Finally Got WOFF

[Sailor Steve]

23 March 1915

Still raining over the Verdun area, but Flanders has dried out a bit.

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "0823: Another offensive patrol over the lines near Niewpoort. Again with SLt Masson Sollier. 1 hour 16 minutes."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0903: With Lt Cruikshank on a mission to observe an enemy observation balloon. The order said “Attack”. With what? A carbine? We stayed well above the Archie and looked at it for awhile. 1 hour 16 minutes."

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "0903: Scouting over airfield at Houplin, near Loos, again with Billy Crowe in company. 2 hours 12 minutes."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "0907: Artillery Spotting near Lens. Offstv Friedel accompanying. 2 hours 23 minutes."

[Sailor Steve]

24 March 1915

A new storm is moving into Flanders and the last one is still hovering over Verdun.


25 March 1915

No letup in the weather. It's raining everywhere.

[Buddahaid]

I have WOFF installed now and working on getting things settled. First problem was no joystick because Webroot considered the tools.exe as malware. Sorted that by a reinstall but I also found that Saitek is now Logitech and the upgrade SW broke most of what I had sorted last time I was flying other sims. IL2 still does not see a joystick but everything seems to so far. Now I expect when I use the racing wheel it will be messed up. :O:

[Buddahaid]

I've got some reading to do. The control interface is a bit confusing right now, and even though I've got the main flight controls sorted, I still get aileron input from the throttle at the extreme ends of the control like the software doesn't remember the stick is the roll control until I move it again.

[Sailor Steve]

I'm sorry to hear you're having problems. I have a cheap Thrustmaster T-Flight HOTAS that I really like. I have the twist-stick locked down and use the rocker bar on the throttle for rudder control. Sometime it gets that same problem - throttle up becomes right bank. I have to remind myself to check the controls before every flight. I've found that when it happens I can just unplug the unit and plug it back in and things go back to normal. Other than that I can't think of anything to tell you.

[Buddahaid]

So it was sounds like the throttle problem is a software bug. At first I thought it might be a modelled in torque effect but it would be badly done if that was the case.

[Buddahaid]

Reading through the support FAQ I learned how to map the controls properly and solved the issue. It's not enough to bind the control to what you want to use it, you also have to unbind other controls that may be using it. In my case I needed to unbind the Saitek throttle from the X axis so just the stick was bound to it. Obtuse for me.

[Sailor Steve]

27 March 1915

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0820: Followed Lt Cruikshank on a scouting mission over the enemy aerodrome at Haubourdin. 1 hour 42 minutes."

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "0825: Supported Lt Ellis on an Artillery Spotting mission. 1 hour 56 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "0903: Defensive patrol over our airfield at Abeele, with Lt Masson Sollier. 1 hour 20 minutes.
Garros has returned. It seems that he and his personal mechanic Hue have been spending time at the Morane Saulnier factory in Paris, working with Raymond Saulnier on some kind of a mechanism that will let him shoot a Hotchkiss machine gun through his propeller. He showed us the system and told us he would be going hunting for Germans as soon as possible. We are all curious about the thing and he gladly showed us all how it works. I’m not sure I understand completely, but it has metal wedges bolted to the propeller to push any bullets that come in contact out of the way. It will be interesting to see if he gets any results."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "1003: Scouting mission over the trenches near Herleville, with Ltn Leffers. 2 hours 1 minute."

Senard, Verdun
Noel Kay writes: "1100: Took off for photo mission over Guignicourt, looking for suspected enemy troop buildup. Engine failed. Managed to land back at field. 7 minutes.
1123: Took off again in spare plane. Arrived over Guignicourt, took pictures. Followed the Aisne west back over the lines. Motorcycle dispatch rider waiting for us on the field on our return. I guess these pictures are important. 1 hour 55 minutes."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "1325: Long scouting flight over enemy airfield at Champaubert. 2 hours 13 minutes."

[Buddahaid]

I've got a handle on things and started career today. Mostly just a struggle to maintain station on a front patrol ending with a bad landing writing off the plane. I was in the virtual cockpit and didn't realize quite where I was so I came up short and rolled into a tree.

[Buddahaid]

Oh and I took home and repaired these Champoux binoculars that were at dad's house. I thought they were just old Opera glasses, not WWI French trench binoculars. They work surprisingly well.
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/640x480q90/924/zazuHP.jpg
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/640x480q90/923/9jgO3c.jpg
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/640x480q90/924/Wq2ohp.jpg

[Aktungbby]

^JEEZE!:k_confused: ANYONE GAZING THRU THOSE AT CORDITE SMOKE, MUSTARD GAShttps://i.pinimg.com/474x/89/61/26/896126ce7187f0d0c80ab7df5496bc95--war-photography-stunning-photography.jpg AND GENERAL FOG-OF-WARhttps://i.pinimg.com/474x/c0/ef/da/c0efda5662bcf77e6c6212a8b0cdd6a2--machine-guns-world-war-one.jpg WOULD TEND TO BE A LITTLE 'OVER THE TOP' AT THAT https://i.pinimg.com/474x/bf/60/96/bf6096b4efd2a70f285bca9163342776.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

What an amazing thing to have in your collection! That's a thing of beauty.

[Sailor Steve]

28 March 1915

Verdun is suffering under another rainstorm, but Flanders is quite active.

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0903: Lt Christensen and I supported Lt Cruikshank on a Photo mission over the trenches near Lens. 1 hour 21 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "0906: Defensive Patrol with Sgt Desramée over our airfield at Droglandt. 1 hour 30 minutes. Garros went on his own special mission – an Offensive Patrol looking for Germans to attack with his new gun system. He returned, like us, having seen nothing.

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "1024: Scouting misson with Lt Lehman. 1 hour 44 minutes."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "1102: Photography mission, Vfw Leffers supporting. 1 hour 29 minutes."

[Sailor Steve]

29 March 1915

Saint Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "0809: Supported Lt Ellis on an Artillery Spotting mission over the trenches near Lens. 2 hours 21 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "0903: Offensive patrol over the lines near Niewpoort, Lt Coupet leading. 1 hour 22 minutes."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0925: Scouting mission over Haubourdin again, with Sgt Alford supporting. 1 hour 32 minutes."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "1101: Scouting mission over Allied positions west of Arras. Vfw Leffers supporting. While crossing the lines engine quit. Was able to glide several kilometres back into our own lines. Made safe landing about 1 km from an observation balloon. Used their telephone to call base. Vfw Leffers was able to complete the mission. 1 hour 14 minutes."
Garros went off on his own again. Returned with nothing to report.

Senard, Verdun
Noel Kay writes: "1132: Misty weather. Scouting suspected troop buildup in the woods around Buzancy. Didn’t see anything. 1 hour 19 minutes."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "1552: Misty day. Scouting mission, further west than usual, over the trenches near Pinon. 1 hour 55 minutes."

[Sailor Steve]

30 March 1015

Another storm sweeps across the Front during the night. Everyone is grounded again as heavy rains turn everything to mud.

[Buddahaid]

Getting better. My second patrol saw combat I survived somehow but ended in another muffed landing while I struggled for a better view.

