Air battles over Palestine in WWI and how we flew Turks!

**Nightbomber** · 09-19-2016 13:15

Last Saturday my group found an excellent opportunity to arrange a long game night following the fact our ladies were about to celebrate Edyta's (two of them

) Name Day at another place. So I called the pilots to report in at 19:00. Moreover - we were to welcome a newbie pilot, a Turk, name Hakan, married with Edyta's friend (second Edyta) and his 10 years old son Kamil, both eager to play.

Thus I decided to arrange two scenarios taking place in Palestine using the Turkish planes we already have (E.III and C.III) plus my repainted Halberstadt against DH.2s.
Of course Hakan was invited to show Turkish flying skills piloting Buddecke's E.III. I took another German Fokker.

The first one was a recon mission over an oasis behind the lines: A failure. The C.III piloted by a veteran player Andrzej was shot down right before reaching the oasis.

The second one was a balloon busting mission flown by the Brits against a German sausage. The balloon caught two (!) fire cards and was eventually shot down, but at a high price. 5 British planes were shot down and only 2 Turkish. Hakan scored two victories and won the main prize, a golden pilot figurine with a dedication

. I was happy to score 1 kill and was not shot down even once (hurraaaah!).

Great games we had and here you can see some shots.

Intense action, high on emotions! Little Kamil's crack shot finishing the DH.2!

Look at this poor DH.2 pilot caught in a cross fire...

...and see what damage cards all the Turks delivered!
Pity I was not with them!

The balloon is down and Hakan, the Turkish pilot scores his second kill of the day, cheering his victory in his very first game ever!

**zenlizard** · 09-19-2016 14:10

Looks like fun. Congratulations to Hakan.

**Teaticket** · 09-19-2016 14:13

Your local squadron continues to grow! Looks like a fun battle.

**Nightbomber** · 09-19-2016 14:26

Originally Posted by Teaticket

Your local squadron continues to grow! Looks like a fun battle.

As you might have seen old friend, your custom made fire marker was attached to the gas bag

with a proper comment of mine (on how I got it).

**milcoll73** · 09-19-2016 14:29

looks like great fun was had by all!!!

**Mike George** · 09-19-2016 15:03

The family having fun playing together that is GREAT.

**Carl_Brisgamer** · 09-19-2016 15:23

A good time had by all, nicely done.

**Marechallannes** · 09-19-2016 16:51

Great AAR, Andrzej.

Seeing Slavek & the boys at your tabel brings back good memories.

**grumpybear** · 09-19-2016 17:01

Great game lots of fun I think

**Stumptonian** · 09-19-2016 17:27

Looks like a good time.
I really like your desert map - need to add one to my collection.

Question for the experts:
What was the purpose of blacking out the markings on those Central Powers aircraft?

I have a few of that one but am going to redo the markings to be more like the Immelmann on all except one.
Also have the Albatros C.III like that.

**Nachtschwärmer** · 09-19-2016 21:32

Great to see some action from the Palestine Front! I too have an expert's question:

Actually which aircraft were used by the both sides in this theater? Is there a place where I can get some infos on that?

+Pete
It's the national marking of the Ottoman Aviation Squadrons. I mean it's because the aircraft bought from Germany where using Balkenkreuze, and because the cross is a religious symbol, the ottomans simply made black squares out of them.

**gully_raker** · 09-19-2016 21:41

Well Andy you maximised the absence of the Ladies to have some really great Games.
Looks like some new converts to WoG!

Nice to see some action from the Palestinian Front & different aircraft.

Rep inbound!

**flash** · 09-19-2016 23:16

Superb Andy, looks like all the boys had a fun night !

Originally Posted by Nachtschwärmer

...question: Actually which aircraft were used by the both sides in this theater? Is there a place where I can get some infos on that?

Here is a thread link to what I found out about the British for Andy from a quick wiki search Dennis, I'm sure the same could be done for the other side too but he already had the aircraft.

**Blackronin** · 09-20-2016 00:46

Great fun, Andy!
The Settlers hexes work really well!

**Nightbomber** · 09-20-2016 00:58

Many thanks chaps

.
The fun was immense, you can imagine

. Hakan had a great time although he do not drink alcohol at all

.

What I want to suggest is to visit this site for further info on Turks in the Great War:

http://www.turkeyswar.com/aviation/

**Nightbomber** · 09-20-2016 01:00

@Pete: the mat is a Hotz Desert Mat two sided (the other side has hexes printed on).

More on www.hotzmats.com

**Nachtschwärmer** · 09-20-2016 01:08

Great links, thanks!

