RAF_Louvert

. Outstanding mission and report Stiffy! Well done Sir. Cheers! Lou .

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. Sorry Siggi, poor choice of words on my part. You suggested we might do it this way if we'd like to. .

. Very good reports here everyone, and it appears you Huns have had some productive missions right from the start. Well done! But never fear, we Allies will be coming on strong as well. Cheers! Lou

. Thanks Gents, glad you enjoyed the report, there will be more to come soon. As to Red-Dog's question, it's my understanding that Siggi wants each of us to start our own Pilot Log thread and post there and he will then link your pilot entry on the DiD roster to that specific thread. So, this thread would be for my pilot's posts, Red-Dog would start his own thread like this for his, and so on for each of the DiD flyers in this campaign. Perhaps Siggi will correct me if I am wrong here, but that is what I gathered from his posts. Cheers! Lou

. To all Officers and Pilots of #2 Squadron, RNAS: It has come to my attention that there has been some discussion in the ranks about the use of a flyer's personal markings on his aeroplane and the idea that he should wait to display such markings until after he has achieved "Ace" status, (i.e. 5 confirmed kills). As I have already stated in a previous communique' I strongly encourage all RNAS flyers to have a personal emblem or insignia painted on their kites as it helps build a sense of pride and esprit de corps. I believe anything that gives a pilot a stronger sense of belonging and purpose to be essential. Therefore, let me state plainly, that all pilots are allowed and advocated to have their personal emblems and insignia displayed on their aeroplanes, regardless of the number of hours they have flown or kills they have attained. For King and Country! Capt. W.L. Elder #2 Squadron Royal Naval Air Service　 .

. Greetings All, Just a quick notice to anyone that's been wanting an early-style replica of the Orden Pour le Mérite, there are two remaining at the following eBay location: Blue Max Replicas; 2 Available I mention these because nearly all the OPLM replicas that come along are the later type with the art-deco style eagles. The ones this fellow is offering are the older, late 19th early 20th century style. Now, due to the quality of the photos its a bit hard to be sure, but I've gone ahead and purchased one myself, (he had 3 to start with). They appear quite nice with very good detailing, and I have a hunch these are older repros as I have not seen anyone making this style lately. Might be a pig in a poke, but on the other hand if they are of a higher quality by a German maker such as Wagner they will be worth far more then the "Buy Now" price. And even if they are not, they still look to be of nice display quality. Just thought some of you might be interested. Cheers! Lou .

. Ras, I had a hunch you'd be particularly fond of the Tripe assignment. Cheers! Lou .

. Siggi wrote: Roger that Sir. My flying persona will be Flight Lt. Frederick W. Chapman, in an effort to honour two gazetted real life RNAS-2 flyers, Lt's Frederick Russell and Cyril Chapman. I hope I can do their memory proud. Cheers! Lou .

. Sorry RL is keeping you from the campaign Manuc. If things change later on don't hesitate to transfer in then, we'll be glad to have you aboard Sir. Cheers! Lou .

. SWEET! The twin-gun Tripe. Ta, Siggi. Ras, we can still have Buntie, Mutton, and Smilin' Billy paint "Yankee Doodle Dandy" on your kite Sir, along with that Uncle Sam top hat you requested. Cheers! Lou .

. Back to the idea of us flying the Tripe. If we do, we could make use of the new skin I did for it a while back at the request of Ras. Cheers! Lou .

. You're a brave man Stiffy, and I wish you the best with those limitations. More than that I hope hope jolly old St. Nick is particulalry kind to you this season and you find a new TR5 in your stocking. Cheers! Lou .

. Now there would be a fun line-up with a bit of variety. N17bis and Tripe are both outstanding fighters, and truth be told the Tripe can fly circles around anything the Hun can put in the air, including the DR1. Even though it gives us single-gun fighters I would still vote for RNAS-1 as our scout outfit. Thanks for the heads-up on this unit Siggi. Cheers! Lou .

. Aaah, thank you Siggi, I am not home right now so I could not check the pipeline for #2 RNAS, but I assumed it was the same as #3. Apparenty it is not. Switching to the RFC or another RNAS unit is just fine and dandy by me, and I will go with whatever the majority of our Allied flyers wish. A good leader needs to remain open to all options. Cheers! Lou .