The third patrol saw no combat and crappy weather. I almost have a handle on staying in formation but it's difficult to keep an eye out for enemy patrols at the same time. I made a proper landing for once.

[Sailor Steve]

Getting better. My second patrol saw combat I survived somehow but ended in another muffed landing while I struggled for a better view.

The third patrol saw no combat and crappy weather. I almost have a handle on staying in formation but it's difficult to keep an eye out for enemy patrols at the same time. I made a proper landing for once.
Sorry to say that I cheat a lot. I programmed both Autopilot functions into my Joystick and until I absolutely need to fly the plane I let the AI Pilot do the hard part while I look around. Of course my current date is April 1915 so the chance of running into an enemy plane is very low, and running into one that is armed is practically zero.


As for landings, well...I've figured out how to reinstall careers when the game kills me for its own reasons, such as the Stick going wonkers, but I did lose the one pilot I left dead when I was so worried about hitting the hedge at Chocques that I didn't see the tree ahead until it was far too late. I deserved to lose that one. :dead:

[Buddahaid]

I knew there would be an autopilot but I wanted to see what it was like not using it at first. I ran the next two missions on autopilot and even let the AI fight to see what it did. I still survived but the last mission it tried to land in no mans land so I took over. It must have been the MCAS system. :shucks:
I also wanted to see how it handled formation flying.

I'm flying a Bristol Scout in Flanders and I have no idea how to aim that canted MG well. Yes, F6 gives you a sight view but it's still strange so I should set up a quick combat scenario to practice.

Nice sky.

[Buddahaid]

I've made a scenario for the Bristol Scout fighting a Fokker EIII and based on that I made a couple of changes to my control mapping to help keep situational awareness in combat. That's helped a lot although I still get messed up often enough. Back to the career.

[Buddahaid]

I now wonder if I'm missing something. The mission I just flew, as a rookie pilot, was a ground attack mission on a railway yard. There was no load out of bombs and when we attacked nobody shot at anything despite several attack runs! Am I, the lowest man on the totem pole, expected to determine the flight's load out? Confused.

[Sailor Steve]

What are you launching the mission from? Campaign? Quick Combat? Quick Scenario? I've never used the last one, so I can't help there, but when the Campaign assigns you a mission it does the loadout automatically. On the other hand every bombing mission it's given me so far has been level bombing from 8,000 feet. Then again this is in a BE.2 in early 1915, so I can't say what comes later.

[Sailor Steve]

31 March 1915

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "0850: Followed Ltns Boelcke and Müller on a scouting flight down to Commercy. 2 hours 7 minutes."

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "0901: Photo-Reconnaissance mission over trenches near Lens. Lt Aldaine supporting 2 hours 21 minutes."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "0901: Photo mission over the trenches south of Bapaume. 1 hour 47 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "1001: Offensive patrol over the lines near Niewpoort again. This time I was alone. 1 hour 44 minutes. Garros went out alone again. Says he encountered no enemy aircraft."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "1218: Lt Cruikshank, Lt Harvey-Kelly and I were sent to that same observation balloon. We saw it. 1 hour 29 minutes."

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "1621: Sent back to Buzancy again. Heavy overcast. Had to drop to 1,000 metres, but nothing to see. 1 hour 8 minutes."

[Buddahaid]

What are you launching the mission from? Campaign? Quick Combat? Quick Scenario? I've never used the last one, so I can't help there, but when the Campaign assigns you a mission it does the loadout automatically. On the other hand every bombing mission it's given me so far has been level bombing from 8,000 feet. Then again this is in a BE.2 in early 1915, so I can't say what comes later.

It was a campaign mission. I've done six and mostly they are front patrols so I was surprised and let the AI handle it to see what happened. I also find it odd that even with an observation balloon pretty much in your way, it's not attacked. I attacked one anyway on that mission but had a gun jam and couldn't kill it.

[Sailor Steve]

That's very odd. As I said, so far the Campaign missions have armed my plane automatically. I would ask on the SimHQ WOFF forums. The people who know everything hang out there.

[Sailor Steve]

1 April 1915

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "0557: Short solo scouting mission over Somme-Vesle. 1 hour 28 minutes."

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "0644: Photo mission over Sedan. Beautiful clear sky. 1 hour 41 minutes."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0821: Went with Lt Harvey-Kelly to bomb a railyard north of Vitry. 1 hour 29 minutes."

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "0923: Supported Lt Lehman on an Artillery-Spotting mission southwest of Neuve-Chapelle. 2 hours 6 minutes."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "1003: Bombing mission on a factory near Arras. Vfw Leffers as second. 1 hour 47 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hanse writes: "1104: Offensive patrol over the lines, this time near Paaschendale. 1 hour 21 minutes.
Garros has done it! He returned from his solo flight claiming to have shot down a German Albatros machine! There is no confirmation as of yet, but his forward gun has been fired several times. If someone saw it, this will be the first time such a feat has been accomplished! All of us are clamoring to fly with him the next time so we can provide affirmation when he does it again. Of course the truth is that we just want to see it happen for ourselves. We also want to have one of these gun fixtures for our own machines."

[Buddahaid]

I think apparently I am supposed to control the load out which you can do by selecting the lower right sector from the briefing room. I'll check that out next time the mission load out looks wrong.
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/640x480q90/921/DyaRFO.png

I discovered the tactical map which will give me all I need to know when leading a flight as well as other modes. It's the lower right clock looking gizmo.
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/640x480q90/921/jcoToU.png

I also changed the labels so it also shows the ground installations and helps me get oriented and I learned how to select what is displayed in the HUD.

Another thing was I mapped the "move eyesight" keystrokes to the joystick so I can now lean out to the left, or right, and look ahead with a clearer view.

I'm finally getting to a point where I feel in control of what will be happening.
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/640x480q90/924/JUZXsE.png

[Sailor Steve]

I think apparently I am supposed to control the load out which you can do by selecting the lower right sector from the briefing room. I'll check that out next time the mission load out looks wrong.
As I said, I always get my bombs loaded automatically. I'm not sure what we're doing that's different, but I'll look for that button on my next bombing mission.

I discovered the tactical map which will give me all I need to know when leading a flight as well as other modes. It's the lower right clock looking gizmo.
I stumbled on the Tactical Map some time ago, but I never used it and have forgotten what to do with it. I'll try to remember to check that out later. Right now all my pilots are in two-seaters, mostly fly recon missions and are usually second to higher-ranking officers.

I also changed the labels so it also shows the ground installations and helps me get oriented and I learned how to select what is displayed in the HUD.
Good job. The Label tags are Identify, which is the one that shows everything in sight, including ground objects, Dots, which shows nothing except aircraft, and then only as dots in the distance, and Activity, which also shows nothing but aircraft, but you can see them at a great distance (far beyond real visual range) and it tell you what they are up to.

As for the HUD, I see that yours are overlapping. You can use the mouse to drag them further apart, or to place them anywhere on the screen.

