Well, nobody's life depends on this, so a little mistake here and there won't hurt!

Thank you for your efforts, guys!

Just tested the survey and the number of victories does work. By the way, when you have completed the survey you MUST see this page:

Jim, this was not your fault at all - please read my last post.
I made that mistake (and don't even have an explanation really!) - I am sorry about that.

When I think about it, how easy it is to slip in a line of just one handy chart,
while transposing the data to the graphic - then I wonder how much can happen,
when you make a flight simulation! This experience has grown my respect again!

Here comes the corrected chart - hopefully right this time. If not: Sunday ain't far away.

I've also been in the business for some years, if I said I did it, it's because I positively knew I did it.

But plse also note I said from the beginning it was not very important and it could wait. I just wanted to point it out so you guys could check what went wrong. Thanks guys for your work, and Olham you know I'm ready to assist if and when needed.

Thank you, Corsaire, but now that the graphic is made, it should be routine more or less
(sometimes "less" - it could happen any time again, that I get into a wrong line and
report a wrong number for someone. Keeps you all focused on the next chart, I suppose).

Just make sure, everyone, that you fill in ALL the fields, and press the submit button in the end.
That should limit the mistakes down on - me.
Mmuahahahahaaa!!!

Well I have got past 13 sorties and hours. I have had almost no encounters with EA (as they were called) but it can't last as I am not a good pilot. But when I am deaded I shall join the RNAS in order to fly a 1½ strutter which seems to be the best 2 seater. The Fee is ok, but it has no rearward vision at all! If I survive I am due to join 24 Squadron with RAF_Louvert on DH2's. He has warned me that it is not easy to fly.....

...and the man is so right!
Turnfighting with that rather underpowered craft is tricky, and you may easily get
into a spin, which it's hard to recover from. Rearward vision = zero, same as Fee!
So if you should really go there, my tip would be: fly the crate over and round your field
first, to get to know the craft.
Good point is the great forward vision and gun view you'd have.

Dear sir,

One of our newest fliers, Sergeant Abel Wainright was killed today in service of the crown. He led our flight of 6 well over the lines to attack the airfield at Rumbecke. He seemed to experience engine troubles as his craft slowed way down and he quickly lost altitude. We were just 500 feet above the deck at that point as we were only 1/2 mile from our target. Rather than risk capture, Wainright attempted to turn back toward the lines, and due to the lack of power in his engine, he couldn't keep the craft airborne. I couldn't help but note the site of his demise within plain sight of the German airfield, but also a stones throw from the most beautiful French church. The sun seemed to shine down on the wreckage as if to say, he is someplace better now.

Sincerely,
Flight Commander TFN 'Teddy' Gerrard

Aaargh ! the titanium fence strikes again !

RIP Sergeant Abel Wainright ~S~

My pilot now has over 3hours in his BBW (Roland CII) and put in for a tranfer request to Jasta 14, down in Alsace.
His nerves are unraveling....

Damn, I am sorry for the loss of Abel, Shiloh! It is so hard to make another day.
Touching first picture...

Thanks for your thoughts guys. It's a bummer to die that way and that was my second mission to the almost exact same spot two days in a row. My plane literally bled off altitude at an alarming rate and I had no warning other than that clunking sound that started 5 seconds before. The day before we attacked the railyard just east of Rumbecke and shot up some EIII's that took off from there to stop us. I figured they might be pretty upset if they captured me as I was about to add insult to injury in attacking their airfield after having roughed them up the day before.

I've enlisted a pilot starting tomorrow with RFC-18 flying F.E.2's. I QC'd her a few times and I'm going to try not to turn to much - especially when low - and generally try to avoid an engagement when possible. I'll introduce him later tonight or tomorrow.

Better luck with this feller, Shiloh - he sounds like he will be even more careful.
Can't be wrong in a war like this!

I am in 18 Sqn as well! The only real trouble with the Fee is the complete lack of backward visibility. You can, of course become the observer and look back over the wing but then you have to switch the pilot to AI.

The Fee turns pretty well with flat turns, using the rudder. Well enough to take the fight to the enemy at this time. I usually fly them in Bloody April (I just like to make life hard for myself, I guess) and you can get the observer a good shooting position quite easily.

