dang Rick, that mission was hectic enough without the view going bonkers!
Hope you get it straightened out...

Got another Spad X111 last night, 6 total now. ( AZ time ), again flying the back azmith I observed of Spads flying very high over us as we were climbing out heading for a balloon mission. After the mission most of the lads landed ASAP at the first airdrome. I and one other flew on the back azmith while climbing. We saw a line of Spads
and tried to time our turn to put us on their "6". Hard to do, but got it right on the last one ad it went down after a short fight. Buy then, my fuel was at 13% so headed to the best looking pasture I could find.
My wingman left me at about 15% fuel reading. He must not like "dead stick landings".

I fly as the leader ( lots of reasons ) and never get credit for a balloon kill -- wierd.

Rick -- please up date my stats. I did spend 8 days in the care of a great nurse and staff, after triping over a fence while landing. Need to paint those white and add red flags on them.

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Crank up the volume on this and enjoy!




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Lou you always continue to impress me!
Not only was the editing professional your choice of music was outstanding.
Being a redneck classical fan I listen all the time but do not know any titles.
What was the name of that one?

EXIT: Oops. Musical selection is listed on the last line of the end credits.
Well still a great show.

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Thanks Duke, glad you enjoyed it. The music is from Mozart's Symphony #25 in G Minor.

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Albatri, huh? It's been all Pfalzes and Fokkers for me, glad to see they are out there, though. Fantastic flying, Lou, you are one of the few pilots I don't feel too nervous for when I look back and see three enemy scouts on your tail! I still can't get my paint to show, but your bus looks great!

*edit: OBD really needs to have a dedicated WOFF youtube channel, and videos like this should be the star attraction!

Amazing video Lou, I enjoyed it very much. Were you against Jasta 5? You showed some very nice flying skills to always keep enemies off your six. They hardly managed to shoot at you! Did you have your kill confirmed?

Very nice flying, Lou - hurrah for the good guys!

btw, how'd you get you personal skin to show??

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Thank you Rick, Aris, and loftyc, glad to know it was a hit with you gents.

Aris, the skins on the Albs did look to be those of Jasta 5, but they are not flying Albs by July of 1918. However, I did switch on labels for a second just to see who I'd been fighting and it said it was Jasta 22, which is flying the DVa at this time in the War. I've been having some oddities in the skins that appear in the sim since the last update so it may be that I need to reinstall WOFF.

loftyc, my personal skin showing in this challenge has been very hit-and-miss and is likely related to the aforementioned oddities.

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Watched this on another thread first, so.......I watched it again! Fantastic!

Lt. Peas was picked to lead mission #7, escorting a half dozen Harry tates. Smooth sailing to the objective point, but then we were hit from Huns all around, must have been three separate flights, over a dozen of them all together. Fortunately, the Tates were done, and on their way back to the lines; I sent a couple boys on a rear guard action while the rest of us saw to the Tates. Once at the line, though, I turned around and went hunting. Found one of those D7s and had a dance with him, and eventually sent him down. Of course, I look around and no one is there. Well, no of mine, anyway. A couple more d7's wanted to play, but I figured I'd be happier not so far over, and very nicely, only one Hun stuck with me. Those are odds I can work with. Turns out we got to scrapping above the forward 'drome, where in fact everyone else was already landing. Well, at least one of the buggers should be able to witness this. Especially since I got him. Found out the Dan and Sam also got one, and every Tate got home, so great show all around.

Mission #8, we bombed the railyard north of Lens. talk about yellow - there are two Hun 'dromes right there, and not one plane came up. Well, I flew over and strafed 6 of them that were lined up on their field - that got them moving. But only a few minutes up in the air, and they were turning around! Except for one, who I played with. we ended up even farther east and no one around (go figure,) and after I dispatched him, I couldn't very well get him to sign my report, so I took pic of the wreckage to support the claim.



and one of the railyard, in case they needed that, too:





Afterwards, I was told that 2 of the last 3 claims were OK'd; maybe they didn't like me using a camera?

great pics.
Two out of three aint bad!
Now I'm hungry for Meatloaf.....

After spending two weeks as the squadron duty officer and recovering from the unfortunate mishap with a fence, 2nd Lt Smith flew a mission with "B" flight over the front. One of the flight broke off during the mission, and did not land at the field. Otherwise, there was no contact with any enemy aircraft.

July 8, 1918 - Balloon defensive patrol

The CO chose me to lead Scwarm Zwei on our early morning defensive patrol over our balloon just south of Albert. I guess he chose me because of my inherent good leadership qualities. Patrol was uneventful until we reached our balloon and started climbing in our orbit around the balloon. After a few minutes, I spotted archie fire approaching from the south and it wasn't long until I spotted 6 Sopwith Camels. I signalled the Schwarm and we moved to attack. After that I completely lost track of the Schwarm because I was too busy avoiding collisions. I spotted a Camel attempting to leave for home and I dove and was successful in sending him crashing into no man's land. After that, I formed up over the balloon and only one member of my Schwarm formed on me. After completing the remainder of our patrol, I returned to our airfield where I made my report and filed my claim. I discovered that only four had returned from both Schwarm Eins and Zwei. We waited and soon it became apparent that the rest of the pilots had been lost. The CO informed me that my claim had been confirmed and that I also was awarded the Iron Cross second class. It wasn't much of a celebration in the mess that night when the four of us raised our glasses.

