Paul Blum's Story: A BHaH Pilot's Saga

[smilingmonkey 1]

Very nice RAF_

 

Thank you for putting that together so quickly for our reading pleasure...

 

I could almost feel the cold and hear the singing...

[TaillyHo 2]

Another excellent installment, Lou.

 

Tell me, on a technical note, how did you get the Strutter to land intact? I've been trying to shoot down opponents that have been deemed 'dead' by the OFF manager (and turn black on the TAC if you check) - some have crashed, but one of two appear to have landed relatively intact (and in one such instance, my 'claim' was unsuccessful - tho this may have had more to do with no immediate witness!?!). Your story suggests that accurately firing to damage the enemy's engine will result in a dead-stick landing (which makes sense), but can you know they will always find a suitable place to land under these circumstances, and then be able to pull off such a landing (particularly on a snow-covered field?).

 

I suppose what I'm wondering, if you don't mind my asking, is whether you flew the mission, got that outcome and created a good story to match what OFF generated - or whether you really entered that fight with the intent to 'capture' the EA?

[RAF_Louvert 101]

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Many thanks Smilingmonkey and TaillyHo, glad you enjoyed it. Now to the question of how to get an enemy plane to land intact: Pure dumb luck more than anything. I have only seen it happen twice since beginning OFF, and I've tried many, many times when attacking the B/R planes to forrce them down in one piece rather than crash them. Clipped their wing tips; clipped their tail feathers; clipped both; put a few bullets into the cockpit; got the engine puffing black smoke; got it trailing white-gray vapor; always the same unfortunate end, with the two exceptions I noted. I will say that on those two the planes were trailing the whitish-gray vapor, which I believe indicates a fuel leak, so it is possible that if you can get them to simply run out of petrol without furthur damaging the craft it may improve the odds of a smooth landing, provided there is a suitable place to land on. Just speculation no my part. Also, you can add to this equation aggresive wingmen who want to finish of your target before you've had a chance to escort him down safely. Only way I've found around that is to send them after other enemy planes, as that seems to divert their attention for quite a while, even after their own targets are dead.

 

To your last query TaillyHo, yes I did initiate my attack on the remaining Strutter with the hopes of forcing him to land, and got very, very lucky, which is why I thought it worthy of an episode in Paul's saga.

 

Cheers!

 

Lou

 

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[Olham 164]

A fine part written again there, Lou!

That beginning is great - about how they have to re-adjust the mixture due to the cold weather - very "being there, doing it".

A compass with an engraving "You give my heart wings" is a cute idea of Paul's lady.

And to force down an opponent instead of killing him, is very chivalrous. If only it could always be like that...

[RAF_Louvert 101]

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Thank you very much Olham, glad you enjoyed the episode. Yes...if only...

 

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[TaillyHo 2]

To your last query TaillyHo, yes I did initiate my attack on the remaining Strutter with the hopes of forcing him to land, and got very, very lucky, which is why I thought it worthy of an episode in Paul's saga.

 

Thank you for the clarification, Sir. My hat was off to your creativity - whether it be at your writing desk, or in the cockpit. In this instance, it would seem it was both! Well done.

[smilingmonkey 1]

I was hoping I had missed an episode of Paul's story whilst i have been away, not so it seems.

 

I hope he is alright....

[RAF_Louvert 101]

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Thanks for checking in Smilingmonkey and no worries, our von Blum is fine. I've just not had an opportunity to fly any missions and so there's been nothing to write. Between my recent OFF Medals project and the companion awards tables I put together for them, and traveling for work, I've had no time to sit down and enjoy a flight in the OFF skies. I am hoping to correct that this weekend.

 

Cheers!

 

Lou

 

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[Olham 164]

Well, I am glad I didn't miss anything yet. Will check again on Tuesday.

I know, that the family always comes first.

[RAF_Louvert 101]

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Greetings All,

 

This morning I at last had an opportunity to fly a mission and get back to Paul's adventure. The next installment has been posted for you all:

 

 

Paul Blum's Story

 

 

Hope you enjoy it.

 

Cheers!

