Historical accuracy?

[Jäger]

When you play, do you pay attention to plane's "availability"?

For example, if your opponent flies with Nieuport 17, do you automatically choose a newer plane, for example Albatross D.Va?
Or, if your wingmate is going to bomb enemy positions with Roland C.II, do you escort him with Fokker D.VII?

I'm very maniac with historical accuracy and I really worry about time lines of aircrafts: when I fight against my brothers and they choose to fly with Camels, I answer with Fokker Dr.I. I try to maximize the realism of my games by choosing "right" planes to combat each other, but of course the most important is the fun and the pleasure; I don't bother my playcomrades with facts, everyone may fly with planes they want. :)
However, I still pay attention to historical facts. Last week I ordered my first Roland two-seater, but first I had to be sure that there are planes in game which flew between summer-1916 and spring-1917 (soon my Nieuports will take off and intercept my Roland). For my luck, the game really has many different and interesting planes. :D
I got many answers from Kenneth Munson's books (Fighters, Attack and Training aircraft 1914-1919 & Bombers, Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft 1914-1919).

[usmc1855]

In all of our games, we only use planes which would have reasonably been flying during the same time period.

In the files section here on these forums, there is a spreadsheet which shows by model, the years during which the planes saw service during the war.

The RAF R.E.8 was in service from Nov. 1916 to Nov. 1918. A few of the Nieuport models saw long service as well.

[Belis4rius]

I try and keep my fights 'historical' and as most of my group have no idea about WWI aircraft it is easy to keep within the timelines.

[Oberst Hajj]

In campaigns it has to be historical. In just one off games, I don't care so much. I just let everyone fly what they want to. I tend to fly the SPAD, Camel or DR.I all the time, so I'm usually safe "history" wise no matter what the other guys pick.

[Grinneth42]

When we are introducing new people to the game (via dogfights) we don't worry about it, but any other scenario we stick to the historical 'truth' as often as we can. The only time we haven't worried about it is if someone doesn't have the correct plane and no one else has one to lend.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

When you play, do you pay attention to plane's "availability"?

For example, if your opponent flies with Nieuport 17, do you automatically choose a newer plane, for example Albatross D.Va?
Or, if your wingmate is going to bomb enemy positions with Roland C.II, do you escort him with Fokker D.VII?

I'm very maniac with historical accuracy and I really worry about time lines of aircrafts: when I fight against my brothers and they choose to fly with Camels, I answer with Fokker Dr.I. I try to maximize the realism of my games by choosing "right" planes to combat each other, but of course the most important is the fun and the pleasure; I don't bother my play comrades with facts, everyone may fly with planes they want. :)
However, I still pay attention to historical facts. Last week I ordered my first Roland two-seater, but first I had to be sure that there are planes in game which flew between summer-1916 and spring-1917 (soon my Nieuports will take off and intercept my Roland). For my luck, the game really has many different and interesting planes. :D
I got many answers from Kenneth Munson's books (Fighters, Attack and Training aircraft 1914-1919 & Bombers, Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft 1914-1919).

Our group started playing an historical campaign to get some play with types other than the Fokker D.VII or a Sopwith Snipe!

We have divided up the Western Front into sectors and players may only fly the aircraft actually available.

From a campaign update last month:

The following is a complete list of squadrons and aircraft available by sector
effective 1 December 1917. Aircraft availability is historically based, which
is why not every squadron has access to the same aircraft at the same time.
Ensure you only fly aircraft assigned to your pilot's squadron, and comply with
any conditions regarding their use. The only ahistorical type is the LFG Roland C.II, which had been withdrawn by late 1917. Once the Rumpler becomes available it will replace the 'Walfisch'.

Ypres Sector

Allied
20 Sqn RFC at Ste-Marie-Chappel - Bristol F.2b
60 Sqn RFC at Ste-Marie-Chappel - S.E.5a
21 Sqn RFC at La Lovie - R.E.8
23 Sqn RFC at La Lovie - SPAD S.XIII
29 Sqn RFC at Poperinghe - Nieuport 24/27 (N.17 stats with A guns)
70 Sqn RFC at Poperinghe - Sopwith Camel
1ere Esc. at De Moeren - Hanriot HD.1, Sopwith Camel
6eme Esc. at Hoetem - R.E.8

German
Jasta 2 at Bavichove - Albatros D.III/D.V/D.Va, Fokker F.1 (1 only)
Jasta 27 at Bavichove - Albatros D.III/D.V/D.Va
Schusta 27b outside Menin - Halberstadt CL.II
Marine Feld Jasta 1 at Neumunster - Albatros D.III/D.V

Arras Sector

Allied
16 Sqn RFC at Camblain-l'Abbe - R.E.8
18 Sqn RFC at Auchel - Airco D.H.4
24 Sqn RFC at Marieux - S.E.5a
54 Sqn RFC at Bruay-la-Buissière - Sopwith Camel
1 Sqn RNAS at Bailleul - Sopwith Camel
8 Sqn RNAS at St-Eloi - Sopwith Camel
3 Sqn AFC at Bailleul - R.E.8

German
Jasta 4 at Lieu St. Armand - Albatros D.III/D.V/D.Va
Jasta 6 at Bouchain - Albatros D.III/D.V/D.Va, Fokker Dr.1
Jasta 10 at Iwuy - Albatros D.III/D.V/D.Va, Pfalz D.IIIa
Jasta 11 at Avesnes-le-Sec - Albatros D.III/D.V/D.Va, Fokker Dr.1, Pfalz D.IIIa
Jasta 30 at Phalempin - Albatros D.III/D.V/D.Va
FA(A) 211 at Méricourt - LFG Roland C.II
FA(A) 292b at Avelin - LFG Roland C.II
FA(A) 261 at Escaufourt - LFG Roland C.II
Schusta 10 at Escaufourt - Halberstadt CL.II

