Show your finest Claim

[Olham 164]

I'd like to know, how many of us are filling in claim forms, and what they write up, and how.

I don't mean you should show your BIGGEST claim ever.

Normal would anyway be only a single claimed aircraft, I guess.

 

What I'd like to know - and maybe some of you too - is, how much everyone writes, and what style and with how much detail.

So I guess I start with one of mine:

[Jasta 2, Proville, 21 June, 1917 - Leutnant Wolfram Harms]

Proceeding to our designated patrol area near Arras, we sighted a flight of 4 silvergrey British Nieuport 17

with the Lewis gun, flying about 1.000 feet lower in northeasterly direction. They all carried a red band around

the fuselage. Our 6 Albatros D.V damaged three of them in the first attack. While the fourth craft could escape,

the other three dived down to the deck very quickly. We followed them, and they all fell within minutes only.

I shot the lower left wing off of one craft, and it spiraled down and crashed into some trees, about 4 kilometers

southwest of Arras.

[DukeIronHand 8]

Olham,

 

Was that claim accepted (narrative-wise) like you wrote it here?

 

I will admit to being somewhat intimidated by the claim form (plus the thought of being cheated on a victory) that I have been using the "Easiest" setting for them lately.

 

Is that all the detail that is needed? If so I will go back to filling them out.

 

Somehow, from previous posts, I thought that filling out the form, and having it accepted, was kind of tricky - that all kinds of numbers were needed (long/lat, etc).

[Javito1986 14]

Here's a few of my claims made during Arras:

 

4/5/1917 8h45 Flanders Vert Galand Balloon Defense Flying: SE5a Hispano-Suiza. On this day claims: 1 Alb DIII . Largest air battle yet, at least 20 aircraft involved. We threw ourselves into the thick of it, I landed strong hits on an enemy machine and he was seen smoking and plummeting to earth. I was hit myself shortly after made a forced landing with a fuel leak . Witnessed by: Edgar Epps Status : Confirmed .

23/5/1917 6h42 Flanders Vert Galand Reconnaisance Flying: SE5a Hispano-Suiza. On this day claims: 1 DFW CV . We bounced these DFWs on the way home from an escort flight. I hit this one and he keeled over into a nose dive and crashed into the trees in the middle of German artillery fire. . Witnessed by: Jack Bostwick Status : Confirmed .

Here's a rejected and accepted one from Passchendaele:

 

 

5/8/1917 7h26 Flanders Liettres Patrol Behind Friendly Front Lines Flying: SE5a Hispano-Suiza. On this day claims: 1 Alb DV . I struck him with a series of deflection shots. The Albatros was damaged and incapable of maneuvering so I finished him off with a strong burst of gunfire to the engine area. This was likely the leader of a group of Jasta 3 pilots who attempted to bounce us as we took off from Liettres this morning. The Albatros crashed about two miles south of Liettres. . Witnessed by: Jack Bostwick Status : Rejected .

 

6/8/1917 8h38 Flanders Liettres Patrol Enemy Front Lines Flying: SE5a Hispano-Suiza. On this day claims: 1 Alb DIII OAW . We encountered a flight from Jasta 12 at approximately 10,000 feet. I pursued this one through a dense cloud and shot him down in flames. . Witnessed by: Jack Bostwick Status : Confirmed .

 

 

Here's my favorite from my last campaign just because the air battle was so big, there were at least 15 - 20 Fokkers and 10 - 20 of us all in the same battlespace:

 

25/;8/;1918 ;11h;50 ;Flanders ;Remaisnil ;Patrol Behind Enemy Front Lines ; Flying: Sopwith Camel. On this day claims: ;1 ;Fokker DVII . ;Shot his wing off during the massive air battle of 8/25/18. 148 assisted AC and 17 in an engagement with approximately 15 DVII craft. I shot the wing off this one, then was hit myself by his wingman and had to set down in a field. . Witnessed by: Elliot White Springs Status : Confirmed ;

Edited April 29, 2011 by Javito1986

[Lewie 7]

Well Lt. Taylor of RFC 71 has a pending 4 plane claim, if his squad ever survives this month. #71 is down to 6 pilots out of it's normal 11 and they've dropped from average to poor rating because the new recruits get themselves picked off early. My pilot has saved more than one new pilots bacon, at least he still has his original wingman.

