Olham

Amen to that, Widowmaker!

Never getting far with Jasta5 It's funny, but each time I create a pilot in Jasta 5, he doesn't get far. Although there are other Jastas in "hotter" zones, like Jasta 2, 10 or 11, they survive longer. With Jasta 5 in summer 1917, I always get into loads of trouble. Have I just managed to survive one good fight, and want to return home, there are swarms of Nupes and Pups, and maybe even Tripes in my way - damn, it's hard! If you like furballs - go to Jasta 5 in June 1917. You'll never be alone!

Dej, jeeze - this is a side of you I've never seen before? Well, maybe most of us must lay down the burden of gentlemanly conduct every now and then? Who is Dick Emery? Capitaine Vengeur, I have watched that video many times. It's quite well made - a bit too flashy, but okay. Here it is for all who haven't seen it yet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLXsNHVEdZk&feature=related ...and also the one about Werner Voss' last fight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zpxOJncVmw&feature=related

I bet, there were different pilots, like in the scouts. Those who could fly that "pig" like a fighter - yes, I think they would have been like in OFF. And we WOULD have found it hard to attack them! I had some good successes with wingmen cooperation. We always attack one craft with 3 Albatros, while the rest of the wingmen is distracting the other Brisfits. When my two helpers fire at the Bristol, I also attack, from a different angle, and with long range fire. That way, I have brought several down. But how many times did they at least puncture my tank - and it could have been my head! Yeah, very dangerous prey, indeed!

As far as I remember, Bruno Stachel did not shoot up a defenseless craft. He tried to force one to land, when the rear gunner, who seemed to be down and wounded, came up again and opened fire at Stachel. I don't recall any scene, where he acted totally ruthless?

Thank you guys! Seven days without OFF! ... I can do it! I can do it! I can... ... I'm not sure...

You need to be kept busy while waiting for P4??? Why should I be idle and waiting, when I have BHaH?

I thought there was something "girly" about Robin Hood - other than the pantyhose...

As a result of the cost, it was considered extremely bad form to be anything but a berserker. I see I missed the early ones - very entertaining, Bullethead; thanks for sharing!

Tomorrow, Friday, I will leave for another week in Ostfriesland, to assist my sisters with a move. Right then - tomorrow - the German train drive union announced a warning strike. Great! I'll return next thursday then - have a good time meanwhile.

My listing is not complete - I only showed the fighters here, because of the posts before. He shot down 17 BE2 and 7 RE8. Other German aces have shot down more of them, like Josef Mai (10 !) from Jasta 5. MvR wasn't the firehead, running into death for glory. He was a tactician, and a careful hunter. He wouldn't have put his life at risk too easily (except - strangely - on his last flight, where he seemed to have forgotten his own rules of combat).

I have recently got Dragon Age and found it rather disappointing. The graphics were not too good looking, and the gameplay / control of the charakter was absurd. Still hoping for something, were the fighting works more naturally.

Pawgy, let out that devil in you and enjoy the turkey shooting. Later, when you have calmed down (may take half a year or even more), you may want to get into the immersive campaigns with more patience.

Wodin, I sometimes click "Auto-contrast" in Photoshop - that makes them perhaps more "crisp". But apart from that, I haven't done anything on these. Good graphic card and settings, perhaps. tranquillo, no problem, Sir, when you normally shoot down anything from the German side. I do the same with the Entente. It was much the exception, that I suddenly felt this way. What an absurd idea, Lou! Mmuahahahahaaaa!!!! Bullethead: Thus, when I fly something faster, I make sure none escape. Monster! Brute!! Devil!!! Hasse Wind, that must be the new "Einstein Look", which came in fashion those days!

Well, Ernst Udet was not flying at all like a newbie in shell shock - he even used a looping to get behind Guynemer. Those two opponents had their fight, and if Guynemer let him go, then it was not for pity, but because of respect. Militarily, it was a mistake, that has probably cost more French lifes. Personally, I can understand it.

No, it was an answer to RAF_Louvert's post. I guess you're right, Widowmaker - and the killing of a newbie is an easy step forward on your victory list.

Okay, now you got me to google the man. He had an interesting life for a schoolmaster, it seems. Teaching Elisabeth I., translating for Karl V. in Augsburg, writing about bow shooting and impressing Henry VIII. so much with that, that he got a monthly rent of 10 Pound for this - and he got his name remembered. Not to forget his work "The Scholemaster", which must have been the first European step towards a good education, I guess. Funny, that he already wrote against the common demoralization at court - we seem to witness the same with modern day's "monarchs" - the politicians. But I bet you would find similar complaints already among the Romans, and even earlier.

Thank you anyway, Duke - happens to all of us oocasionally, I suppose. Well, I didn't want to bash MvR and his deeds, nor am I an MvR "fan-boy" as you called it. The man has shot down quite an impressive number of fighters, too. And of course he knew, that recon or artillery guiding two-seats were prior targets any time. So he "did his job" - better than anyone else did at that time.

Good points, Wayfarer! Among MvR's 80 victories, there were 12 FE2 5 DH-2 1 DH-4 1 DH-5 2 Pup 3 1 1/2 Strutter 3 Bristol Fighter 1 FE8 4 SPAD 4 Nieuport 1 Triplane 3 S.E.5a 1 Dolphin 9 Camel (according to JFM's book "Manfred von Richthofen - the Aircraft, Myths and Accomplishments of "The Red Baron")

Just downloaded it - thank you, Morris!

Oh, that was well recognised - and so much earlier already!

Okay, that's more like - you had me worried there for a moment. "Totally understood - I often try to wipe out whole enemy formations. Unfortunately, the ammo is always out, before I have achieved that - or I overlooked that one Tripe right behind me...

Yeah, of course - if one would act like that, it would be better to have no witnesses against you. If men who don't kill kids are regarded to be "pussies" - well, then I take it as an honour.

I just read a passage in Kilduff's "The Red Baron", where MvR and another pilot shot down two photo recon aircraft. And for the first time, I understood, how easy it might have been, because Kilduff explains, that these recon craft had to fly a straight set path to get the pictures right. They both went down. Now, there may be some heroism involved, as they were escorted by Triplanes. But then, the German Albatros had an altitude advantage and came down on two-seaters, shot them to pieces, and could withdraw up and away with the speed advatage they had gained in the dive. That made it clear to me again, that most of this "air combat work" was not at all heroic. It was just a strategic necessity to kill these two craft - not more. Like MvR shooting a bison during one leave - what the heck is so great about shooting an animal from a distance with a good gun and maybe even telescopic sight? I feel much the same with the fact, that most aircraft were probably shot down without the victim even noticing the other craft approaching, until the impact of the deadly rounds. Not to speak of the German Luftwaffe newbies at the end of WW2 getting shot down like nothing - they could hardly fly their craft straight. A military necessity - maybe - but no grand deed.

Good grief! So many butchers here... He was just a boy. Of course he may come back. And if he came back as a fighting man, I would fight him. But shooting in the back of a kid flying straight on in shell shock - what a victory would that be?