Olham

Hihihi - I remember our dispute about the aerodrome photo at Roucourt, JFM. You told me later, that you had the same dispute about the photo location even with the great Dan San over at The Aerodrome. And the old master of so many pics and knowledge got proven wrong by you. Shows even he is only human.

Don't worry, Tranquillo - JFM is a good guy and easy to get along with. I don't think he got you wrong there.

Cripes, what this guy all got done is leaving me speechless. I don't blame him for his words about Germans - he just met that sort, I guess. A man who fought in one of the world wars, lost many comrades and even friends. It's hard to keep your mind free from hate, I think. Arthur Gould Lee did, but then he wasn't in the mud and the trenches.

WHEN THE VULTURE BECAME THE PREY Jasta 2, Bertincourt, 16. September 1916 Under way to a railyard southwest of Amienterres, my flight got under attack from several Nieuport 17 when we just crossed the lines. Within two minutes, the fighting spread out like butter on a toast, and after shooting up one Nupe so badly, that he prefered to crawl home, I got this feller full hard. His whole engine exploded, and he sank down into the mud. As I couldn't find any other comrade near, I returned home to be the first one to land. Von Richthofen with A-flight had travelled on to carry out the railyard attack.

Slightly OT, but here is a great dokumentation of a work by Russel Smith, "Wolff's Requiem". He shows step by step, how such a drawing is composed. http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/art/32326-wolffs-requiem-evolution-image.html

Good journey, Lou; come back in one piece!

PS: The English London scenery with the Thames and all those barrage balloons is looking superb! Yeah, this IS a big city!

Not so sure there - I think that I had started sorties in grey rainy weather, and above the clouds it was bright and blue. But then - memories fail me often; maybe my OFF-addicted brain mocks them up?

Wonderful work, boys! I like especially, that even smaller rivers as the one in Pic 1 don't look like drawn with a ruler anymore, but now they meander in gentle curves - very, very sweet!!!

Thanks for the details, JFM. I knew them from your book, and I did not think they could be wrong. I was rather wondering, if there might have been a third triplane, no one had mentioned elsewhere. But I bet, there is enough detailed knowledge about that time and war zone to exclude this. Alex Revell, who knew Arthur Gould Lee, said (over at The Aerodrome), that Lee was definitely not the type of person, who would have allowed the editor to do such changes to his book. So it would rather be a change made by the author - for whatever reason.

Yeah, the hints of the "devels" are like being poked with the glowing hot red tripod! Keeps you on your toes! One famous torture of hell goes: Devel: "New OFF will be released!" OFF Addict: "When, Master? When?!?!?" Devel (grinning): " ... Soon!" OFF Addict: "How soon is soon, Master???" Devel: "... when it's ready!" Famous German WW1 fighter ace from the background, where he's getting barbequed over glowing coal: "Mmuahahahahahahahahaaaaaaa!!!!!"

Dej, thanks again. I know these must be great reads, and "Winged Victory" is on the list, too. Adger, here are some prints of "No Parachute", beginning at 33 Dollars. http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=arthur+gould+lee&sts=t&tn=no+parachute&x=36&y=8

For the "eyecandy customer" the effects are fine as they are. And us "full DiD nitpickers" have modded files from Creaghorn and others. Ah, the choice - the world is so much greater with OFF plus the forum!

Well, I'm often close to that! I hate to interrupt a sortie for a break on the toilet; so I know how it is to be under such pressure. I sometimes just manage to land the bird in onbe piece, and "whoosh!" off I am. In RL the other pilots would surely wonder, when they asked me "did you get one?" and I'd reply: "Later, boys! Make room!! Got to pee!!!"

OFF wants to present the historical / RL aces, which is great, and they don't want them to die any other but their historical date of death. But then, the simmer also need wingmen he can "smoke by numbers" so to say. I think that is one good reason, why there are more pilots in each Sqdn than in RL - we have far more deaths.

Thank you for the tip, Dej - it's also by Lee, I understand? Well, I'll keep it in mind. First though, I want to get Lewis' "Sagittarius Rising".

Alright - I know you're a very modest man; so I did that for you!

Thank you, TaillyHo. Thanks also to JFM for some detailed photos he sent recently. So I have now even added the writing on the lower wings' front edges "Nicht auftreten!" (No step!) I will soon upload this basic factory-new Jasta 2 skin; so everyone can add their own crests or letters.

You didn't ask for a Pfalz modification, Hasse Wind? Well, I did - HPW's list is now quite long.

I've been working on several skins today - here is another Bavarian design for Jasta 76 b.

Aaaaaahhhh - another sign of the maker(s)!

...and that they are not prepared to change them, when someone else comes up with new evidence.

Worst drama I witnessed there was the two world wars being continued between that guy from England who later got banned, and a German, who got also banned, but had sneaked back in under a different name. After that, I didn't take part in discussions anymore. And I learnt, who very great our OFF Forum really is!

Exactly what I thought, Lou! I will definitely not ask this question over at The Aerodrome!

Oh, I see. Well, I'm still so green, when it comes to literature about WW1 air combat. Thank you, Lou! Widow, you should at least allow one for each nation. I bet it would still be impossible for Lou though. For the Germans, the book by ErnstUdet and that by Julius Buckler were the most sympathic reads for me so far. "No Parachute!" is simply a very great read for the British side.