 

Lou

 

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[Dej 17]

Ausgezeichnet, wie immer. Some accidental angle of the screenshot or other but as he bore down on that balloon... I could almost hear a voice saying 'Use the Force, Paul'

[Olham 164]

Ganz meine Meinung, Dej, and Lou!

We now seem to slowly come to the bit, where not yet the monarchy will be wiped away,

but the class differences may get more blurred. Or at least be kept more secretly.

Good stuff, Lou!

[RAF_Louvert 101]

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Dankeschön, Herr Dej ! And you might be right about the obs balloon in that screenshot, it does have a certain Death Star-ish quality to it. "Luke...join me Luke." "Why? You comin' apart?"

 

Ich danke Ihnen Olham, as well. Yes, that whole class system needs to be torn down. Oh wait...it was.

 

BTW, I've just added Paul's latest letter home, and I've reformatted all the pages so that the text width now stays at 800 pixels no matter how wide your monitor might be. Makes it quite a bit nicer for reading I think.

 

Cheers!

 

Lou

 

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[Olham 164]

Did you press "Post" with all five fingers, Lou?

[Hasse Wind 46]

That's one method for increasing one's post count. Crude, but undeniably effective.

 

Keep the Blum story going, Lou.

[RAF_Louvert 101]

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Well that was weird. I had an SQL error when I posted and then I couldn't get back on the website for a while. Ghosts in the machine.

 

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Thanks Hasse Wind. Will do.

 

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[Olham 164]

You were not the only one. Pawgy also just made five posts in the TrackIR thread.

Edited March 6, 2011 by Olham

[TaillyHo 2]

Excellent stuff, as usual, Lou - some nice pics too!

[Mr_Dirt 1]

Excellent as usual Lou. I just finished reading "Eleventh Month, Eleventh Day. Eleventh Hour" by Joseph E, Persico. I got the impression that class distinction in the British Army became blurred in the trench as the war prolonged. Am I wrong to assume this? The book did not cover the German side as well so I could get no feeling as to how class distinction went. I felt it was a shame how the allies wasted so many lives on the last day for ground that would be theirs by the ruling of the armistice after German forces withdrew. Stupidity of people in high places never ceases to amaze me. I also just realized that your young hero is from the same Kingdom in Germany that my Great-Grandfather immigrated from in 1853. So I now have a person connection to young Paul. I thank Olham for translating a piece of my family history, that is why I know where my family immigrated from. Happy hunting Paul and my your landings always be soft and right side up.

Thanks and peace be with you John

[Olham 164]

It was a pleasure to help you, and I see that it really means something to you, to know where your family roots lay.

For all, who want to read from first hand about how class distinction faded away in a German Jasta, I recommend

Julius Buckler's "Malaula! The battle cry of Jasta 17" (translated into English by Norman Franks).

Buckler was a young roofer, before he became a pilot in the Great War. A very good read, also about the social life

of a rather poor family in the pre-war Germany.

Edited March 8, 2011 by Olham

[smilingmonkey 1]

Again, well worth the wait RAF_

 

One day I hope to have the time to do some reports at the very least.

 

Just as soon as I learn to shoot.

[Creaghorn 10]

what happened to paul? did i miss something? is he dead or are they still shooting season two?

[Javito1986 14]

Yes, I would like to know as well. I visited the forum today specifically to get my Paul Blum fix!

[Dej 17]

Alas, satellite only now. Lou's been enfranchised. Bought out by HBO.

 

So, whilst on the one hand the story line may diminish somewhat, on the other hand Paul's clothes shall be a lot more fashionable! And the shoes... to die for!!!

 

Contact (tink... tink... tink...) Clear!

Edited September 15, 2011 by Dej

[RAF_Louvert 101]

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HEE HAW! Funny Dej.

 

Creaghorn and Javito, no need to worry Gents. You did not miss anything, Paul is still very much alive and well. I simply took a break from his campaign and hopped back across the mud for a while. I will be returning to Blum's adventures in due time. Thanks for asking about the young hero of the Alsace. I do have to chuckle a bit though as it's been six months since I posted his last adventure and you are just now noticing.

 

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