behind in the combat area, they seemed to spot me and attack me as they were returning to their base, and this was after I was on the ground for a couple of minutes.

Great action!