RAF_Louvert

. Here in the US it is Memorial Day, a day we set aside to honor the men and women throughout our history who sacrificed of themselves to preserve the rights and freedoms we all too often take for granted. At graveyards around the country services will be held and at nearly every one of them someone, often a young person of teenage years, will read the Gettysburg Address, first given on November 19, 1863, by President Abraham Lincoln. Please allow me the honor of sharing it with you here: "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the Earth." A safe and blessed Memorial Day to you all, wherever you live. Let us each remember those who gave so much, so that we might live free. Take care my friends, Lou .

. Royce, rather than me trying to explain it, simply click on the link below and download the RAR file, unzip it, and install the mission file into your 'Germany' folder inside your 'missions' 'scenarios' folder, the path to which should look something like this: C:\OBDSoftware\CFSWW1 Over Flanders Fields\missions\scenarios\Germany Alpine Test Mission, Germany Create a German test pilot, pick 'Quick Scenarios' and choose the mission, and make sure to check 'Pilot Never Dies' as you will techincally be behind enemy lines when you land. You will have a bomb load, and if you follow the flight path over the Alps you will come to an enemy aerodrome target I have placed in northern Italy. Enjoy! Lou .

. No user mod Olham. It is really there. .

. As the first poster said in that uniform thread, "There are times when "WOW" is the only thing I can think of to say!" Wouldn't you love to have that set on display in your flying room Olham! What a beauty. Also, thank you for the translation on the passport; very helpful. And thanks DonL for your link as well. Can't imagine digging into the ground and finding such a cache of items, grizzly as some of them may be. .

. mmmmm...candy rock, or rock candy as it's called on this side of the pond. A lump or two of brown sugar candy rock in a really good cuppa' tea or coffee...very nice. .

. Huginn, I will echo what my comrades have said above. Make the investment now in P3, you will not regret it. Although, you may regret how addicted you'll become to flying and fighting in the virtual OFF skies, but that's a risk we've each taken, and we're all still perfectly fine......relatively speaking. BTW, new lads buy the drinks, and as it is quite early in the AM I'd simply like a nice hot cuppa' very strong black coffee with just a touch of fresh cream, and an almond scone if you'd be so kind. Cheers! Lou .

. Oh, they're out there VP, and I believe they start at about $500 a night each. .

. Greetings All, What say you to a new contest? I think it’s high time, as it’s been well over a year-and-a-half since the last one I hosted. Plus, it would be a fun diversion whilest we all wait patiently for the release of P4. Based on comments that have filtered in over the last few months, the popular idea looks to be one that requires the identification of a specific OFF paint scheme, and with over 4000 to choose from the fields are rich for such a contest. Therefore, I am beginning just such a new scramble for you all. Now then, as last time, I will post a picture with related questions and you will be required to answer those questions correctly to score. Points for each round can either go to a single player who answers all questions correctly, or they can be shared amongst several players who each give one or more right answers. Further, if you answer and are either incorrect or only answered a portion of the questions, you may try again on the same set 36 hours after the time stamp of your last answer, provided someone else hasn't already correctly answered the remaining questions in that group. There will also be occasional ‘Wild Card” postings just to keep things interesting. Over the next couple of months I will run a total of 50 pictures with their related questions, (not counting Wild Cards), and will post a tote board as well so that everyone can keep track of the standings as things progress. And the prize? Apart from garnering bragging rights, the winning player will also receive a nice ex libris copy of the 1968 Doubleday Press hard cover printing of Captain Duncan Grinnell-Milne’s classic, “Wind in the Wires”. This is a wonderful autobiography by a Great War ace who not only scored his first victory while flying in a BE2, but was also a POW for over two years before escaping and making his way back into the skies, where he scored his remaining kills while flying SE5a's with 56 Squadron. So then, to get you all up to speed, let’s have a test run, (no points for this one). Here is the first OFF paint scheme to identify: And here are the questions that relate to the above picture: 1. Who was the pilot that flew in this paint scheme? 2. What Jasta did he fly for while in this paint scheme, and what was the time period? 3. What plane type is this? There you have it. Once the correct answers for the test run are given, we can get started with the contest itself. Have fun folks, ask for clarification on anything if you need to, and good luck to all! Lou .

. There you go Dej, it is Jasta 2. In addition, Ritter von Müller also flew with FA 1b, KEK B, and FAA 32, as well as 28w. Here are the new standings after round 8, and Olham is back in the lead: Olham............... 12 1/2 points Dej.................... 11 1/2 points Lewie................. 2 1/2 points Hasse Wind....... 1 point Another entry will be coming soon. Cheers! Lou .

