Helmut-Cam 2:- Sunday at Triples
This was my first time soloing on a table at a convention, so please forgive the disjointed narrative and lack of some crucial pictures - I was trying to be everywhere at once!
I chose to give my Ravens a spin, opposed by my Naval 9 Camels purchased from the Herr Oberst.
First up, yours truly in an Albatros DVa against a keen punter
On his tail early, it's going well
That didn't last - I must switch from pipe to cigarettes, I can't see the verdammt Tommy any more!
Collision (missing photo!) presumably caused by all that smoke in my eyes! Still, I drew a Zero- I wonder what Tommy drew?
Coming off another firing pass............
And here I come again, blazing away!
Down he goes! - hope I get confirmation from the Army
So that's what happened to Tommy in our mid-air collision.............
Game 2 : two chaps asked to fly Germans, so I did the gentlemanly thing and opposed them with two RNAS Camels.
Come out, come out where ever you are...!
Aha! The game's afoot!
First few bursts yield one smoker and one goner!
The survivor seeks safety in the clouds.
He couldn't stay hidden for long, however. The Wounded Pilot card is at +1
Meanwhile, his mate has "re-spawned" and re-enters the fray
...and gets help from another newcomer, a young chap who'll end up spending much of the day with us.
The damage on my crates is starting to pile up, and I'm smoking again (filthy habit) but that doesn't stop me claiming my 4th kill of the morning
Now let's split up and find that other blighter! Oh, hang on, I'd better head for home, I'm smoking badly and I've just one damage point left! - anyway, another British Camel has joined in.
There he is! Flamer!
Another near-collision
That was close, too!
Hang on, there's ANOTHER Hun! (another re-spawn) We're back to 2-on-2
Finally, it's all too much for my old bus........
Now here's a funny thing; the two planes in the photo below emerged from the cloud flying side-by-side.
The Camel played a stall on card 3.
Next turn, BOTH played a stall on card 1 - the Camel took an 'A' damage card for an illegal maneuver.
On card 2, the Albatros played a second stall, and for his illegal maneuver 'A' damage card he drew................Engine Damage! How fitting! I would have laughed, but it happened to one of MY planes!
As his engine sputtered to a stop, the 3 points of structural damage took off something vital, and down he went!
A veritable "Bermuda Triangle" of wrecked planes - I'd get out of there if I were you
I warned you!
At that point, we called a brief halt
Shortly afterwards, a terribly keen young chap turned up, wanting to fly for the British; GREAT!!! I get to fly Raben's Triplane!
All these sharp turns made me dizzy, but I got him in the end
Aerial Victory number 5 - most successful day I've had to date!
Meanwhile, on the other side of the clouds, Neil's Northumberland Flight had arrived, and took up an SE5a and a Camel, opposed by an Albatros DVa and a Roland, piloted by a spirited young chap.
Here you see Sparky lining up for a shot........
Well, he didn't hang about!
The SE5a seeks redress.............
............as the action moves closer to the clouds
Look who's lying in wait on the other side of the cloud bank!
MEIN GOTT! Where did he spring from?
No matter, the Roland executes a perfect attack - 4 x 'B' cards for no return fire!
Fire? Did I say fire???
Hang in there Roland - I'll get him...........
No time - the fire damage got him first! A kill for the two-holer!
The young chappie who went down in the stalling Albatros, who had since flown, and got shot down in, a Camel, had then rejoined the game, this time on the German side, flying a black Fokker DVII. Another of Neil's fine fellows added an RE8 to the fray.
At this point, I withdrew Raben's Triplane, as the Luftkreitskrafte seemed to have everything well in hand.
The RE8 takes a pot-shot at the black Fokker
Is he turning for home?
No, he's coming back for more!
The Fokker lines up for a shot, but his guns are jammed!
Three against one, time to call it a day
Here's the Roland pilot, resplendent with medal!
He said he was photographed before, and told his picture would be posted on the Forum, but he hadn't seen it.
So, I promised him that I would post a picture with the tale of his exploits!
And here it is.
The day wound down at that point - a tremendous day's flying had by all.
The young lad with the Albatros/Camel/Fokker DVII history took his father off to Stafford Games, and returned grinning from ear to ear, clutching a Duel Pack!
I had a chat with a fellow who was admiring the display aircraft, and was interested particularly in the Fokker DVIIs.
While I showed them to him, he told me that his Great Uncle flew Fokker DVIIs in 1918! After graduating through flight school, he was posted to the coast of Germany, close to the Dutch border, to watch for British raids. He was in the third squadron (MFJ III???) and on arrival was presented with a DVII. From late October to the Armistice, he flew four sorties, but never saw an enemy plane!
Too tired to do anything else, we packed up around 4:30
Many thanks to Northumberland Flight for their good humour, skilled flying, and for staying back to help with the packing away - top chaps all!
Most of all, thanks to Chris (Boney 10) for organising our presence at the show, and for providing me with fresh batteries for my camera when mine went West!
Cheers mate!
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Originally Posted by Ignervius Scumm
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