 

He now has 5 claims confirmed, but the last sortie was a doozy, as they were defending a balloon, when a 7 plane mixed DVa and Pfalz DIIIa squad dropped in to shoot up the balloon and nearby airfield. That furball turned into a ground hugging, wing tip scraping snarl that Taylor had to maneuver like a demon just to avoid the cross fire. He's carrying the ball for the entire squad as it is.

[themightysrc 5]

Read this and weep...

 

15/11/1915 9h11 Flanders Hesdigneul Scramble Flying: Royal Aircraft Factory BE2C. On this day claims: 2 Fokker EIII . Scrambled at 9.10 from arifield, and led flight into around 10-12 Fokker EIII monoplanes. Engaged first EIII and fired approximately 200 rounds at him at low level. He crashed around 9.15 near Hesdigneul, identified as being part of FA62. The second EIII was attacked and downed into trees at around 9.20, after a further 200 rounds. This aircraft of FA62, was identified as being flown by Max Immelmen, and therefore I get extra brownie points!. Witnessed by: Brian Rhodes, Brian Bristed, Jimmy Buckston Status : Confirmed .

 

And another - to annoy Olham!

 

16/9/1916 16h58 Flanders Avesnes-le-Comte Artillery spotting Flying: Royal Aircraft Factory BE2C. On this day claims: 2 Halb DII . Attacked by five Halberstadt scouts from Jasta 4 at 17.25, at around 5000 feet. Fought down to around 1000 feet, inflicting fire on a number of Hun scouts. One definitely forced down into a meadow North West of La Gorgue airfield at 17.30, suspect another forced down after another 250 rounds fired in the same area at around 15.40.. Witnessed by: Fred Morgan, Edward Leese, Nick Ross Status : Confirmed .

 

And the piece de resistance...

 

17/7/1917 13h8 Flanders Ablainzeville Artillery spotting Flying: Royal Aircraft Factory BE2C. On this day claims: 1 Alb DIII . Attacked by Albatros DIII from Jasta 18. Fought out at around 13.25 and managd to put bursts into one or two DIIIs. Probably only downed one though. Witnessed by what's left of my flight.. Witnessed by: Nicholas Miller, Wally Fisher, Fred Morgan, Tom Cleaver,Nick Ross Status : Confirmed .

 

I really hope that P4 introduces a full screen claim form instead of that flaming line editor...

 

Cheers,

Si

[Olham 164]

Was that claim accepted (narrative-wise) like you wrote it here?

Not this one, no - I just have reinstalled the sim for various reasons.

One is, that I wanted it to be on the C:partition now, so it is included in my C: backups.

 

Is that all the detail that is needed? If so I will go back to filling them out.

You could write even less. What it needs is one or more witnesses; here you name your wingmen without ranks,

which you should note before taking off. The claims don't need any detailed data yet - although maybe in P4 they will.

This one was quite long already.

 

Somehow, from previous posts, I thought that filling out the form, and having it accepted, was kind of tricky - that all kinds of numbers were needed (long/lat, etc).

No, not necessary.

The only thing you MUST avoid, is semicolons. They set a stoppage, and the report will not be complete.

Try it out; it's fun to do (IMHO) - but be prepared, that the brass decide about it.

 

Oh, and they rarely ever get confirmed, when your wingmen all were too far away.

That is something the sim DOES seem to know.

[Lewie 7]

Read this and weep...

 

15/11/1915 9h11 Flanders Hesdigneul Scramble Flying: Royal Aircraft Factory BE2C. On this day claims: 2 Fokker EIII . Scrambled at 9.10 from arifield, and led flight into around 10-12 Fokker EIII monoplanes. Engaged first EIII and fired approximately 200 rounds at him at low level. He crashed around 9.15 near Hesdigneul, identified as being part of FA62. The second EIII was attacked and downed into trees at around 9.20, after a further 200 rounds. This aircraft of FA62, was identified as being flown by Max Immelmen, and therefore I get extra brownie points!. Witnessed by: Brian Rhodes, Brian Bristed, Jimmy Buckston Status : Confirmed .

 

And another - to annoy Olham!

 

16/9/1916 16h58 Flanders Avesnes-le-Comte Artillery spotting Flying: Royal Aircraft Factory BE2C. On this day claims: 2 Halb DII . Attacked by five Halberstadt scouts from Jasta 4 at 17.25, at around 5000 feet. Fought down to around 1000 feet, inflicting fire on a number of Hun scouts. One definitely forced down into a meadow North West of La Gorgue airfield at 17.30, suspect another forced down after another 250 rounds fired in the same area at around 15.40.. Witnessed by: Fred Morgan, Edward Leese, Nick Ross Status : Confirmed .