Another thing was I mapped the "move eyesight" keystrokes to the joystick so I can now lean out to the left, or right, and look ahead with a clearer view.
That's one I hadn't though of. I have a head-tracking device, but I still haven't gotten it to work properly. On the other hand my joystick is maxed out. No buttons left to spare.

I'm finally getting to a point where I feel in control of what will be happening.
Cool! That's always a good feeling.

[Sailor Steve]

2 April 1915

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0501: Bombing mission against a railyard north of Lens, with Major Salmond and Lt Cruikshank. Had barely reached altitude when my engine failed. Managed to land just west of the aerodrome at Merville. 33 minutes.."

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "0530: Trench-mapping mission with Lt Buck near Neuve-Chapelle. 2 hours 13 minutes."

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "Our new Commander arrived yesterday, Capitaine Louis Mazier.
0841: Scouting mission over the lines from Reims down to Sillery. Heavy overcast. 1 hour 56 minutes."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "1102: Scouting mission over the trenches. Took a Flak hit. Both of us scratched and the engine knocked out. Made it halfway back to Bertincourt and landed near an observation balloon. 37 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hanse writes: "1108: Defensive patrol over our airfield at Coudekerque, with Adj Coupet. 1 hour 4 minutes."

Garros has gone off alone again. He says he prefers it that way, and wishes the rest of us would stop badgering him. Well, despite his low rank he is rich, popular and famous as the first man to fly across the Mediterranean Sea, so he pretty much gets what he wants. Some confirmation of his victory has come through in the form of some farmers who say they saw the fight from the ground."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "1505: Scouting mission over the lines near Varennes-en-Argonne, with Ltns Boelcke and Müller. Engine failed on approach and we hit some trees. Both Hptm Straub and I are in the hospital for an indeterminate amount of time. Some serious cuts and bruises but nothing broken on either of us. 1 hour 32 minutes."

[Buddahaid]

Killed my pilot tonight clipping a tree while strafing a German airfield so starting a new pilot in a Nieuport 10C1.

The last flight for Danny McNears he led and I did not have any load out options so that settles the load out question.

[Sailor Steve]

3 April 1915

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "0602: Lt Ellis and I are assigned to scout an enemy balloon. 2 hours 6 minutes.
1509: Lt Ellis and I flew a second mission, this time scouting the enemy aerodrome at Hambourdin. 2 hours."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "1001: Showed a new pilot, Vfw Fricke, around the area. Took him from our base at Bertincourt north to Monchy-le-Preux, then up to our airfield at Phalempin, southeast to Douai then home again. 3 hours 1 minute.

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hanse writes: "1117: Offensive patrol over the lines near Niewpoort. Traveling alone again. Saw nothing. 1 hour 20 minutes."

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "1156: Sent north to scout Buzancy again. Propeller failed along the way. Made it back to Senard safely. 28 minutes."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "Rain squall moving through. No flying today."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "Ltn Boelcke came to visit us today with some sad news. His older brother, our beloved Hptm Wilhelm Boelcke, has been transferred to a new unit. Hptm Straub and I will have to miss the party."

[Sailor Steve]

4 April 1915

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0501: Took of with Lt Harvey-Kelly before dawn for scouting mission over enemy aerodrome at Bertincourt. Harvey-Kelly hit by Archie while over target. He managed to make it back to friendly lines while I finished the patrol. 2 hours 8 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "1108: Offensive patrol over the lines near Diksmuide, with Cpl Barra. 1 hour 30 minutes.
Yesterday Adolph Pégoud, in a Morane two-seater like ours, claimed two more enemy aircraft. The newspapers are calling him “The Ace”.

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "Found out today that Ltn Boelcke’s visit was more than just to see us. He was having problems with his breathing. The doctor said something about “murmurs in the bronchial tubes”, and he is being sent to the convalescent home at Rethel for three weeks. Meanwhile Hptm Straub and I are getting on just fine."

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "A rain storm moved through today. No flying."

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "Woke up to rain this morning. We are once again grounded."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "Rain has beset us again. We sit here, hoping for better weather tomorrow."

[Sailor Steve]

5 April 1915

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "1104: Offensive patrol over the enemy airfield at Ghistelles, near the town of Zerkegem, again with Cpl Barra. 1 hour 31 minutes."

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "1238: Sent on long patrol over Bruvéres-et-Montbérault. Almost there when engine started acting up. Made it south to Rosnay. Engine should be repaired tomorrow. 1 hour 42 minutes.

The rest of Flanders is rained in, and at Pontfaverger Odis Först and his observer Hauptmann Straub are still in the hospital.

[Buddahaid]

Well Stephan Boyd was killed attacking an Aviatik C1 on his fourth sortie. He was tired of flying the old Nieuport 10C1 and risked too much hoping for a better ride.

I started another pilot in a BE2 who didn't survive his first familiarization flight while looking around in awe. :O:

A new carrier is in order. :hmmm:

[Sailor Steve]

:rotfl2:

Been there, done that.

[Sailor Steve]

6 April 1915

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0422: Took off before dawn with Lt Christenson for a Photo-Recce of the lines near Ypres. 1 hour 44 minutes."

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "0456: Engine finished after dark last night. Made flight from Rosnay back to Senard. 54 minutes.
1538: Second try at Bruvéres-et-Montbérault. The mechanics at Rosnay did their job. 2 hours 4 minutes.

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "1105: Escorting British BE.2s bombing railyard, with Cpl Barra. 2 hours 7 minutes."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "Sitting in the garden at the hospital. Nothing much to do but read and talk to the other patients."

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "Another rainy day."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "Still raining."

[Sailor Steve]

7 April 1915

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "0421: Took off in the dark for an Artillery Spotting mission. Vfw Fricke accompanying. Arrived just at dawn. 1 hour 46 minutes."

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "0601: Overcast. Scouting mission over Phalempin with Lts Ellis and Lehman. 2 hours 28 minutes.
1530: Second mission of the day. Scouting with Lt Lehman over an enemy balloon. 1 hour 53 minutes."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "Sad news today. While returning from an afternoon patrol yesterday 2nd Lt Carl Christenson and his observer, Lt Ted Fogg, were both killed in a crash.
0606: Accompanied Lt Harvey-Kelly on a Photo-Recce mission over the lines again. 1 hour 33 minutes.

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "A rain storm has moved into our area. We are once again grounded."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "Pouring rain outside right now, so we sit and play cards in the tiny sitting room, waiting to return to our Feld Flieger Unit."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "A rain storm is moving through our area."

[Sailor Steve]

8 April 1915

Saint Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "0403: Supported Lt Buck on Trench-Mapping photography mission, west of Lens. Took off in pitch black, but the sun was up right when we reached the target. 2 hours 21 minutes.
1325: This is the second day in a row I’ve flown two missions. This one was tagging along with Lt Thayer on an Artillery Spotting mission east of Ypres. We saw our first enemy plane, at a distance. He saw us and scarpered. We had a job to do, so we didn’t get any closer. 2 hours 13 minutes.
Also noted that Sgt Billy Crowe, with less time than I have, is flying one of the new Bristol single-seaters. I’m not sure what to make of that, but, we do our job and don’t worry too much.

