Olham

Javito, if you read William Jannen's book "The Lions of July", you will find a very detailed reconstruction of the diplomatic attempts to prevent that war. Kaiser Wilhelm did, as well as Tsar Nicholas, not at all want that war. The war was much rather provoked by Serbia, who knew Russias promise to stand by it's ally; by a stubborn Austria-Hungary; by the very dangerous French ambassador in Russia, Maurice Paleologue (who wanted that war; and who lied, cheated, delayed, shortened or disinterpreted important messages); and by rather unbalanced German politicians (here, Gottlieb Jagow made thing rather confusing; and in the last critical days, chancellor Bethmann seemed to have lost most of his nerves). The very critical balance of Great Powers (almost everyone expected a war sooner or later), and the unability of the diplomats to communicate, what most of them prefered - no war - led to this desaster. When Russian minister Sazonov and the generals decided, that they had to fully mobilise to stop Austria-Hungary from going too far against Serbia, the deadly iron dice began to roll. Germany had warned everyone repeatedly, that if Russia would go from a partial mobilisation against Austria-Hungary in the south-west to a full mobilisation also along the borders of Germany, Germany could do no other but mobilise. It could not risk to get crushed between Russia and France. The Kaiser and the Tsar both knew too well, that their monarchies would probably come to their ends through national uprisings - they both did not want this war. The men who saw all this coming and made the best mediation attempts, were British foreign secretary Sir Edward Grey, and German ambassador in London, Prince Max von Lichnowsky, who wanted a better relationship and friendship with Great Britain. Great Britain did not want to get dragged into a European war, only because it had to back France, which would back Russia, which would back the Serbs. Unfortunately, none of the mediation proposals turned into real talks. They were in the end assisted too late strong enough by the German chancellor, and brushed aside by a proud and stubborn Austria-Hungary. With the consequences we all know.

In our "Krauts vs Crumpets" Campaign, Jasta 6 got the Fokker Triplane now. After our first clash, 56 RFC will never try again to turnfight us, surely.

Not sure if this is a good book, but it is not expensive so far. http://cgi.ebay.de/W...=item4155b78b4e And here's one for RAF_Louvert, to start a German Flieger uniform with this cap. (No, I'm only joking - 680,- Euro for a cap is too much). http://cgi.ebay.de/o...=item588b28a8cc

Ditto to that - cheers, Hasse Wind!

That bulldog with the CO's cap on is great, Ras! Nice plane to fly with, I'm sure. Thanks, Hellshade! Your new Tripe looks "hot" - reminds me of classic Harley Davidson paintjobs (like Dennis Hopper's chopper in "Easy Rider"). A pity that it wasn't allowed in RL in those days. Are you still working on "our film project"?

I hope you are okay, George Boles ? I have just seen videos from Rockhampton in Queensland. You Australians seem to be very reliable neighbours and friends, who will help each other. I wish for you all, that the water may go away very soon.

This is for Cameljockey, but also for everyone interested in old field maps and airfield locations. The field which was used by the German Jasta 6 is still open and without any buildings.

Thank you, Carrick. Here are some screens from my Jasta 2 pilot's latest actions.

I won't need to hurry - the Year of the Horse will be only in 2014. Yawn!

FA 62, Douai, 1 July 1915 Boelcke has formed the first German Jagdstaffel - a unit of fighters, to attack enemy aircraft. Before they became a Jasta, they had already been flying the Fokker Eindecker for bombing and reconnaisance tasks. But from now on, they will be hunters. I was chosen to fly with FA 62, and in my first sortie, I had the honour to fly with Immelmann and Boelcke. I could even force a Bristol Scout to land near our airfield at Douai, without killing the pilot. I think this is a good omen for my debut.

Welcome to OFF and this forum, kiteman! If you send me a PM with your town and country, I will add you to our OFF Forum Pilots' maps.

What have you done over Christmas and New Year's eve? Any pics, anyone? Here are some of mine. We first had thick snow (bottom pics - the right one shows our Rescue boat in Norddeich harbour), then after Christmas it got really sunny. The top mills are two of the three Dutch gallery windmills we still have in my hometown Norden; the lower two are in thea fishermen's village Greetsiel 14 km from Norden.

I don't find any particular memory right now. 2010 wasn't a good year for me. But that is my own fault - I should have done more with the time. My favourite memories are about our forum, the skinning for and the flying of OFF. You may have the new motor bike earlier than P4. Hope you will still enjoy P3 at least half as much as I will.

I hope, that there will be always enough people with enough honesty, who will buy a good sim, even though they might be able to steal it. I could not bring myself to steal something like OFF - it is so obviously a product of so much love and devotion; and countless hours invested, that it is already rather a "give-away" than a buy for that little money. How could you steal this from these guys and still face yourself in a mirror?

Basler Brunsli? Had to google that to find, that they seem to be almost the same as my "Berliner Mandelbrot". Good stuff - both the cake and the story, Lou!

All the best for your new job, Widowmaker! Flyby, I know how you feel. I won't write all my self-employment history down here, but I have gone through good 80s and most of the 90s as a sign-write for vans, trucks and tarpaulins. Then in 1998, my biggest customer collapsed and closed, and my other big customer pushed down the prices for my work more and more. I never found the right partner to share the responsibility and the work with me (well, I know I wasn't easy to deal with), and so I did all the work plus the books and finances alone. In 2002 I collapsed - doctors called it "burn-out syndrom" plus depression. I have now recovered, and learned, what was wrong for me. I gave up the sign-writing and work rooms, and now I only do graphic design. I can do that on my home PC. I have far less income, but also far less spendings, and I feel better, cause I have more time for myself. I wish you the very luck you seem to need now - you are a fighter; if you don't finally make, it isn't your fault. Think about this: VW Volkswagen - one of Germany's biggest and most successful companies need new fresh capital every year. Now, if even those guys can't make it with their own earnings - how should we?

Amazing, Lou! Do you really want to send your marriage through that German Flieger dress test? I'd be even more amazed, of course!

Just type in "Stonehenge, Great Britain" in Google Maps, and you'll get a satelite pic. If you check the environement, you'll find more traces of old places and digging. Amazing, that it's in OFF!

Perhaps it might be useful to know, who can see them through clouds with which graphic card? I do see them, and my card is an ATI HD4870.

I think, decrypted Pol is trying to say, that enemies may be hidden by clouds, or in the sun. As long as they are invisible for you, they won't appear on the TAC. Guynemer has once attacked our flight like he had attacked Udet's. (Well, I think it was Guynemer - his attack out of the sun was so sudden, and he was gone, before I could read "Le Vieux" on his SPAD).

Thank you all, guys! Redkite, Santa is not the Christkindl (which is written correct). Santa would be "der Weihnachtsmann". Widowmaker, you speak my very mind - I want to make a new start in the new year. Comes to mind a saying: In the past, everything was better. Even the future. Morris & Widowmaker, check the latest screenshots! The Snipe is already visible!