 

And the piece de resistance...

 

17/7/1917 13h8 Flanders Ablainzeville Artillery spotting Flying: Royal Aircraft Factory BE2C. On this day claims: 1 Alb DIII . Attacked by Albatros DIII from Jasta 18. Fought out at around 13.25 and managd to put bursts into one or two DIIIs. Probably only downed one though. Witnessed by what's left of my flight.. Witnessed by: Nicholas Miller, Wally Fisher, Fred Morgan, Tom Cleaver,Nick Ross Status : Confirmed .

 

I really hope that P4 introduces a full screen claim form instead of that flaming line editor...

 

Cheers,

Si

 

Ah I'm pretty impressed, especially with the Quirck's apparent lack of maneuverability.

 

It's evident you know this plane's abilities intimately.

[themightysrc 5]

Hi Lew,

 

I've spent the last (IRL) year flying nowt but BE's and RE8's. If I can't make the most of them now....

[Lewie 7]

Hi Lew,

 

I've spent the last (IRL) year flying nowt but BE's and RE8's. If I can't make the most of them now....

 

Well I've vultched a couple of DIII's in my RFC 13's career flying RE8's. They were low and occupied with tailing a flight of Sopwith Strutters. It's almost like it doesn't count.

 

My first pilot in #13 died 20 seconds after his wheels left the sod when a flight of DRI's did a airfield strafe, I hadn't even checked his six yet!

[carrick58 23]

On this day, One claim Fokker EIII Good hits along Engine and wings. Fell off on right wing and hit a hillside. Then wrote in 2 witnessed bys.

[MikeDixonUK 5]

Here's a comparison of one of the first claims made in my DiD Campaign and one of the more recent claims:

 

20th of December 1916

 

Upon returning to base I noted an Albatros DII attacking my wingman from the rear, as such I turned to assist and engaged with zest the enemy craft, swiftly placing myself on his six o'clock position and firing a number of short bursts into the enemy craft. After a number of bursts the Hun then tried to escape by climbing away, however I was able to stay on his rear and force him low, firing another burst of machinegun fire into his rear, causing the Albatros to burst into flames and crash destroyed into the forest 1 mile south of St-pol-sur-mer Airfield.

 

 

24th of March 1918

Engaged Fokker Dr1 (Brown Camo scheme, black and white tail) 5 miles west of Lens at 09:10 hours, fired slash attacks until enemy was forced down into trees.

 

 

The first claim was rejected, while the second claim was confirmed - which just goes to show its not how much you write, it's what you write. (Unless they're just more inclined to believe my claims now days than they were when I was a two-seater Pilot with about 3 hours flying time.)

 

As for my most impressive single claim report (statistics wise), it would have to be this one:

 

3rd of June 1917

 

Engaged a flight of the new German Albatros D.V Scouts over our Airfield between aprox 6:45am and 7:05am - Engaging at least 10 enemy aircraft, with natural wood finish, green and purple wings and a white tail with thin red horizontal lines - I engaged and shot down at least 5 of them in combats over the field - setting one aflame, forcing one down into trees and shooting into the engines and cockpits of the rest with short machinegun bursts - finally downing a sixth Albatros through collision, where my tail clipped his wing and tore it off..

 

 

I had to make two claims for that engagement, one with the 5 Albs and another with 6th Alb - the five got confirmed but the sixth was rejected - seemingly ramming them doesn't count.

Edited April 29, 2011 by MikeDixonUK

[Olham 164]

Good example, Mike!

[Shiloh 12]

This thread came at just the right time as I logged some questionable claims which might end up being rejected. I do have three questions:

 

1) How do you know where you are on the map when you enter a fight? Hitting (m) leaves you with a pretty crude map. Does the info. help get a claim accepted?

2) You can put more than one witness? It says to only put one when you fill out the claim form.

3) What is the absolute vital information that needs to be on every claim?

 

Thanks!

[themightysrc 5]

"My first pilot in #13 died 20 seconds after his wheels left the sod when a flight of DRI's did a airfield strafe, I hadn't even checked his six yet!"