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "1058: Patrolled the trenches northeast of Reims again. 2 hours 13 minutes."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "Sitting out another rain storm."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "Cloudy, but we can wander through the gardens again."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "Still raining."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "Raining again."

[Buddahaid]

Flying a career in a BE2 in England. Very boring training flights so far. Gawd, when do I get deployed?

[Sailor Steve]

What's the date?

[Sailor Steve]

9 April 1915

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "1307: Capt Williamson and I were sent on a special mission – to patrol the lines between Béthune and Lens looking for enemy aircraft. We have a machine gun, and they felt it was time we got into the chase. Unfortunately we didn’t see anything, but we were excited the whole time. 58 minutes.

Our long-time Commander, Major John Salmond, is leaving us, having been promoted to command of the 2nd Administrative Wing at Farnborough. His replacement, Major Donald Swain Lewis, is something of a legend last September when he became the first man to direct Artillery using a wireless transmitter."

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "1421: Short patrol over the lines to the north. 1 hour 31 minutes."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "Still sitting here bored to death. The tell us we can go back to the Unit tomorrow."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "Still raining."

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "It has started raining again."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "Still too wet to fly."

[Sailor Steve]

10 April 1915

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "1507: Long scouting mission northwest over Bruvères-et-Monthérault. Landed right at sunset. 3 hours 5 minutes."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "The rains have started again, sweeping down from the Irish Sea."

Pontfaverger
Odis Först writes: "Returned to number 13 today. My first assignment is to pack my bags. After many months here tomorrow we move to a new field. Lt Boelcke is still up at Rethel."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "Still raining."

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "Here we are, still trapped under the storms. At least it's not snowing anymore."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "The incessant rain is still with us."

[Buddahaid]

What's the date?

Early April 2015. I'm still doing training flights but cautioned to be aware of enemy sorties. I'm just starting missions and time compressing through them waiting for something to change.

[Sailor Steve]

Early April 2015.
You're sure you're not in a Eurofighter? :O:
I'm still doing training flights but cautioned to be aware of enemy sorties. I'm just starting missions and time compressing through them waiting for something to change.
That's the way I do it. That's also the time period all my careers are in. But you knew that.

If you get too bored remember I've been doing these same empty training and patrol flights since August. So far my pilots have seen a total of two enemy planes, at a distance. On the other hand I've had more than one flak hit and a fair share of misadventures.

[Sailor Steve]

11 April 1915

Flanders is now under a region-wide deluge. Verdun, on the other hand, is relatively clear.

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "0626: Scouting mission looking for suspected troop buildup in the woods south of Dun-sur-Meuse. Hit by DCA, engine severely damaged. Managed to land just inside our own lines. Had to walk 7 km to a balloon post to call our field. Four hours later the mechanics showed up with a truck, dismantled the plane and took us back to Senard."

Warmeriville
Odis Först writes: "1601: Took off from Pontfaverger for the last time, for our new home at Warmeriville. It’s only a few miles away but there is an entirely different feeling about the place. Maybe it’s just being somewhere new. 37 minutes."

[Buddahaid]

You're sure you're not in a Eurofighter? :O:

That's the way I do it. That's also the time period all my careers are in. But you knew that.

If you get too bored remember I've been doing these same empty training and patrol flights since August. So far my pilots have seen a total of two enemy planes, at a distance. On the other hand I've had more than one flak hit and a fair share of misadventures.

I'd get flak hits if I was on the continent, but I'm still on the British Isles. I'll keep going as described to see what the career has in store.

[Sailor Steve]

12 April 1915

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0501: With Lt Harvey-Kelly on a Bombing mission over the railyard north of Lens. 1 hour 6 minutes.
1309: Second mission of the day. With Lts Harvey-Kelly and Cruikshank on a Photo-Recce. 1 hour 33 minutes."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "0501: The sky has lifted enough for us to fly a photo mission of the trenches west of Lens, Vfw Fricke accompanying. 1 hour 57 minutes."

Warmeriville
Odis Först writes: "0521: First flight out of our new field. Scouting mission with Ltn Müller over enemy airfield at Lemmes. 2 hours 36 minutes.
1502: Second patrol of the day with Lt Müller. An hour into the flight our engine failed. Almost made it back to Warmeriville. Landed in some trees. Plane destroyed but we’re alright. 1 hour 9 minutes."

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "1421: Long scouting mission up to Sedan. Didn’t see anything new. 2 hours 37 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "The storm over the Channel is still sitting right on top of us.

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "The seemingly incessant rain just won't leave us alone. I thought winter was over!"

[Sailor Steve]

13 April 1915

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "0514: Offensive patrol over the trenches near Niewpoort with Lts Barault and Barra. 1 hour 16 minutes."

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "0504: Photo Recce mission with Lt Haldaine supporting. 2 hours 4 minutes.
1408: Scouting mission over Lens with Lts Lehman and Vance. 2 hours 8 minutes."

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "A new storm has moved in."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "After one day's flying it's raining again."

Warmeriville
Odis Först writes: "A new rain storm is upon us."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "It's raining again."

[Buddahaid]

I'm up to April 21st 1915 now and still at RNAS Yarmouth, and still nothing but uneventful routine patrols.

[JosephGardner]

Yeah, tactical map looks quite better than we could expect.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php (https://au.edubirdie.com/dissertation-writing-services)

[Sailor Steve]

14 April 1915

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0501: Supported Lt Harvey-Kelly on an Artillery-Spot on German support positions behind the lines east of Ypres, dodging rain showers the whole way. 1 hour 47 minutes.
1349: Ran my own Artillery-Spot on the trenches west of Lille. Sgt Adlam supporting. 1 hour 50 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "0508: Offensive patrol over the trenches near Niewpoort with Lt Barra. 1 hour 32 minutes."

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "0517: Scouting mission north of Lens, Lt Buck leading. 2 hours 8 minutes.
1426: Photo Recce west of Lens, Lt Ellis leading, myself and Lt Aldaine supporting. 2 hours 12 minutes."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "0602: Scouting mission. Vfw Leffers supporting. 1 hour 56 minutes."

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "The rain is still coming down. No flying today."

Warmeriville
Odis Först writes:: "Today brings more rain."

[Buddahaid]

Got tired of Yarmouth and put in for a transfer. Five missions later I'm now in Flanders flying a Morane Saulnier "L". Not a fighter but at least where the action is.

[Sailor Steve]

15 April 1915

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "0421: Line patrol from Sillery to Varennes-en-Argonne. Hit by very accurate ground fire. Ailerons damaged, but made it back to Senard safely. 1 hour 24 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hanse writes: "0507: Escorting BE.2s over Diksmuide with Cpl Barra. 1 hour 20 minutes.
Garros has done it again! He has returned to claim a second victory! We all want this gun system!
Sadly one of our planes did not return from patrol. Sgt Desramée and Adj Simonel are both missing."