Algernon Didsworth has been injured and will next fly on 7th July (10 days).

A morning patrol over the lines near the Messines ridge saw action when my flight leader dived to attack 3 Eindeckers. It was a fight in even numbers but we had the superior machines, so I had no fear.

My flight leader was involved in a low battle with an Eindecker when the enemy I had singled out dived on him. I followed to stop Lt Noakes from being bounced, got within about 30 yards of the Eindecker and slightly off line and raked his engine until he exploded in the air!

My actions put me low over the lines and a burst of machine gun fire from the ground immediately injured me. I was able to escape and land at Bailleul Assylum, but there is no escaping the near 2 weeks in hospital I now have to face.

Gute Besserung, Maer... - aerhm - Mr. Didsworth!

Jim, Congratulations on 13 sorties in a Fe. That is a feat in itself. When I get back into a scout I will go back 24 and the DH2. I actually like this bird. If you are too hard on your rudder she will spin quick but stay light on it and she flies well.

Shiloh. Sorry to hear of the demise of your pilot. Hope to see you back in soon.

Maeran: At least the nurses are pretty, or that is what I hear.

Rescued Basel and he's still No.1 RFC.
Backed up his docs just incase this sort of thing happens again.

Two out of my last 3 missions ended in engine failure within a few minutes of takeoff. Both times I was able to land at a nearby airfield, Mercy Le Haut. Both times I could tell by my tach that the Benz wasn't up to snuff.

The other had Helmut Kunzmann leading us on a recce on the front, but he decided to chase a pair of Nieups towards their home base. I flew cap, he didn't make out so well with ground fire, but made it home.

June 27, 1916

After an injury and enforced hiatus due to my not understanding how transfers worked, Albert Nuts is finally back in the saddle.

Our mission was...questionable. A flight of three FE2bs was to fly 40 miles north to Ypres, patrol, then come back home. We're not exactly patrol craft, and there are 8 airfields closer to Ypres, but so be it.

Still, for a two seater you have to admit the FE2b is an interesting looking machine.



Well, so be it. Somewhere south of Belieu our flight leader suddenly loses his engine. He flutters up and down like a kite. I make one, two, three passes to keep an eye on his descent and he crashes in a wheat field. Both pilot and observer are severely wounded, the craft is a loss.

So there's two of us, and no shame at all in going home, especially as following our leader down has dropped us below 2000 feet. Still, I want to complete the mission or at least get some more flying time in. On to Ypres!

Before I can even think of regaining altitude, we're approaching Belieu Wood aerodrome when I spot two dots ahead. My first thought was: Friendlies going home. Then I realized one of the dots was charging us: An E.III looking for a quick kill.

An E.III with an HA (Constantin Kreft).

I am much better at this game than I was 20 days ago. One of the things I learned, was that running away without speed superiority is an awesome way to die. Better to try to tire your opponent out. It helps I have a forward firing observer. I turn into Herr Kreft like I'm a fighter. He may or may not have fired - my observer sure did. He passed me and began climbing rapidly. I turned past him to pursue, but now he had the advantage. I kept chasing him until I was sure he wouldn't double back, then turned back towards Belieu Wood.

That's when I realized dot # 2 was below me. Another E.III HA - Max Ritter von Mulzer. Von Mulzer currently has 6 kills (including one yesterday) on the way to 10 before being slain in September.

Von Mulzer is strangely low: Perhaps 1000-1500 feet. I drop down behind him surprisingly easily, and my observer goes to work. He spins away. I momentarily lose him as he is THAT low to the ground, but manage to give my observer a leading shot. One last swipe, this time from behind sends his machine screaming towards the ground.

NOW...no flight leader, one claim, and no reason at all to continue to Ypres - except that frankly I'm enjoying myself. The FE2b isn't that hard to fly (at least until the wind picks up), so we continue.

My wingmate and I arrive at about 7000 feet altitude. The winds are harsh up here, the rain driving, and I stall/spin several times. Fortunately there's plenty of room to recover, but now I've had enough and we begin the long slog home.

While passing Belieu I once more admire the graphics:


Before landing without incident.