I agree with Wulfe - If everyone isn't no the same time line it's just doing reports on air battles done randomly, like quick combats. The continuity of everyone going through time together is the most important thing DID has going for it.

Hear, Hear, Maybe we should just re start in 1915 ?

How about Nov 1915?

Gents, though I have been absent for a few months but I am all in for a new DID. It really makes WOFF come alive. November 1915 is good for me. Or any other dates for that matter. I would humbly submit the following.

With the holidays coming up in the USA maybe wait until after the new year.
Stats. I see no need in any kind of score keeping. Never payed them any never mind myself. If everyone headed their stories with squad, number of missions and victories it would tell all we need to know.

Just a few suggestions from a missing airman.

Goode suggestions MFair. I second the motion.

So how about we start in Jan 1916 doing early Jan 2019?

If you agree I'll lay out some tentative rules in the next couple of weeks. DiD campaigns are the best WOFF experience!

Sounds good to me. Nov 1915 But start in Jan 2019 or Jan 1916 in 2019.

Did anyone survive all this time? Who is our current record holder?

Not sure - I know Arthur Ethelstan (I believe one of Banjoman's pilots) scored in excess of 100...I think they retired after getting to 116 or so...

P.S, seeing as the war is now all but over, I thought I'd share a little something I did to keep myself entertained while my pilots were wounded! It's a 'Norman Franks Style' record of the goings on in Bloody April. Have a look!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EQUyUKjq3x5owxzC5oWm3VNYCqpsmK8lrVQsR_nA1lM/edit?usp=sharing

We will be waiting with engines warming my friend!

I think we should keep our own scores and time. ( The Honor system )

Rain has started a new thread on this "Deep Imersion DID campaign"

Sorry I haven't been around much. Real life and all that jazz..

Maj Collin Sitwell
CO 43 Sqn

Life as CO 22 Sqn was, to be blunt, horrifically dull. I spent so much time behind a desk I hardly flew at all and when I did it seemed to be dull affairs where the only thing trying to kill me was my own aircraft.

I spent three fruitless months at Maisoncelles without so much as seeing a hun. I was getting restless and tires of the constant airfield and railway attacks. I needed a change.

My wish was finally granted in mid-October after a chance meeting with General Trenchard himself. He saw to it that I was posted to a unit that was seeing a ton of action.

And so it was that I found myself in 43 Sqn, once commanded by the great Maj Cordroy. They had just received the newest kite around: the Snipe.

I was curious to see how it would fly compared to the Camel and F2B I had flown before. After two rather short familiarization flights, I led the Sqn far to the North, near Ypres for a bit of artillery spotting. How we would acconplish this task in our crates was beyond me, but off we went anyway.

About 30 minutes in we ran headlong into a flight of DVIIs heading the other way. A great fray emerged and the sky was full of wizzing aircraft. A-Flight soon joined in along with a second flight of DVIIs. It was a true dogfight.

My word the Snipe could dance. It stalled easily, but this could be used to the pilots advantage, quickly dropping speed to stay inside the enemy's turn. It recovered quickly and packed a whallop when you made contact with the twin vicks. I was immediately in love as I sent a hun earthward sans wing.

I had lost contact with the rest of B Flight, although I am sure I saw one of them bag a DVII of their own. I continued to the waypoint, circled around for a bit and then headed home.

On the way back I took a very short detour over a hun airfield just beside the target. To my surprise, about 8 or 9 Huns were circling about in a landing pattern. I was feeling bold and, like a complete moron, dove in guns blazing.

They couldnt touch me. It was almost too easy. I sent two down, one of them in flames, and then my luck ran out. As I made a pass on a third, we clipped. Immediately the engine started to sound rough and I turned for the British side of the lines. I had just made it across and found a small stretch of road to put down on. I ended up having to dig the starboard wing into the earth to stop before I hit a row of trees.

The rain was coming down in buckets and I was already soaked. Fortunately there was a relatively undamaged house about 50 yards away. I rapidly crossed the field and was pleased to find a working telephone and a spot of lunch from the very helpful resident.

DC,
Very jealous. I really wanted to last long enough to get a Snipe. Still haven't flown one!

Maj Collin Sitwell
43 Sqn RAF
28 Victories
11 Nov 1918

I sat at the desk. The sun had already come up, but I made no move to the door and the morning Pilots Briefing. I could see the lads heading over to the briefing tent now. I looked at my watch; 0810 hrs. I glanced back at the paper in my hands.

The dispatch was simple. Just words on paper. But the words gave it power.

With a long, deep, drawn breath I rose from the desk. I felt strange as I crossed the distance to the office door. Floating, everything strangely muted. Nothing felt real. I had made it. I was still alive.

I crossed the grass between my office and the briefing tent. I took a moment to compose myself and walked through the door. At once all chatter stopped and the aged eyes on all those young faces turned to me to await the word on todays mission. Some faces looked gaunt and strained. Too many close calls. Too many friends lost. Some of the newer chaps still held a hint of innocence. Just barely, bit still there.

All looked to me as I struggled to find the right words to mark this occaison.

I looked around the room, catching the eyes as I went. "Gentlemen, Orders."

I raised the paper and read:

Hostilities will cease at 11.00 today. No operations should be undertaken which cannot be completed by that time and no machines will cross the lines after that hour. Patrols will be maintained but should not operate further forward than the line of our balloons.

The room was silent. Finally, after what seemed like hours a single voice arose thick with emotion, "Sir, is it really over?"

I looked at the young boy, a lump forming in my throat, "Yes son. It's over."

To those of you finishing up on this challenge, I salute all of your efforts on a job well done!

Well, she's just about done.

So stand your glasses to the steady,
For this is a world of lies.
Here's a health to the dead already
And HURRAH to the next man who dies.

Congrats to all who participated, I've been checking in on this thread almost daily and it has been fantastic reading.

Thank you to all that participated in this great campaign. And let's spare a moment in remembrance of those who spent their youth in the long years of war.

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I'd like to add my thanks as well to all who participated here, your reports and stories and pics were and are very much appreciated. And to follow Raine's thoughts, a prayer for all those whose lives were forever changed by the war to end all wars --- if only such had been true.

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