Warmeriville
Odis Först writes:: "0515: Photo mission over Soissins. Ltn Müller leading, myself and Gfr Bernhard in support. 2 hours 21 minutes. On the way home Lt Müller dropped out of formation and disappeared somewhere. It turns out his engine failed, and he came down in a forest. Lt Müller is alright, but unfortunately his observer, Hptm Jakob Schact, was killed.
1547: Second flight of the day. Photo mission with Ltn Soltau. Ltn Müller is taking the afternoon off. 1 hour 40 minutes.

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "0540: Scouting mission over Haubourdin with Lt Ellis. 2 hours 12 minutes.
1452: Second flight of the day. Supporting Lt Ellis on an Artillery Spot over the trenches east of Ypres, with Lt Lehman. 1 hour 41 minutes.

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "0701: Test flight Meant to be short, but on of the mechanics, Fw Rammler, begged for a ride, so I took him up to Bapaume, then a brief high-altitude jaunt over the lines so he could see the artillery doing their shooting. 1 hour 47 minutes.

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "One day of flying and now it's raining again.

[Buddahaid]

Three missions so far in the Morane L. Two artillery recon and one high level bombing raid on an airfield by Ostend. Here's my ride.
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/640x480q90/923/AiM160.png

[Sailor Steve]

Awesome. I have two pilots in those. One of them, English (Canadian actually) started in BE.2s. The campaign has them in Moranes in January '15. I checked the real squadron (as I always do) and started him at Netheravon in August 1914. Flew across the channel to Amiens and from there moved around a lot. But you can read his adventures here. They did indeed transfer to the Morane in January 1915.

I hate the Morane, and the Aviatik B.I as well. They both want to climb, and they don't have the power to do it well, so they stall a lot. I found out how to cheat that using the "Auto Trim" function (Ctrl+A) and it's a lot better now.

[Buddahaid]

I like that you're trying to play as reenactment of real people. I may press you for some candidates after some more time exploring the sim.

Yesterday, I started a German career in a Aviatik C.1. at Verdun in September 1915. First mission had my flight leader crash on the base leg landing, and the second one I had an engine failure and dead stick landing on the friendly side of the front. I'm not impressed by the C.1 so far.

[stork100]

Tough luck, but give it time. The Aviatik C.I may surprise you. Of the handful of careers I've done so far the one I did with that machine was by far the best and in the end I grew to love it. I would advise using the trim controls as Steve said to eliminate the ridiculous pitch-up tendency it produces like several other aircraft in the game. Not really cheating in my view, because back in the day they were rigged to give almost hands-off control in a typical straight and level situation, especially two-seater types.

[Sailor Steve]

I'm not impressed by the C.1 so far.
That's too bad. I hate the B.I so much I was looking forward to the C version. They were not only armed but did have a more powerful engine.

[Buddahaid]

I suppose I should be thankful I'm not in a B.I model then. :haha:

It's more that the missions so far are about as exciting as commuting to work.

[Sailor Steve]

16 April 1915

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hanse writes: "0514: Offensive patrol over the trenches near Niewpoort with Lt Barault and Adj Coupet. 1 hour 42 minutes."

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "0545: Trench Mapping with Lt Aldaine leading, west of Lens. 2 hours 24 minutes.
1509: More Trench Mapping, this time east of Ypres, again with Fred Aldaine, this time me leading. 1 hour 57 minutes."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "0802: Scouting mission over the lines west of Lens, ObLtn von Mengerhausen leading, myself and Vfw Leffers supporting. 2 hours 27 minutes.

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "It's raining again."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "Still raining."

Warmeriville
Odis Först writes:: "Again the rain is with us."

[Sailor Steve]

17 April 1915

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "0502: Scouting mission over Haubourdin with Lt Thayer leading. 2 hours 4 minutes.
I like Saint-Omer. You never know what you’re going to see. When we returned from this flight there was a French parasol machine on the field. We got to meet the pilot, Lucien Jailler. He’s a nice chap. He is acting as liaison with our experimental camera division.
1406: Trench Mapping with Lt Lehman, east of Ypres. 1 hour 50 minutes."

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "0601: Scouting flight to Buzancy. Engine bearing started squealing just before we got there. Made it back to Senard."

Warmeriville
Odis Först writes:: "0606: Photo Mission over trenches northwest of Soissons, with Ltn Müller leading. Weather too cloudy for good pictures. 3 hours 7 minutes.
1334: Weather becoming better, we are sent back to the same area to try again. Again with Ltn Müller leading, this time also with Ltn Soltau along. Got the pictures, the bad part being that we have been in the cockpit for more than six hours today. 3 hours 8 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "0609: Escorted British BE.2s bombing enemy airfield at Ghistelles, with Cpl Barra. 1 hour 26 minutes.
The Germans have sent us word that Sgt Desramée and Adj Simonel died when their aircraft was shot down by DCA. They have been buried with full honors."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "This infernal rain is still plaguing us."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "The rain is back...again."

[Sailor Steve]

18 April 1915

Warmeriville
Odis Först writes: "0537: Artillery Spotting with Lt Müller outside Reims. 1 hour 40 minutes.
At about 1030 we heard the sound of a rotary engine. When the machine came in to land it was our beloved Ltn Boelcke in his personal two-seat Fokker monoplane! The doctors had released him, or he had decided it was time to come back to work and released himself. He had had his machine parked at Thugny, near the rest-home at Rethel. No sooner had he checked in and then said hello to his fellow officers while the rest of us cheered, that he went straight back to the office and said he was tired of sitting and wanted to fly. He was given an Artillery-Spotting mission near Varennes-en-Argonne. He chose Lt Müller as his second, and to my amazement asked me if I wanted to be his third. Of course I said yes.
1425: We took off for what turned out to be an uneventful mission, but oh so exciting just because of the circumstances. I hope I get to fly with him again, but then so does every pilot in the unit. Who knows? 2 hours 17 minutes."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0602: What a day! Took off with Lt Harvey-Kelly on a scout over Phalempin. While we were there Capt Williamson slapped me on the head and pointed. A thousand feet below us were two German aeroplanes! We tried to get the Lts attention, but he and his observer didn’t see us waving, or the enemy. Finally couldn’t stand it. I dove down to them and pulled up below the rear machine, and Capt Williamson opened up with the Lewis. It’s not easy trying to keep pace with another machine when you’re in front of him. Capt Williamson emptied both his drums at the Hun, but to no effect. By the time we got back home it was pouring rain and the afternoon flights were canceled. We kept the boys entertained with our antics until Major Lewis Called us on the carpet. Even that was a ruse. He just wanted to hear the story without anyone else around. Lt Harvey-Kelly was a bit unhappy, not with us for breaking ranks, but for himself for missing out on the fun when it was right under his nose. Well, we’ve finally seen a Hun aeroplane up close, and we’re not that impressed. 1 hour 56 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "0606: Offensive patrol south of Roulers with Lt Barault. 1 hour 57 minutes.
More bad news. Garros is missing. He failed to return from an afternoon patrol and there is no news as of yet."

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "0656: Trench Mapping again, with Lt Griffiths. 2 hours 21 minutes.
1132: Artillery Spotting with Edgar Lehman. 1 hour 50 minutes.