Keep up the good work guys! Congrats on the medal, Banjoman, even if it was under somber circumstances!

Mitch Mulligan Mission 10
Intercept!
July 15, 1918






Man, I don't know if I was pulling a memory leak or if there was just a lot going on or what, but I was only getting between 20-30 fps for the whole mission. That sounds good on paper, but it was playing like a stuttering slide show in real life! After my collision with my gung-ho wingman, I decided enough for one mission and would survive past #10 rather than go for another unconfirmed Pfalz kill!

Mission #8
8 July 1918
Neil Coomber
Escort

Today we are escorting R.E.8's from RFC-9 just over the lines for some photo reconnaissance. We pick the Harry Tates at around 8000 feet and proceed slowly towards the lines. There's doesn't seem to be anything else in the air and is doesn't even feel like there's a war on until Archie decides to make itself noticed.



After half an hour of swanning about we head home. We're only about two miles from our airfield when I see a formation of DVII's fly straight over our heads!



Two decide to engage while the rest fly on eastwards. The first machine put a number of holes in my top wing but I managed to evade the attacks; the rest of my flight caught in the landing circuit. Eventually one of the Fokkers decided to leave the srap and it was now a one on one. After hitting the enemy machine a few times the Hun decided he too had had enough and tried to scamper home. By now my blood was up. How dare they attack me near my home airfield! I managed to get in close and below and put another 100 rounds into the enemy whereupon he dived down in a left hand spiral to smash himself up near Filescamp airfield.



I put in my claim and later that evening I am informed of my balloon victory from a few days ago along with this Fokker. The MC is presented also.



I'm over the moon and now feel like I truly belong.

Good work, Smosh, you broke your cherry! Drinks are now on you!

Mission #9
9 July 1918
Neil Coomber
Patrol over enemy lines

Well it's been deemed that after yesterday's success I should now try my hand at leading a patrol. We head out over enemy lines when I see a number of machines circling near Bapaume. Getting closer I realise that they are Rumpler two-seaters. Leading my men around we dive onto them with the sun behind our backs. Before I know it there are two enemy machines going down in flames.



I manage to knok the engine out of one machine but this goes down under control. Suddenly the sky is empty of friends and I'm left fighting a few two seaters. Against all better judgment I try for one more pass on a two seater before heading home.



Suddenly there is a flash of pain in my back and leg. I'm hit! The cockpit suddenly becomes awash with my blood.



I quickly turn for friendly lines and make for the closet forward airfield. I manage a reasonable landing other than nearly hitting an RE8 landing from the opposite direction and am carried to the waiting ambulance and on the way to Hospital to recover from my wounds (16 days worth!). I'm told that we managed to knock down three enemy two seaters for no other loss than myself. I try to smile.

Wow, lots going on I see. It all goes well with my morning coffee! Thanks guys!

Loftyc, looks like the camera is playing out well in support of your claims! The beginning of the "gun camera" idea.
Combs, I'm sure things will pick up. Enjoy the sight seeing.
Banjoman, Congrats on the promo and EK2. I know the feeling of losing so many kette mates in one mission.
Rick, Mitch needs eyes in the back of his head. I hate when that happens. You work hard for the kill and your flight mate comes in and issues the "Coup de Grace".
Smosh, two nice reports! I hope Neil stays out of hospital so we can get some more!

We had heavy cumulous today with winds of 8 kn from the NW and some rain.

Ansel lead the flight with Bock, Becker, Myself, and Eisenberg. Eins flight sent Koch as top cover.

The flight was a long one today. 220 miles return. On our way to meet the DFW’s we ran into 6 scout escorts for a swarm of two seaters crossing high and above us from the port to starboard side. Either they were friendlies or they did not see us, either way, Ansel chose to ignore them and we flew on. We met up with the flight of DFW’s just north of Soissons. The flight to the lines from there was uneventful except for the fact that Bock and Becker collided in their effort to fly slow enough to keep up with the DFW’s. Becker managed to make it to a forward aerodrome and his craft required 2 days repair. Bock on the other hand came down hard in a farm field and totally destroyed his craft. Both men were lightly wounded. Eisenberg left the flight with engine problems and had a forced landing in a field totally destroying his craft and he was slightly wounded. That left Ansel and myself to complete the escort. Fortunately no enemy craft were encountered and we returned to Leffincourt somewhat dejected.

The last two days have had a significant impact on my resolve.

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