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#4538165 - 09/23/20 08:22 PM Free Nieuports for the Boche  
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Mortuus Offline
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Hello to you all,

I was, unfortunately, shot down by ground fire on a recent flight, and while I managed to put my machine down safely and escape back to my aerodrome, I was admonished by the end screen that I ought to have burned my plane before abandoning it ("Your machine fell into enemy hands relatively intact - in future you should try to destroy your machine by burning it!"). Is this just a bit of historical flavour, or is there a mechanic within the sim I've neglected and as a result given, as I said on the tin, a free Nieuport to the Boche?

Just to be safe, I should clarify - I mean a self destruct mechanic other than "just before landing, push the stick as far forward as it will go", haha

Last edited by Mortuus; 09/23/20 08:28 PM.
#4538169 - 09/23/20 08:48 PM Re: Free Nieuports for the Boche [Re: Mortuus]  
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Mortuus,

As far as I know this is but a bit more historical flavor. If you'd spent time burning your plane you'd be headed for the all-sauerkraut diet Spa at Karlsruhe and the Entente deprived of a valuable pilot.
Seriously, what are the Boche going to learn that they don't a;ready know? That their planes outclass the Nieuport? Sometimes these Commanding Officers can be a bit much.

Cheers,

#4538173 - 09/23/20 10:04 PM Re: Free Nieuports for the Boche [Re: Mortuus]  
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That's more or less what I suspected, Epower; this is what comes of having a Penguin as a CO, I must assume!

#4538175 - 09/23/20 10:15 PM Re: Free Nieuports for the Boche [Re: Mortuus]  
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Penguins?! Sounds intriguing. The only non-avian Penguins I know are retired Nuns with Math and Chemistry Ph.Ds.

#4538178 - 09/23/20 10:46 PM Re: Free Nieuports for the Boche [Re: Mortuus]  
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I must confess to using slang without verifying its historical accuracy first, but in one of Donald Jack's "The Bandy Papers" novels about a pilot in the Great War, the main character uses the term "Penguin" to refer to an officer who, while posted to a squadron, had retired from active combat flying (usually due to seniority, e.g. the Major commanding a Squadron)

#4538194 - 09/24/20 01:32 AM Re: Free Nieuports for the Boche [Re: Mortuus]  
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Mortuus,

Oh, that's gold. Penguin: aka flightless bird. I am so using that in my DID campaign narrative, although not for Major Blomfield. Not familiar with Donald Jack. Thank you for the rec. I shall investigate.

#4538195 - 09/24/20 01:37 AM Re: Free Nieuports for the Boche [Re: Mortuus]  
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I heartily recommend them! I've read the first three books, a few years back. The first is called "Three Cheers for Me" and very adequately sets up the comedy to come.

#4538197 - 09/24/20 02:35 AM Re: Free Nieuports for the Boche [Re: Mortuus]  
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Volume 2 is called "That's Me in the Middle" and volume 3 is "It's Me Again."

There is a scene in one of them (the second I think) where Bandy is struggling with a shower in an English country home that ranks with some of the funniest things I've ever read.

#4538221 - 09/24/20 11:17 AM Re: Free Nieuports for the Boche [Re: Mortuus]  
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L'Etoile du Nord
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"The Bandy Papers" are an absolute must read for anyone with our shared interest here. Brilliant, hilarious stuff! As to the term in question, as I recall a penguin was actually any officer assigned to a flying squadron who had no flying experience what-so-ever, (no wings on his tunic), rather than one who no longer flew - but I could be in error about that.


[Linked Image]

Three RFC Brass Hats were strolling down a street in London. Two walked into a bar, the third one ducked.
_________________________________________________________________________

Former Cold War Warrior, USAF Security Service 1974-1978, E-4, Morse Systems Intercept, England, Europe, and points above.
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#4538226 - 09/24/20 12:19 PM Re: Free Nieuports for the Boche [Re: Mortuus]  
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It has been several years since I read the series, so I could just as easily be mistaken as you, Louvert; as I recall, it was said of Bandy by one of his squadron, when he was put in command after his sojourn with the bicyclists. I assumed it was meant in the way I described because he spends the first while of his command stuck at a desk (by the machinations of his Recording Officer) and not flying; but now that you've said that, maybe it was before he'd gotten around to sewing the wings back onto his tunic?

#4538406 - 09/25/20 06:07 PM Re: Free Nieuports for the Boche [Re: Mortuus]  
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"Three Cheers for Me" shipped this morning.

#4538447 - 09/26/20 02:09 AM Re: Free Nieuports for the Boche [Re: Mortuus]  
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Originally Posted by Mortuus
("Your machine fell into enemy hands relatively intact - in future you should try to destroy your machine by burning it!").


Good God! There is an unbelievable oversight here. The most important piece of kit the RFC pilot had was his pocket watch. The Mark V, As approved by the King and as per RFC regulations. Suitably placed in the instrument panel. One always retrieves it prior to firing a flare into the cockpit to disallow superior British technology falling into nefarious hands. And they don't make themselves you know!

I do hope Pol rectifies this error.

Attached Files Doxa-Mark-V-pocket-watch.jpg
#4538857 - 09/30/20 02:16 PM Re: Free Nieuports for the Boche [Re: Mortuus]  
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Catch, I took mine with me too! But mine is an early-war Mark IV.A, not the later Mark V. smile

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Lou

.

Attached Files RFC_Mark_IV_A_cockpit_watch_4753AG.jpg
#4539424 - 10/04/20 09:05 AM Re: Free Nieuports for the Boche [Re: Mortuus]  
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Well Lou that's at least two of us who understand, and treasure, the importance of a reliable timepiece in the fog of war. wink

Must dash. Time waits for no chap.

bananadance


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