CaptSopwith 26 Posted March 9, 2022 (edited) I often find that the most dangerous missions I ever fly as a German pilot happen when we are not on active duty. It's the dull weeks of being out of operation, when I'm told to check out the new rigging on my wings, or the newly installed carburetor that my mechanic has just fitted, that I am either wiped off the face of the earth, or barely live to tell the tale. Tonight, freshly minted Lt. Bruno Stachel was assigned to Jasta 34b in March 1918. Starting his first mission after a week to settle in, he was told to take off, fly a few circuits of the field to check the new carburetor installed on his battered Pfalz DIII (the same type of plane he was assigned to in flying school...), then return to the field. Flying with labels and the TAC off (I have dots turned on for easier spotting), Stachel got airborne and I was admiring how beautiful the landscape was and how buttery smooth it now scrolled below me... and I should have known better. Glancing upwards, I saw several dots diving and closing range on me at a considerable rate of knots. The next six minutes was utter chaos. A flight of overzealous French aviators, consisting of a few Breguet 14's, a pair of Sopwith Strutters, and a lone Nieuport for escort, descended on me like a pack of ravenous wolves. Immediately pulling a split-s, I dived for my home base, hoping that the barrage of ground fire would deter them from trying to kill me so far behind our own lines. As the Strutters took turns attacking my Pfalz, the Breguet's unloaded their bombs on our field below, setting it alight. The Nieuport never appeared - I suppose he couldn't be bothered with one creaky old Pfalz. The two Strutters took turns in slicing attacks as I turned and cracked off a few well aimed shots as they passed by. It finally turned into a battle of attrition, with the Strutter's rear gunner locked onto my plane, and my hapless pilot unloading both guns (I imagine, while screaming in anger), at the French adversary. The machine began smoking, turned into a shallow climb, then descended where he crashed in the middle of our field. By this point, Stachel's goggles were splattered in oil (the new goggles, btw, are a brilliant touch!) and I knew the engine was about to conk out. And conk it did. I managed a 90 degree turn to final as the propeller turned into a windmill at the front of my shot up plane. As I made a desperate lunge over the trees, a flaming Strutter billowed smoke as he plummeted right in front of my machine, crashing off to my right. Desperate, I yanked the rudder, made contact with the ground, and dug the tail skid into the dirt. Down safe... And for the first time ever, actually got credit for a kill while my squadron was technically inactive. I mean, one would assume that replicating, almost shot for shot, the scene from the Blue Max would do the trick, but still, you know the old saying... unconfirmed and all that... It's good to be back. Stachel might actually make it this time... Edited March 9, 2022 by CaptSopwith Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Polovski 460 Posted March 9, 2022 Great entertaining write-up CaptSopwith - sounds like your pilot needs a stiff drink. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CaptSopwith 26 Posted March 10, 2022 22 hours ago, Polovski said: Great entertaining write-up CaptSopwith - sounds like your pilot needs a stiff drink. Thanks Pol! I've truly missed my time with this sim and revisiting it reminds me that we also have a pretty awesome community. Hope you've been well in the midst of everything that's happened over the last few years and thank you again, for all of the tireless work you and Winder have put into this wonderful game. Cheers! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Polovski 460 Posted March 21, 2022 (edited) All is good, however WM has COVID19 though just in time to release Recon Wars :(. Good to see you flying, and hope you are OK? Edited March 21, 2022 by Polovski Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CaptSopwith 26 Posted March 24, 2022 On 3/21/2022 at 12:20 PM, Polovski said: All is good, however WM has COVID19 though just in time to release Recon Wars :(. Good to see you flying, and hope you are OK? So sorry about Mark, hoping he makes a speedy recovery. Wife and I, and puppy (whose nearly five somehow...) are all safe and well. Busy working away, but happy and well! Cheers my friend. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gaw 5 Posted March 25, 2022 Spoiler God Speed WM...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
