The following is my encounter in WOFF with Jasta 11 and the Richthofen brothers! I hope you enjoy reading as much as I have writing and reliving the moment.
I joined RFC No. 56 Squadron as a fighter pilot on January 3, 1917 at Hounslow Field on brief Homeland Defense. Flew 2 sorties patrolling the air between aerodromes over the homeland. Both flights yielded no enemy scraps but had my S.E.5 find engine trouble. Landed at home airfield without power on first sortie and had to land at the closest aerodrome which our flight was patrolling on the second sortie where I was injured upon crashing into trees when landing and hospitalized for 11 days. During this time a transfer was issued to the front at Vert Galand, Flanders. I did not fly the mission due to hospital stay and arrived On April 1st by other means of transportation. I was immediately sent out on a Recon sortie over the front that yielded no scrap with the enemy and all flight members including Recon returned safely and landed at home field. My second sortie was quite different and probably the most exciting I've ever flown including OFF and ROF.
I received my orders on April 15th, 1917 to fly as the flight leader of a two man emergency patrol over the front at 9h54, as the soldiers at the front wired in that there was enemy air activity over their sector. My wingman is Lieutenant Maurice Alfred Kay. His moral is good and has plenty of promise for the future as pilot with no kills or claims to date. We are flying with the Elite No. 56 Squadron so his moral should be good! Our flight takes off at exactly 9h54 and takes 13 minutes to reach altitude and destination. It is a partly cloudy day with cumulus on the horizon and light wind from the west. Our machines are steady as we climb in circles to our commissioned altitude. I begin our mission at 2x advancement scanning the skies for enemy activity and dancing amongst the clouds. We finally reach our patrol destination over the front where the soldiers spotted the enemy planes. I circle in patrol of the area and after a short while spot 4 dots over the enemy positions on the ground amongst heavy flak smoke. I climb slightly higher and zoom in to take a closer look. Ahhh, they are our friends! There are 2 B.E.2's covered slightly above by two Nieuport 17 approximately 3.5m away. With the sun to our backs and still scanning the skies, I can see 5 additional blips above and in front of our friends. I zoom in to take a closer look and spot 5 German Albatross D.III's approximately 4m away gaining altitude and turning in the direction of the B.E.2's.
With my wingman, I race towards the soon to happen scrap. As I zoom in to take a closer look, their is no mistaken who these chaps are as a RED painted Albatross is leading the group.
I turn on Labels to reveal my nemesis and confirm that this is truly Manfred Von Richthofen himself and the his cronies from Jasta 11. Along with Manfred is his brother Lothar, Kurt Wolf, Karl Allmanroder and one unidentified Jasta 11 pilot. They are closing in fast. My heart is pounding and hands are shaking as I make the decision to fight. I climb slightly higher with sun to my back to gain full advantage.
I command my wingman to engage Lothar Von Richthofen and I will attack Manfred. Kurt, Karl and the other German pilot are engaging the B.E.2's and their scrap between the Nieuports ensue.
I have my sights on Manfred and quickly turn and rear up on him as I have total air superiority. I let loose my Lewis and Vickers guns and shower Manfred's plane with at least 40 to 60 rounds.
I turn to watch my six and notice that my wingman has dove away from the fight and Lothar is rearing up on my tail from a moderate distance.
I turn and fire more rounds at the Baron and his plane rear's up and catches flames.
At the same moment, I see bullets flying by me and hear the tearing and ripping of my crate only to look back and see Lothar exacting revenge on me for his brothers plight. I start to see light red and my breath is heavy. My health immediately drops to 79% and I have to turn and dive drastically to shake Lothar off my tail. I signal for Maurice to help me but cannot find anyone of the allied or enemy pilots including the Baron or Maurice in the vicinity. It is all happening so quickly! Lothar is fast on my tail firing at will, but my machines engine is still healthy and I know it is faster than the Albatross D.III. I continue to dive and turn for my side of the lines over No Man's Land in a slight dive twisting and turning to gain more speed as I cannot shake Lothar off my tail.
Suddenly, my wingman dives to my rescue as we are now on our side of the front. At this point I can see two other Albatross diving in as well. Lothar makes the decision to turn and break for his side of the lines as I have gained a significant lead over his chase and carrying him over unfriendly allied ground fire. I am sweating and shaking at the controls. my heart is still pounding away. I check my gauges and health which is steady at 79% and my S.E.5 is strong with no major damage which allows me to return to our home base. Maurice and I make the trip back at real time as I am enjoying my pilot's life over friendly territory and thinking about everything that just came to fruition. Eventually we circle and land at our home base together.
I file my report and claim one Red painted Albatross thought to be the great German pilot Baron Manfred Von Richthofen. This will take time to get approved as I only have one witness and the papers did not yet claim that the Baron has been downed or killed in action. I am hospitalized for 13 days due to my wounds. My S.E.5 is slightly damaged and being repaired.
This mission is one of the best I've flown in all WWI and II flight sims to date. As realistic as it can get. This may be a tacky comment, but I actually felt like a pilot fighting for prestige and life all at the same time. It doesn't come any closer than that to experiencing real life combat and emotion with the immersive WOFF. Also, to feel what went through the minds and capture the experience of a WWI aeroplane pilot and fight against the greatest German Jasta of WWI. I hope to meet up with them again soon!!
Many thanks again to the OBD team for creating one of the most excellent and exciting flight sims in history to date, hands down simply the best all around experience one can enjoy!!