Sennard
Noel Kay writes: "0715: Another flight to Buzancy. We got a good look and there doesn’t seem to be any activity there at all. Just as we were turning home the engine started acting up again. Not a bearing this time, but a clanking sound. It didn’t seem to affect our flight at all, but until we were back over our own lines we were in constant fear of it quitting on us. We not only made it back to safe territory, but we actually managed to land at Senard without trouble. It turns out one of the piston rings had broken. There was no real danger but we’re still glad to be home. 1 hour 23 minutes."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "Still too wet to fly."

[Sailor Steve]

19 April 1915

Warmeriville
Odis Först writes: "0450: Scouting mission over a rail yard southwest of Epernay, Ltn Soltau leading with Ltn Boelcke and myself. I’d love to know why this interest in me that I get to tag along with the big boys, but I don’t dare ask. 2 hours 4 minutes."
1358: Ltn Boelcke and I were sent to an airfield south of Chalons just to annoy whoever might be stationed there and see what kind of reaction we received. They threw flak at us the whole time we were there. 2 hours 8 minutes."

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "0532: Trench Mapping, east of Ypres, with Edgar Lehman leading. 2 hours 13 minutes.
1445: More Trench Mapping, west of Lens, with Lt Thayer leading. 1 hour 48 minutes.
Some of the boys are starting to hate hate the constant photography runs, but I like them. Or at least I appreciate them. After all, we spent weeks in classrooms, hangars and in the air training for just this job. It’s supposedly what we’re here for."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "0709: Navigation exercise with Adj Barault, down to Saint-Omer and back. 1 hour 31 minutes.
No word of Garros. We try to have hope but the longer he is missing the more we are convinced of our fears for the worst."

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "0859: Scouting flight over the trenches near Saint-Mihiel. 1 hour 6 minutes."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "And it's raining again. At least we have warm clothes and a fire."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "Still raining. I think we have our own private rain storm. One of my fellows joked that someone who doesn’t want to fly paid a witch to put a hex on us."

[Sailor Steve]

20 April 1915

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "0423: Took off just before the sun came up. Nice to be flying again. Artillery Spotting just west of Arras. Vfw Fricke supporting. 1 hour 56 minutes."

Warmeriville
Odis Först writes: "0613: Ltns Soltau, Boelcke and I were to fly a scouting mission over Château-Thierry. After we took off we realized Ltn Boelcke wasn’t with us. We flew on anyway. Ten minutes later my motor began making an awful racket. I turned back to Warmeriville with my motor barely running. I managed to land safely. An hour after that the office received a telephone call. Ltn Soltau had landed landed near the town of Guignicourt after having his own motor start to pack it in just as he was crossing the lines. Not being near an aerodrome they had to send a mechanic to him by truck, just in case they couldn’t fix the machine there. It will be at least tomorrow before we see him again."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "0703: Offensive Patrol over a rail yard near Roulers, Lt Barault leading. 1 hour 59 minutes.
Garros is still missing. No one seems to have seen anything, and no one seems to know anything."

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "Another storm is moving through."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "Still raining."

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "Raining again."

[Sailor Steve]

21 April 1915

Warmeriville
Odis Först writes: "0511: Another Scout to the south, this time over Epernay. Lt Boelcke leading with Lt Müller and me following. 1 hour 44 minutes.
1403: The three of us have been sent back to Epernay to bomb the factory we saw this morning. Lt Müller leading this time. 2 hours 21 minutes.

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "0801: Navigation exercise with Adj Barault, to Droglandt and back. 1 hour 29 minutes.
News has finally come of Garros. A message from the Germans says that he has been captured. No details are given, other than that he is alive and well."

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "1019: Long Scouting Patrol over the woods north of Sedan. Nothing there. 3 hours 39 minutes."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "Third straight day of rain."

Saint-Omer
Dugan Vystavel writes: "It's still raining, and we're still sitting."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "One day in the air and the rain is back."

[Sailor Steve]

22 April 1915

Bailleul Town
Dugan Vystavel writes: "0553: We have been transferred. Flew from Saint-Omer to Bailleul Town. 1 hour 1 minute."

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "1513: Another patrol deep into enemy territory, this time over Montmedy. 2 hours 51 minutes."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "1551: Scouting over Neuve-Chapelle. Still gloomy, overcast. Almost too wet to fly. 1 hour 56 minutes."

Warmeriville
Odis Först writes: "The rain has returned again."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "After nine days of good flying the rain has returned."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "The rain is still our companion."

[Sailor Steve]

23 April 1915

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0533: Assigned Artillery Spot west of Lille, Lt Stewart leading with Lt Harvey-Kelly and myself supporting. Extremely high winds aloft. Could not climb higher than 3,000 feet. After an hour of trying we returned to base. Winds still too high for afternoon mission. 1 hour 15 minutes.

Across Flanders the story is the same: Overcast skies, extremely high winds, dust blowing everywhere. Takeoffs are treacherous and landings even more so.

The Verdun sector is plagued with pouring rain. No one is flying today.

[Sailor Steve]

24 April 1915

Warmeriville
Odis Först writes: "0507: Photo Mission over an encampment near the French airfield at Senard. Ltn Soltau leading, Ltn Boelcke and myself in support. 2 hours 40 minutes.
1454: Photo Mission over a factory southwest of Soissins. Ltn Müller leading. 2 hours 48 minutes.
More bad news, for us anyway. Ltn Boelcke has finally received his long-awaited transfer. He has been requesting this repeatedly since his brother was moved. He leaves in two days for Berlin for special duty and then he’ll be moving to FFA 62.

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "0558: Patrolled the lines near Varennes-en-Argonne. 1 hour 40 minutes."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "0602: Weather is good enough to fly, but just barely. We were assigned an Artillery Spotting mission, but not long after takeoff the motor started running rough. We barely made it back to the field, and clipped a tree on landing. We are both unhurt, but the machine is pretty much ruined." 33 minutes.

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "0906: Offensive Patrol with Adj Barault, over Ghistelles. 1 hour 38 minutes."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "After two days in the air the rain is back with us."

Bailleul Town
Dugan Vystavel writes: "The wind has died, but left rain in its wake."

[Sailor Steve]

25 April 1915

Bailleul Town
Dugan Vystavel writes: "0501: Artillery Spot with Lt Griffiths in the lead. Trenches east of Paaschendale. Gloomy overcast weather. 1 hour 26 minutes.
1157: Leading my own Artillery Spot over the trenches east of Niewpoort, with Fred Aldaine supporting. Weather somewhat better, but still a lot of clouds. Aldaine suffered an engine failure on the way home and came down in a field outside Ypres. 1 hour 43 minutes."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0502: Foggy weather. Scouting mission over Combles, south of Bapaume. Lt Stewart leading, Lt Harvey-Kelly and myself supporting. Was almost home when my engine failed. Managed to land at Hesdignule. 1 hour 38 minutes.
1341: Much nicer. Clear skies. Artillery Spot over trenches west of Lille. Lt Murray leading, myself in support. 1 hour 27 minutes."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "0503: Photo mission over the trenches near Miraumont, with Vfw Leffers supporting. 1 hour 44 minutes."

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "More rain today."