. Another lightning fast response Olham, and you have them all but one! Max Ritter von Müller was not flying with Jasta 28w in the paint shown. Still, another 2 1/2 points for you. Well done Sir! So, a 1/2 point waits for someone who can correctly identify the jasta that Max did fly for in this paint. .

. Hope you're all primed and ready, because it's time for the next round of "Who's Paint Is This" ! Here's the screenshot: And here are your questions: 1. Who was the ace that flew this paint scheme, and what is the plane type and model? 2. Which jasta did this pilot fly for in this paint scheme, and in what year? 3. What was his job in the military before he transferred to the Luftstreitkräfte? Viel Glück! Lou .

. Yes Olham, time flys far too swiftly, I'm afraid. The book in question is Elliott White Springs' "War Birds". Also, "Malaula! The Battlecry of Jasta 17" is on my list of books that I yet wish to acquire, as you and others have highly recommended it numerous time. .

. AAAAAAH HA HA HAAAAAA! OK, now THAT was funny Shredward. .

. "Three little maids from school are we, Pert as a school-girl well can be, Filled to the brim with girlish glee, Three little MAAAAAAAIDS from school!" :girl_haha: .

. mmmmm...Andechser Doppelbock. Fair enough Mein Freund, we shall drink away the 'Herr'! And then, you must slip across to my side of the mud and partake of a pint or two of O'Hara's Irish Red. Can't have you thinking it's only the Germans who know how to brew. .

. Yes Olham, it is a cozy little space. If you are talking about the fifth book in from the left, (next to the dark mustard coloured volume), that is Lieut. E.M. Roberts' book, "A Flying Fighter". No German text items in my collection, I'm sorry to say, but at least a few translated works. And yes, those are my three kids from about 17 years ago: from left-to-right, Kate, Andy, and Sara, and they were 2 1/2, 7 1/2, and 5 1/2 respectively in that photo. They are all grown and on their own now, but Kate and Sara live nearby, and Sara has a six-year-old daughter Cassidy who we get to visit with regularly. Great fun! .

. Ta, Herr Olham. .

. Si, you've just made me spit coffee all over my monitor. .

. Oh no Olham, my WWI aviation library and items are confined to my little 8' by 10' flying room. My good lady wife likes my hobby and studies just fine, as long as a door can be closed on them when company is coming over. Here is the back wall of said flying room: Compact, concise, and relatively tidy. .

. Coolio! .

. Let me know when you have it going Duke, and I'll be happy to answer any questions you might have. I can even send you one of my plane files to show you how I go about laying out an OFF custom skin. .

. I love Bertangles, and I too am flying with 24 there right now, March of 1916. Had to get back to my roots for a while and reclaim the twitchy yet capable DH2. Jim, you are spot on as well about it not being the nicest, but it is most assuredly Home Sweet Home for all of us with an inherent fondness for the RFC. "Every time I look down on this aerodrome whether blue or gray be her skies. Whether loud be her cheers or soft be her tears, more and more do I realize: I love Bertangles in the springtime. I love Bertangles in the fall. I love Bertangles in the winter, when it drizzles, I love Bertangles in the summer, when it sizzles. I love Bertangles every moment, every moment of the year. I love Bertangles, why, oh why do I love Bertangles? Because my DH2 is near." (apologies to Nat King Cole fans everywhere) A rare and perfect winter's day, looking east towards the Front, where duty calls and destiny awaits. .

. Give that man a cigar! Quite right Dej, it is indeed Michele Allasia. And if you want to know more about him and the rest of the Italian flyers I recommend Osprey publication #89, "Italian Aces of WWI", by Paolo Varriale, (which is where the photo and information came from for this entry). The standings after round 7 show a new leader by a single point: Dej.................... 11 points Olham............... 10 points Lewie................. 2 1/2 points Hasse Wind....... 1 point Next entry will be posted this evening, Sunday May 29, at 11:00pm GMT, so stay watchful. Cheers! Lou .

. I am going to have to invest in a plastic cover for my keyboard. All this drool can't possibly be good for it. .

. Jim, I agree completely that 3 is too young to be watching these cartoons and/or violent news broadcasts, and my apologies for missing that point in your initial post. Also, those old cartoons were most assuredly made for adults as well, as you have noted very well. My folks used to sit and watch them right along with my brothers and I back in the day. .