Wulfe, don’t you find it much more immersive when you can recognize each of your flight mates by their markings? Too bad this is not possible for some squads with mostly non-HA pilots. So, it’s aqua-dogfights for Fullard and Co. Some exciting battles between James and les Boches. Great descriptions and some close calls. Too bad the kill was not “homologuée”. Better not dwell too much on your fallen foe. It helps to think of them as terrible monsters drinking newborn’s blood for breakfast. Yes, lightning is built-in, but deactivated. Need a mod, or ME to reactivate it.


21 April, 1916 05:45 morning mission
Senard, Verdun Sector
Escadrille N37
Lieutenant Gaston A. Voscadeaux
16 confirmed kills

Gaston's yesterday's claim was denied and awarded to Ltn. Dagonet. The man is without scruples.
The Command decided to put an end to the Boche’s unrestricted overflights above Verdun. To that end Gaston was to patrol the area over Verdun aerodrome. This morning there was a lot of activity over Verdun City and as usual Adjutant Boillot was the first to spot two Aviatiks. Voscadeaux directed his flight mates to attack. He followed and made a solitary pass at one of them, then let the rest of the boys take care of the two-seater while he watched. He then proceeded to attack the Hun’s leader, who seemed to know what he was doing. He kept flying in spirals, not allowing Gaston a clean shot, but eventually he ran out of altitude and headed for home, low over the Argonne Forest. This was Gaston's cue. He nearly emptied his stores before the two-seater went down among the exploding anti-aircraft fire. He was sure the artillery boys will want a piece of his claim. The other Aviatik was burning somewhere nearby as well, but Boillot had to put his machine down due to battle damage. As Dagonet was forming up Gaston spotted a trio of Eindekkers high above, probably searching for the pair of Aviatiks they were supposed to protect. Voscadeaux estimated he had about 30 rounds remaining and hoped the Fokkers will simply fly overhead, but one of them wanted revenge. He swooped down attempting to take Gaston out, but the Old Fox was vigilant and would not allow such an easy victory. The Hun saw Voscadeaux's tail for a second and then had to fend off not just Gaston, but also Dagonet and Delbee. The pilot of the violet machine observed as his two wingmen made the Boche think twice about leaving the safety of high altitude. When the time came he engaged and took a position behind the monoplane. He had to make each bullet count. Voscadeaux closed in and fired. Black smoke belched from the Oberursel right after the initial burst. Gaston pressed his attack until he was out of bullets. The Fokker could not stay in the air and begun a spiraling descent with the smoke betraying his each move. In his growing annoyance Gaston watched as Dagonet arrived and fired at the falling Boche. Gaston couldn't tell if he even hit the machine as it was about to crash into some trees below, but he was certain Dagonet will definitely claim the monoplane. He liked the man less with each instant.



21 April, 1916 13:45 afternoon mission
Senard, Verdun Sector
Escadrille N37
Lieutenant Gaston A. Voscadeaux
16 confirmed kills
Awaiting 1 claim confirmation

The balloon attack was a walk in the park. Gaston and Adjutant Delbee had no problems finding the gas bag north of Verdun. There was no Fokker opposition, even the Flak boys seemed to have been caught napping. Voscadeaux fired his rockets which were soon followed by Delbee’s salvo, but it was Gaston's repeated machine gun attacks that finished the sausage off. Only then the German ground crews responded with angry puffs of black smoke spiced with shrapnel. The mission would have been perfect were it not for the Violette's engine losing power on the landing approach. Gaston had to scramble to put her down in a farmer’s field. The poor girl had seen better days.



"Take the cylinder out of my kidneys,
The connecting rod out of my brain, my brain,
From out of my arse take the camshaft,
And assemble the engine again."