Warmeriville
Odis Först writes: "Raining again. We had a party for Ltn Boelcke, and tomorrow he leaves us. It was a fine party, but tinged with sadness. He will be greatly missed here at No 13".

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "We have rain again. It seems like we only fly every other day."

[Sailor Steve]

26 April 1915

Warmeriville
Odis Först writes: "0505: Photo mission south of Epernay with Ltn Soltau. Motor quit just as we were crossing the lines. From 2,000 metres we made it about halfway back to Warmeriville. 59 minutes.
We were back in time to say a final goodbye to Ltn Boelcke, as he left at 0900."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "0604: Photo mission, Vfw Leffers supporting. Motor quit while climbing for altitude. Landed just shy of making it back to Bertincourt. 35 minutes.

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0609: Offensive Patrol with Lt Harvey-Kelly. Nothing worth seeing. 1 hour 44 minutes..
1453: Trench Mapping near Neuve-Chapelle. Lt Murray leading. 1 hour 26 minutes.

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "0753: Short test hop around the area. No assignments today, so we get what we can. 33 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "Raining again."

Bailleul Town
Dugan Vystavel writes: "It is still raining."

[iambecomelife]

26 April 1915

Warmeriville
Odis Först writes: "0505: Photo mission south of Epernay with Ltn Soltau. Motor quit just as we were crossing the lines. From 2,000 metres we made it about halfway back to Warmeriville. 59 minutes.
We were back in time to say a final goodbye to Ltn Boelcke, as he left at 0900."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "0604: Photo mission, Vfw Leffers supporting. Motor quit while climbing for altitude. Landed just shy of making it back to Bertincourt. 35 minutes.

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0609: Offensive Patrol with Lt Harvey-Kelly. Nothing worth seeing. 1 hour 44 minutes..
1453: Trench Mapping near Neuve-Chapelle. Lt Murray leading. 1 hour 26 minutes.

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "0753: Short test hop around the area. No assignments today, so we get what we can. 33 minutes."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "Raining again."

Bailleul Town
Dugan Vystavel writes: "It is still raining."

I like how they included random engine failures in the WOFF; a common risk when aviation was young. Never ceases to amaze me how, in nearly every "realistic" combat sim game, the player's unit is 100% pristine, all the time, performing to exact specs, and you never suffer non combat mechanical issues. In real life sometimes the mechanic left a wrench in your engine, your fuel was contaminated etc etc.

Anyways carry on. :up:

[Sailor Steve]

I like how they included random engine failures in the WOFF; a common risk when aviation was young. Never ceases to amaze me how, in nearly every "realistic" combat sim game, the player's unit is 100% pristine, all the time, performing to exact specs, and you never suffer non combat mechanical issues. In real life sometimes the mechanic left a wrench in your engine, your fuel was contaminated etc etc.

Anyways carry on. :up:
Always good to hear from you. Sometimes I wonder if it happened as much as it does in the game. Or maybe I'm just afraid of going down behind enemy lines through no fault of my own. Then again I read several books of accounts in my work on the '100 Years' thread, and a lot of them didn't make it back. Fortunately that was a good way to get captured, which meant you didn't get killed.

Thanks for checking in, especially when it's on my thread. :sunny:

[Sailor Steve]

27 April 1915

Bailleul Town
Dugan Vystavel writes: "0608: Artillery Spot over the trenches between Bethune and Lens. Lt Griffiths leading. 1 hour 43 minutes.
1321: Scouting Mission over a balloon north of Lille. Lt Griffiths leading. While we were climbing for altitude Lt Griffiths disappeared. I continued on the mission alone. They keep hinting that we should attack this balloon. I consulted Capt Shaw, and he was willing. We dropped through the clouds and circled the balloon. The carbine was totally ineffective, as was their Archie. Their machine guns, however, put several bullets into our aeroplane. Fortunately none of them hit the engine or petrol tank. When we returned home it was raining. All we got for our efforts was a lecture on not getting our machine shot up. 1 hour 50 minutes

Warmeriville
Odis Först writes: "0640: Long-distance Scouting Mission over a factory about two-thirds of the way to Paris. Ltn Müller leading, Ltn Soltau and myself in support. 3 hours 37 minutes.

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "0841: Photo Mission over Charleville. No DCA, no trouble at all. 1 hour 45 minutes."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "It's raining again."

Saint-Pol-Sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "It's still raining."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "Raining again."

[Buddahaid]

Finally promoted to 2nd Lieutenant after 117 or so hours of flight time. Still flying Moraine Saulnier L type in Flanders and it's now June 11, 1915. I don't seem to ever get cancelled for bad weather and the missions are moving to more bombing runs on Hun airfields.

[Sailor Steve]

The game does have the occasional cancellation, but I modify my own outcomes with die rolls. I've read about how severe that winter was. I've been following Oswald Boelcke's letters home, and it's hard to believe how much they didn't fly that winter. The game doesn't come close.

[Sailor Steve]

28 April 1915

Warmeriville
Odis Forst writes: "0424: Nothing happening today, but it is absolutely beautiful out, so Ltn Soltau led Ltn Müller and me on a check-flight over to Martincourt and Stenay and back. 2 hours 53 minutes."

Saint-Pol-sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "05:03: Scouting Mission over Paaschendale, S/Lt Derobert leading. Nothing to see. 1 hour 45 minutes."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "0503: Special Mission today. Led Vfws Leffers and Fricke on a Scouting Mission south of Arras. We scouted enemy positions, wrote them down and flew down to 100 metres and dropped them over local headquarters. On the way home we took note of our own troops’ positions for report to the General Headquarters. 1 hour 55 minutes."

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "1040: Patrol up and down the lines from Sillery to Varennes-en-Argonne. 1 hour 42 minutes."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "1040: Patrol up and down the lines from Sillery to Varennes-en-Argonne. 1 hour 42 minutes."

Bailleul Town
Dugan Vystavel writes "It's raining again."

[Sailor Steve]

29 April 1915

Bailleul Town
Dugan Vystavel writes: "0500: Led Lt Aldaine on a Scouting Mission over the lines west of Lens. Very cloudy. Heavy German artillery barrage on our boys. The are using that and the weather to build up behind that area. We could see a lot of vehicles and tents, and some extra guns. 1 hour 45 minutes.
1220: Fred Aldaine and me together again to Bomb an enemy airfield. Weather still miserable. 1 hour 28 minutes.

Saint-Pol-sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "0607: Defensive Patrol over Abeele. Lt de Flassieux leading. Horrible weather. 1 hour 13 minutes.