Somme Sector

Allied
3 Sqn RFC at Warloy - Sopwith Camel
15 Sqn RFC at Lechelle - R.E.8
56 Sqn RFC at Lavieville - S.E.5a
2 Sqn AFC at Baizieux - S.E.5a

German
Jasta 12 at Roucourt - Albatros D.III/D.V/D.Va
FA(A) 290b at Borguicourt - LFG Roland C.II
Schusta 31b at Borguicourt - Halberstadt CL.II

Aisne Sector

Allied
Esc. SPA65 at La Noblette - SPAD S.VII, SPAD S.XIII*
Esc. SPA78 at La Noblette - SPAD S.VII, SPAD S.XIII*
Esc. SOP29 at Belfort - Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter
Esc. SOP219 at Courcelle sur Aire - Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter

* Until early 1918 the SPAD S.VII still outnumbered the SPAD S.XIII in front
line service. To reflect this only French pilots with confirmed victories may
fly the SPAD S.XIII until March 1918.

German
Jasta 32b at Chery-les-Pouilly - Albatros D.III/D.V/D.Va, Pfalz D.IIIa
FA(A) 265 at Grandlup - LFG Roland C.II
Schusta 18 at Grandlup - Halberstadt CL.II

Verdun Sector

Allied
Esc. SPA77 at Souilly - SPAD S.VII, SPAD S.XIII*
Esc. SPA81 at Beauzée-sur-Aire - SPAD S.VII, SPAD S.XIII*
Esc. BR117 at Clermont - Breguet 14A2/B2

* Until early 1918 the SPAD S.VII still outnumbered the SPAD S.XIII in front
line service. To reflect this only French pilots with confirmed victories may
fly the SPAD S.XIII until March 1918.

German
Jasta 14 at Boncourt-sur-Meuse - Albatros D.III/D.V/D.Va
Jasta 16b at Mercy-le-Haute - Albatros D.III/D.V/D.Va, Pfalz D.IIIa
Jasta 34b at Chenois - Albatros D.III/D.V/D.Va, Pfalz D.IIIa
FA 24 at Spincourt - LFG Roland C.II

[Jäger]

Thanks for the answers, although this wasn't a real poll! :) The Walfisch was remarkable and hansome plane, but I really wait for the Rumpler, which was more versatile and more common over the battlefields.

[Voss]

In my groups campaign we play every other week and every two games counts as a month of the war. We started on the first half of 7/1916. As new aircraft become available we add them to our aerodrome/Jasta pool and take out aircraft that go out of service. We also randomly generate a combat location for each game. Italian/Near Eastern/Western Front and then Coastal Area/Central or Entente Territory/ and No-Man's Land. Seaplanes and R.N.A.S. aircraft only get used in coastal combat for the most part.

[Bob.fr]

Carl,
your contribution is excellent thanks about that a thousand times !!!
Any clue about your sources I am very interested in ?

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Carl,
your contribution is excellent thanks about that a thousand times !!!
Any clue about your sources I am very interested in ?

I have alot of reference books on the subject, but there are also some good websites you can visit:

For RFC/RNAS/RAF information try:

http://www.rafweb.org/Menu.htm

http://clubweb.interbaun.com/~milesc/


For Aviation Militaire Francais go here:

http://www.traditions-air.fr/index.htm


For information on the Lufttsteitkraefte go here:

http://www.frontflieger.de/

and a good Fokker Dr1 site here:

http://www.fokkerdr1.com/

For Belgian, British and German squadron airfield locations by date go here:

http://patriot.net/~townsend/WW1AirMap2/

[Kungfuhustler]

I am not too picky about what other people are playing. Wings Of War just caught traction in my gaming area and we have 7-12 players coming out every wednesday to dogfight and maybe shoot down a balloon. I've been striving to keep the planes that I use in the same era of the war, and almost have my 1st 5 plane group together.

I, for one, don't mind battling against sopwith snipes with my Albatross formations, they go down just as easily as anything else once you learn to lead you opponent.

[Bob.fr]

I have alot of reference books on the subject, but there are also some good websites you can visit:

For RFC/RNAS/RAF information try:

http://www.rafweb.org/Menu.htm

http://clubweb.interbaun.com/~milesc/


For Aviation Militaire Francais go here:

http://www.traditions-air.fr/index.htm


For information on the Lufttsteitkraefte go here:

http://www.frontflieger.de/

and a good Fokker Dr1 site here:

http://www.fokkerdr1.com/

For Belgian, British and German squadron airfield locations by date go here:

http://patriot.net/~townsend/WW1AirMap2/

Thanks a lot Carl for all these links to look at.
I have infos to go around with now with your 1917 squadron layout and all the links above.
At the moment I try to find british squadrons markings and serial of planes facing the flying circus. I like to repaint 2 SPADS VII to the colours of one these squadrons that opposed the richthofen jastas.
:D

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Thanks a lot Carl for all these links to look at.
I have infos to go around with now with your 1917 squadron layout and all the links above.
At the moment I try to find british squadrons markings and serial of planes facing the flying circus. I like to repaint 2 SPADS VII to the colours of one these squadrons that opposed the richthofen jastas.
:D

Bob,

The RFC had only two SPAD S.VII units on the Western Front, 19 and 23 Squadrons. They were both at one time or another posted opposite von Richthofen's Jasta.

You can find some colour schemes here:

http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww1/f/257/9/0#6

Cheers,

Carl.

[Pooh]

When series 4 & 5 come out we'll have a broad enough selection that we can approximate the whole war. Getting a few more scouts like the Albatros DII, N11 and Sopwith Pup will fill in most of the remaining gaps.

Pooh