 

A sad end. At least you didn't have to nurture him through dozens of flights before he copped it, so it's not all bad news. Well done on the DIII's thobut.

 

"1) How do you know where you are on the map when you enter a fight? Hitting (m) leaves you with a pretty crude map. Does the info. help get a claim accepted?

2) You can put more than one witness? It says to only put one when you fill out the claim form.

3) What is the absolute vital information that needs to be on every claim?"

 

Shiloh,

 

I use the rubbish CFS map with Google maps, and can usually name towns, villages, etc if I down something. I suspect it does help, and yes, name your entire damn flight if you can! Absolutely vital to claims are, IMO, time, wingmen witnesses, location and, if possible, id of the opposing squadron/jasta. Having said that I've put in some frightful claims and had them accepted. Sometimes, old chap, it's down to luck. Seeing as that's what's also determining your continued survival, it's best just to get used to it!

 

Cheers,

Si

[Olham 164]

1) How do you know where you are on the map when you enter a fight? Hitting (m) leaves you with a pretty crude map. Does the info. help get a claim accepted?

Open the inflight map and pick the nearest town or go over the nearest airfield with your cursor;

the name will then show. Use that and say something like "southwest of Roucourt aerodrome".

 

2) You can put more than one witness? It says to only put one when you fill out the claim form.

Yes, you can, and I always do that; I write it "Josef Becker, Horst Maier, etc."

 

3) What is the absolute vital information that needs to be on every claim?

Your wingmen. The rest is more or less prose. Maybe it can count the amount of words?

I like to write up a little there. In P4, it may be able to check more data.

[Creaghorn 10]

3) What is the absolute vital information that needs to be on every claim?

Your wingmen. The rest is more or less prose. Maybe it can count the amount of words?

I like to write up a little there. In P4, it may be able to check more data.

 

that's not quite true olham. i experimented with claimforms and once i have typed in the wingmen as witnesses, and in the text i put in many unreal words, like blabla bla blablabla blabla ghdmdfnfdjskn blabla. was quite a text and the claimform showed then 0% pending. the claimform does understand at least important keywords, like AC type, in flames, out of control, aeroplane etc. of course i don't know them. it's not the amount of words. the better you describe something, the higher is the pending %. i also experimented describing the event as short as possible, but with many of those words i thought they might be keywords, and the pending was never below 75%. some in the forum here even had 100% pending, and the claimform was very very detailed written. so the text is definitely important for getting a claim.

[77Scout 3]

i experimented with claimforms and once i have typed in the wingmen as witnesses, and in the text i put in many unreal words, like blabla bla blablabla blabla ghdmdfnfdjskn blabla. was quite a text and the claimform showed then 0% pending. the claimform does understand at least important keywords, like AC type, in flames, out of control, aeroplane etc. of course i don't know them. it's not the amount of words. the better you describe something, the higher is the pending %. i also experimented describing the event as short as possible, but with many of those words i thought they might be keywords, and the pending was never below 75%. some in the forum here even had 100% pending, and the claimform was very very detailed written. so the text is definitely important for getting a claim.

 

Very interesting Creaghorn. I wish I had more free time ... it would be fun to run some experiments..

[Dej 17]

There was a long thread about the significant keywords in claims a long while back. The following level of detail has always worked for me and on the rare occasion I've had a claim refused it's been because I mis-identified the EA I reckon:

 

4000 ft. 2 Miles ESE of Merville, encountered three Hun Albatri. HA had black tails, green and purple wings. Pursued one machine with McAulley. Fired approximately 150 rounds, HA seen to spin and crash. Witnessed by: Ian McAulley Phil Theobald Fred Wilson Status : Confirmed

 

Continued patrol. Encountered four additional HA three miles east of Etrun. Climbed to engage. HA turned and dived. Followed, firing. Expended 200 rounds. HA stalled and crashed. Witnessed by: Ian McAulley Phil Theobald Fred Wilson Status : Confirmed

 

Other HA seemed unaware of previous encounter so crept up on another. Fired 50 rounds causing damage and forcing enemy machine to turn. Followed HA in turn, firing at which point guns jammed. HA dived into ground. Being defenceless, headed for nearest aerodrome at Hesdigneul. Witnessed by: Ian McAulley Phil Theobald Fred Wilson Status : Confirmed

 