. For the last decade I have been selling and servicing ambulances and rescue vehicles and providing related training in the upper midwestern United States, in a territory roughly 1,000 miles square, (Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and a bit of upper Nebraska). Needless to say I travel a bit. Before this I've had various jobs that included: custom coach builder; custom woodwork shop foreman; R&D man for a toy factory; mechanic; auto body repairman; hardware store sales person, ("Will you be needing drop cloths and brushes to go with that gallon of paint M'am?"); caddy, ("I recommend a #2 wood for this shot Sir, and keep to the left side of the fairway."); and four years as a cold war warrior in the US Air Force back in the 1970's. Oh, I'm also a self-proclaimed writer, poet, artist, and musician. I consider myself a sort of idealized version of the complete Renaissance Man. BTW, good idea for a thread Widowmaker. Cheers! Lou .

. Outstanding info in this thread for those not familiar with the throttle controls on these early rotary-powered kites, (and it is an important part of their "charm"). I use a variation on uncleal's approach and have a key on my joystick set up to toggle between 10% and 100% throttle, which gets me pretty close in control and feel to a real blip switch. Cheers! Lou .

. Siggi, you know I'm pretty darned agreeable with whatever is decided on the fighter unit. However, in an effort to build a feeling of unit loyalty I'd recommend we stick with the RNAS and take the scouts as they become available to our squadron. I believe we do get the Pup and Camel, in that order. It would be more in keeping with the whole historic bent and immersion factor of this exercise. Just my two pence worth. Cheers! Lou .

. That is one tried and true Strutter you have there Stiffy. Well done Sir. Cheers! Lou .

. To all Officers and Pilots of #2 Squadron, RNAS: As most of you are already aware, Allied HQ has determined our services are needed elsewhere along the front, and we have been reassigned to Number 2 Squadron. We will still be flying our stalwart Strutter 1 1/2's so our recent training has not been in vain. Keep a stiff upper chaps, and continue to get in as much flight time as possible in anticipation of the big push on 5 November. I expect each of you to fly as many cook's tours of our new AO as you can in order to familiarize yourselves with the locale, and if you happen across the odd Hun scout during these exercises by all means send him packing. Remember to keep your alt and give your gunner some good clear shots. The Strutter turn climbs very well so use that to your advantage when engaging enemy aircraft. Also, I encourage you to take advantage of the offer made by AM Bunter and his crew. Having a personal emblem or insignia painted on your kite helps build a sense of pride and esprit de corps not to mention causing a fair amount of consternation in the enemy when they see a stand-out flight of cracker jack aerial warriors coming at them en masse. That is all for now gents. Keep your gear in order and be prepared. For King and Country! Capt. W.L. Elder #2 Squadron Royal Naval Air Service　 .

. rwmarth, I use the same approach as Baldric. Get as much alt as I can and watch for holes in the clouds to navigate by. And as also mentioned, alt is life. By staying as high as possible my odds are much better of catching the EA below me rather than above. It is quite thrilling to spot a flight of enemy planes through the breaks in the clouds below and pounce on them, then climb back up before they know what hit them. Cheers! Lou .

. Roger that Siggi, and your points are valid. The promotion idea was only a shared thought. Cheers! Lou .

. Jolly good Stiffy! That kite should continue to serve you well Sir. Not only does Tommy Sopwith build sturdy craft, we in the RNAS have the best mechanincs and riggers to be found anywhere, bar none! .

. Now here this, all RNAS pilots. It appears we will be starting operations short one man on 5 November. I've received the following telegram from the good ship Wiltshire, via the AIF: To the Officer Commanding [sTOP] 3 Wing RNAS [sTOP] Looks like I'll be missing the start of your show [sTOP] Dodging Fritz submarines north of CV [sTOP] Expected arrival in France 9 November [sTOP] Looking forward to making the acquaintance of you cobbers [sTOP] Hope you leave enough Fritz for a poor colonial Billjim to write home about [sTOP] Good Luck DEJ From the initials I can only assume that the telegram is from our Australian pilot Lieutenant Darcy Edwin Jarrow. Now some of you gents might have a few reservations concerning the Australians and their lack of discipline, but I tell you this: The AIF have put up one hell of a bloody good fight at Pozières and Windmill Farm, and the casualties they've suffered are heavy beyond compare. If any man in this outfit imagines our Jarrow will prove any less resourceful, then that man will answer to me personally. We will all be looking forward to Lt. Jarrow's arrival on the 9th. By the way, his log book has been forward to my command and I post it here as introduction. Capt. W.L. Elder #3 Wing (detached) Royal Naval Air Service　

. Siggi, I say we stick in the Strutter 1 1/2's with 2 RNAS. Also, I would ask all Allied flyers to start as Flight Lt's, and I might recommend the following little twist to this campaign. Since we will have actual CO's throughout it could be even more immersive if said CO's could make promotions of their respective flyers based on performance and outstanding displays of aerial prowess, rather than waiting for the sim to generate the promotion. What do you folks think? Cheers! Lou .