**Nightbomber** · 09-20-2016 05:04

Originally Posted by Blackronin

Great fun, Andy!
The Settlers hexes work really well!

Thanks Quim, but those were Memoir'44 Desert expansion tiles

.

**redcoon2** · 09-20-2016 05:05

Andy, great to see you are continuing to grow the crowded airways with new pilots!

Really like the idea of the "other theater of combat" concept...thank for the followup link for further information. Should prove fruitful.

Also, loved getting clarification on the large black squares...makes infinite sense given the differing cultures.

Wondered about the "map"...HotzMaps has quite a variety of offerings.

Really liked the idea of an event award...where'd the pilot statue originate?

Lastly, what is "Name Day"?

Glad to see you are having fun my friend...looking forward to getting to fly with you at some point in the future. All the best.

**Nightbomber** · 09-20-2016 05:27

Originally Posted by redcoon2

Andy, great to see you are continuing to grow the crowded airways with new pilots!

Really like the idea of the "other theater of combat" concept...thank for the followup link for further information. Should prove fruitful.

Also, loved getting clarification on the large black squares...makes infinite sense given the differing cultures.

Wondered about the "map"...HotzMaps has quite a variety of offerings.

Really liked the idea of an event award...where'd the pilot statue originate?

Lastly, what is "Name Day"?

Glad to see you are having fun my friend...looking forward to getting to fly with you at some point in the future. All the best.

Thanks Thomas

.

The answers:
1. the figure is in reality a smaller version of the famous Oscar prize

. Bought it in some gift shop

.
2. the Name's Day... hmmm. A very popular way of celebration and gathering with friends

. Every day in calendar is marked with a specific name. Some with two. For example: Andrzej's Name Day is Nov. 30 (but there is also one in May), Edyta's Name Day is Sep. 16. On those days friends are allowed to pay such person a visit with a bottle (gents) or flowers (ladies)

. And so it goes!

**Zoe Brain** · 09-20-2016 06:15

More Turks.

Looks like Nexus agreed with my interpretation of the photos of Albatros C.IIIs, though mine was one with a distinctive white tail.

The Albatros D.II and Fokker D.I are both shapeways too, as are the Halberstadt D.Vs - a minor conversion.

There's a lot of scope for Turkish aircraft, not just Shapeways 2-seaters of various kinds, but one of the last actions of the war was 2 enthusiastic Turkish captured Nieuport 17s and 2 less than enthused Pasha (German) Fokker D.VIIs intercepting a formation of RAF DH4s attacking Istanbul.

**Nightbomber** · 09-20-2016 06:20

A very nice collection Zoe.

Now I have 3 Turkish planes, but 2 others are planned.

**Teaticket** · 09-20-2016 07:06

Originally Posted by Nightbomber

As you might have seen old friend, your custom made fire marker was attached to the gas bag

with a proper comment of mine (on how I got it).

Glad to see you are getting some use out of them. I'll have to send you a proper gas bag flame.

**Teaticket** · 09-20-2016 07:09

Originally Posted by Zoe Brain

More Turks.

Looks like Nexus agreed with my interpretation of the photos of Albatros C.IIIs, though mine was one with a distinctive white tail.

The Albatros D.II and Fokker D.I are both shapeways too, as are the Halberstadt D.Vs - a minor conversion.

There's a lot of scope for Turkish aircraft, not just Shapeways 2-seaters of various kinds, but one of the last actions of the war was 2 enthusiastic Turkish captured Nieuport 17s and 2 less than enthused Pasha (German) Fokker D.VIIs intercepting a formation of RAF DH4s attacking Istanbul.

I had repainted my original Turkish Eindekker but now after seeing this want to build a Turkish squadron!

**Blackronin** · 09-20-2016 08:07

Originally Posted by Nightbomber

Thanks Quim, but those were Memoir'44 Desert expansion tiles

.

Of course they are! Silly me.

**Stumptonian** · 09-21-2016 17:47

Originally Posted by Nightbomber

@Pete: the mat is a Hotz Desert Mat two sided (the other side has hexes printed on).

More on www.hotzmats.com

Thanks, Andy.

Did you add the coloured spots? The one on their page looks very plain.

**Stumptonian** · 09-21-2016 17:50

Originally Posted by Nachtschwärmer

+Pete
It's the national marking of the Ottoman Aviation Squadrons. I mean it's because the aircraft bought from Germany where using Balkenkreuze, and because the cross is a religious symbol, the ottomans simply made black squares out of them.

Thanks for that, Dennis. Makes sense now.