1320 Hours. 1 mile east of La Gorgue. Having descended from briefed altitude to assist friendly squadron - unnecessarily - observed lone Albatros breaking away north east. Pursued and fired approx. 150 rounds. HA entered flat spin and crashed in woods. HA decorated in red and blue, with 'lozenge' wings. Witnessed by: Ian McAulley Phil Theobald Status : Confirmed

 

5 miles from target, climbing to regain briefed altitude, was attacked by 5 Albatri engaged and damaged several. Placed long burst into one HA, seen to crash in flames south west of front line near Bailleul. Witnessed by: Ian McAulley Phil Theobald Status : Confirmed

 

The above were submitted as five separate claims for each a/c of five downed on the same day, three in one patrol, two in the next. I never claim for more than one a/c per claim but will submit each as a separate entry. I'd hazard my confirmed rate as around 90%. Unfortunately my pilots never live long enough to build big scores... swings and roundabouts.

[Olham 164]

Well, I forgot to mention, that you should choose the correct aircraft you shot down, in the first frame.

If you are not sure, pick at least single seat or two-seater.

[Lewie 7]

I've just changed my claims from easy to realistic and I'm adding more info. I'm going to see what little information I can add, or get away with, a bit more of that Dirk Gently attitude towards forms and bureaucracy. I would assume that if the fight is over an airfield, ( about 60% of mine have been either over or real close to one..) that the airfield would have confirmed the planes and squadrons involved. I mean that big 200' high bank on the NW corner of Etrun airfiled is where a few of the Albatros and Pfalz pilots ended their lives in Taylor's last big sortie. Shirley there would be a crowd from the field crew watching and keeping score? Not to rely to much on ground witnesses, but someone has to corroborate your clams, correct? I.E. a 'witness'

 

In Mason's "The Escadrille Layfayette" there are a lot of kills of Esc 124 confirmed by ground forces and other terrestrial witnesses.

[DukeIronHand 8]

I will guess not but it is easier for a German pilot to get a kill confirmed in OFF since the bulk of combat is behind their lines?

 

Be neat if the program takes that all into account (simulating friendly ground units, AA batteries, etc) but that may be expecting too much!

Edited April 30, 2011 by DukeIronHand

[Shiloh 12]

"My first pilot in #13 died 20 seconds after his wheels left the sod when a flight of DRI's did a airfield strafe, I hadn't even checked his six yet!"

 

A sad end. At least you didn't have to nurture him through dozens of flights before he copped it, so it's not all bad news. Well done on the DIII's thobut.

 

"1) How do you know where you are on the map when you enter a fight? Hitting (m) leaves you with a pretty crude map. Does the info. help get a claim accepted?

2) You can put more than one witness? It says to only put one when you fill out the claim form.

3) What is the absolute vital information that needs to be on every claim?"

 

Shiloh,

 

I use the rubbish CFS map with Google maps, and can usually name towns, villages, etc if I down something. I suspect it does help, and yes, name your entire damn flight if you can! Absolutely vital to claims are, IMO, time, wingmen witnesses, location and, if possible, id of the opposing squadron/jasta. Having said that I've put in some frightful claims and had them accepted. Sometimes, old chap, it's down to luck. Seeing as that's what's also determining your continued survival, it's best just to get used to it!

 

Cheers,

Si

 

 

1) How do you know where you are on the map when you enter a fight? Hitting (m) leaves you with a pretty crude map. Does the info. help get a claim accepted?

Open the inflight map and pick the nearest town or go over the nearest airfield with your cursor;

the name will then show. Use that and say something like "southwest of Roucourt aerodrome".

 

2) You can put more than one witness? It says to only put one when you fill out the claim form.

Yes, you can, and I always do that; I write it "Josef Becker, Horst Maier, etc."

 

3) What is the absolute vital information that needs to be on every claim?

Your wingmen. The rest is more or less prose. Maybe it can count the amount of words?

I like to write up a little there. In P4, it may be able to check more data.

 

Thanks gents. I just filed another claim with more detail and hopefully I get some confirmations as my first 3 aerial claims are all pending.

[TaillyHo 2]

Nothing especially 'fine' about it, but an example nonetheless of how I fill out the claim form:

 

 

.

[Olham 164]

Even before Scrambles, you should know who is flying with you, and write the names up.

Not sure what the Claims Manager will do, if you write in "ground crew"?

[Shiloh 12]

I see you guys are even putting the time of day in. How do I access that while flying?