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0619: Led Sgt Burr on a Scouting Mission over the front lines near Paaschendale. Overcast weather, dodged a couple of rain showers. Nothing of importance going on. 1 hour 49 minutes.
1034: Led Sgt Alford on a Scouting Mission over a balloon position north of Lens. They’ve been after us to attack the balloons for a while now. I couldn’t resist. We dove down to attack. I was too far away and Capt Williamson didn’t bother to fire. Alford managed to pull up very close, and Lt Harrity got off a good burst. I was amazed when the thing actually collapsed into a ball of flame! I circled once to make sure, and headed home. We had taken off into gloomy, cloud-filled skies, and by the time we were done it was pouring rain. I made it home alright, but without any sign of Alford and Harrity. I filed my report, saying that they should get all the credit as we hadn’t even fired a shot. It turns out that they came down somewhere near Givenchy. Whether they took a burst of Archie, suffered engine problems or just got lost in the rain and mist we’ll never know. What we do know is that we lost two good men today. At least they’ll have garnered a victory between them before they left us. Tonight we drink to Sgt Nicholas Alford and Lt Andrew Harrity.

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "Raining today."

Warmeriville
Odis Forst writes: "Heavy rains sweeping through."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "Another storm is upon us."

[Sailor Steve]

30 April 1915

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: :0504: Photo Mission over the trenches south of Arras. Vfw Leffers in support. 2 hours 6 minutes.

Bailleul Town
Dugan Vystavel writes: "0619: Scouting Mission over the trenches east of Ypres. Lt Weller leading. 1 hour 30 minutes.
1320: Artillery Spotting over the lines west of Lens, Lt Lehman leading. We had just reached altitude and were turning south toward the target area when Lt Lehman’s engine caught fire. We followed him west toward home but then his BE flipped over and plunged 6,000 feet all the way to the ground with no attempt to pull out. We marked the place where they came down and headed back to Bailleul Town, which was only four miles away. We fired a red flare as we crossed the field and landed. After making our report. Captain Shaw asked Major Lewis if he wanted us to resume the mission. The major said we both seemed pretty shaken up, which was to be expected, and he had three crews sitting around waiting for an assignment. We’ll be taking tomorrow off as well. In Memoriam Captain James McTavish and Lieutenant Edgar Lehman. 51 minutes.

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "We are still drowning."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "This infernal rain has us under its thumb again."


Warmeriville
Odis Forst writes: "The storm isn't over yet."

Saint-Pol-sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "It's raining again."

[Sailor Steve]

1 May 1915

Saint-Pol-sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "0426: Offensive Patrol over Ghistelles. Adj Barault leading. 1 hour 45 minutes."

Gonneham:
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0501: Photo-Recce over the lines west of Lens. Lt Murray leading. 1 hour 17 minutes.
1318: Directing Artillery at the same place we photographed this morning. Sgt Adlam supporting. 1 hour 29 minutes."

Bailleul Town
Dugan Vystavel writes: "Our day off today has suddenly turned into a 5-day pass. We packed our bags and Capt Shaw found us a ride into Bailleul. He also found us a room for the night, and then we proceeded to see the sights. There’s not much to see, but we took our time and took it all in. It was nice just to walk around doing nothing but enjoying the crisp spring weather. After a nice dinner at a small cafe we found our way back to the tiny hotel and made our plans for tomorrow."

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "There seems to be no end in sight for this storm hanging over our region."

Warmeriville
Odis Forst writes: "We are still suffering under this never-ending rain."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "The pattern continues - one day of flying, one day of rain. This is our day of rain."

[Buddahaid]

We've been clearing out my parents house this past week and I picked up the photo of my maternal grandfather from WWI. I don't think he flew but it's pretty cool nonetheless.
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/640x480q90/921/E2XqCj.jpg
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/640x480q90/923/dQltSn.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

2 May 1915

Warmeriville
Odis Först writes: "0507: Solo Check Flight, up to Vaux-les-Rubigny, over to Thin-le Moutier, down to Thugny and back to Warmeriville. Lovely day after all this rain. 1 hour 18 minutes.
1331: Long-distance Reconnaissance over a factory at Château-Thierry. Ltn Lehnert leading. 2 hours 52 minutes.

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "0549: Scouting Mission north to Bapaume. Lt Murray leading. 1 hour 13 minutes.
1442: Bombed the German airfield at Phalempin. Lt Harvey-Kelly leading. 1 hour 19 minutes.

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "1601: After three days of rain we’re flying again. Line patrol over Varennes-en-Argonne. 1 hour 34 minutes."

Bailleul
Dugan Vystavel writes: "Pouring rain today. Not much to do in Bailleul. We sat around our little hotel for most of the morning. Supplied ourselves with umbrellas and found a nice little cafe recommended by our hotelier. We then explored some shops and found a great restaurant up an alley that seemed to go nowhere. They also featured a small review with dancing girls and all. Considering that it’s such a quiet, small town Bailleul had more to offer than we had first thought.

Saint-Pol-sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "Once again it's raining.

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "The rain is still with us."

[Sailor Steve]

3 May 1915

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "0502: Assigned Counter-Battery direction with Hptm Simon leading. Once again climbing for altitude my engine failed. I made it safely back to Bertincourt, but the plane nosed over on the field when we ran into a thick patch of mud. It took a truck to pull it out. 45 minutes."

Saint-Pol-sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "0506: Line patrol over trenches near Paaschendale. Adj Barault leading. 1 hour 43 minutes."

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "0753: Scouting Mission over Charleville and Sedan. 2 hours 28 minutes."

Warmeriville
Odis Först writes: "0808: Counter-Battery Direction over the trenches south of Bruyères-et-Montbérault. Vfw Lehnert leading, Gefr Brauneck and me supporting. 1 hour 56 minutes."

Lumbres
Dugan Vystavel writes: "Lovely day today. Capt Shaw managed to hire a car, and we had a lovely country drive from Bailleul through Saint-Omer to Lumbres. The drive took us just over two hours and we had a nice lunch in Lumbres. We then drove up to our old stomping grounds at the large Saint-Omer facility. We found our instructors at the Photography School and met a few others. They invited us to stay there but we already had a hotel in Lumbres, so after a few hours’ visit we were back in town in time for dinner and a cinema. First was Charlie Chaplin’s latest, ‘A Jitney Elopement’, and then the feature, ‘The Italian’, with George Bebar. All-in-all a great day."

Gonneham
Corrigan Aujla writes: "Raining again."

[Sailor Steve]

4 May 1915

Saint-Pol-sur-Mer
Filimor Hance writes: "0607: Offensive Patrol over Ghistelles. Lt de Flassieux leading. Very cloudy. 1 hour 40 minutes."

Boulogne-sur-Mer
Dugan Vystavel writes:
Some clouds, but nice. We drove from Lumbres over to Boulogne-sur-Mer. Again the drive was only about two hours. Boulogne is large enough to qualify as a small city, and there is a lot to do here. They have a nice shopping district with a lot of restaurants. Lunch and dinner were less a matter of finding a place but rather a matter of choosing from the dozens available. In the afternoon we explored the shopping and took in the sights. This evening we found a fine restaurant with a great revue. The dancing girls were spectacular and then there was a play. I don’t remember too much about it as the variety of liquors was also very fine. Tomorrow’s plans will have to wait for tomorrow."

Senard
Noel Kay writes: "The rain is again our companion."

Gonneham: "It's still raining."

Warmeriville
Odis Först writes: "The rain has returned."

Bertincourt
Lennart Altendorf writes: "One day of flying and the rain is back again. A miserable snowy winter is turning into a miserable rainy spring."