Mission 4: The Best Part of Valour (Central Powers)

[Blackronin]

"Ltn. Joachim Marseille, are you certain of what you are saying? That is a very strange assumption!" "Jawoll, Herr Hauptmann Gabriel. I still believe that there was something going on there." "Why do you say that?" "Well, their behaviour was odd." "Odd?! Odd? That's all that you have to say to corroborate your story?" "No Herr Hauptmann Gabriel. There are additional things." "Very well. Let's start from the beginning. You were flying low..." "Yes. I was sent to check for enemy movement behind the lines. The sky was cloudy, not much, the clouds were very defined as if a painter..." "Ltn. Joachim! Less poetry, please!" "Ah... Yes... I was flying North of St. Caronne. The first Nieuport came down at from my five o'clock."

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"He took you by surprise?" "He could have, had he waited a bit more. He should have circled by, behind and below me. But he was eager." "Eager?" "Like if he needed to take me down fast. So I turned left, gave gas to the engine and after a quick Immelmann I faced him."

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"And he went in your direction in a frontal attack?" "Yes. That was the moment that I felt something strange. We fired at each other."

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"And what is strange about that?" "It was a Nieuport 17 with only one machine-gun." "And did you hit him?"

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"Oh yes. I raked his plane violently, and he just made a small damage to mine." "And what is strange about that?" "He had an older, more fragile and less armed plane and he came to me that way..." "Hmmm... A rookie, I guess. And after that?"

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"I made an Immelmann, and fired again back at him. A very sound shot and the Nieuport burst into flames." "And you took him down?" "No. My weapons jammed..." "Dear God! What a lack of luck!" "Yes..."

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"I kept tailing him, watching his plane being ate by the fire while I frenetically tried to unjam my guns..." "And then?"

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"He turned left, trying to put his fire out and I also turned left and for a while we flown side by side. And I saw it." "What?" "The terror in his face. So young and so afraid." "I see. Do you want a drink, Ltn. Joachim?" "Ah... Yes Her Hauptmann..." "Go on."

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"He then turned hard to the left and I dived and passed below his burning plane. Finally I had my weapons cleared." "Take your glass. And him?"

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"When I was able to turn and face him again he had his fire put down and was escaping into his lines. Although his plane should be falling apart around him I didn't felt any desire to pursue him..." "I see. Go on."

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"As soon as I lost his sight behind a very low cloud another Nieuport 17 was moving in my direction from behind with the clear intent to destroy me." "And you think it odd? It's their duty, remember?" "Yes, but it was the way they behaved and done the whole thing. I wouldn't go head to head with an Albatros D. Va with an older model armed with half the weapons the enemy had..."

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"I see. This one was also an older model?" "Yes." "Maybe a squadron that dismembered because of the clouds..." "I think not."

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"So I made another Immelmann and I faced him." "And he made the same maneuver the other did before?"

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"Yes. We fired at each other and we both missed. I made my engine scream and I gained speed for another Immelmann."

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"Less poetry, Joachim."

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"Mmmm, yes. I fired at long range, but kept missing as he was preparing for an Immelmann."

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"You knew that?" "Yes, it was clear in his flight, but I kept missing all my fire. Then he turned to face me..."

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"And you hit him?" "Yes, we both scored a solid punch at each other's planes. But I hit his engine, as I saw his plane sputter." "I see. And then?"

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As I was expecting his previous Immelmann, I followed swiftly with another. But alas, I missed him. But kept on firing."

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"Then my aim was true at last and I made some sound damage to his rudder. But he was skilled. Even with a damaged engine..."

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"...Was he capable of pulling out another Immelmann and fired at me with all he got. He damaged heavily my plane." "And you?" "I also made a good deal of damage to him. I'm amazed that he was still flying."

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"Then he zapped below me and ran for his life. But not this time." "You took him down?"

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"Oh yes!"

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"Definitely yes!"

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"I see. Congratulations. But I don't see..." "What, Herr Hauptmann?" "What is it odd in all this." "Ah! As soon as I took him down, I looked around me..." "Another one?" "Another one."

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"Speeding at you?" "Speeding at me." "A Nieuport 17?" "A Nieuport 17." "With one machine-gun?" "With one machine gun." "Odd." "As I have told you previously."

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"Why didn't they waited and ganged up against you?" "My thoughts precisely. And he fired at me like a madman." "And he missed?" "We both missed." "Ah!" "But his gun jammed as I could see by the way he was punching at the machine gun." "Good!"

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"He tried to use his superior turn by closing sharply behind me. I, for myself..." "Immelmann." "Yes."

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I fired a short burst, but I must have hit something vital as he burst into flames." "Again?!" "Yes." "And you jammed your weapons?!" "No. Not this time."

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"The fire damaged his plane a lot... And my weapons did the rest."

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"Did the rest?"

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"I guess that I added to the fire, until he went down."

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"When I saw the fourth Nieuport 17 in the sky below me, I decided that I should return to report that something weird is happening, Herr Hauptmann." "Very well, I'll report that to the High Command." "Thank you sir." "And, Ltn. Joachim?!" "Herr Hauptmann?!" "Congratulations! You are now officially an Ace!"

Final Notes

Mission Result: Central Powers Victory. Two Nieuports down and I landed safely home.

Casualties and Damage:

Lt Henry Lucerne. Nieuport 17. Escaped home severely damaged.

Lt. Marcel Chanfanne. Nieuport 17. Shot down over friendly territory. All well when you land well! Went back to his aerodrome and is still out there flying over the trenches.

Lt. Lucas Minhom. Nieuport 17. Fell to the ground like a burning brick. KIA.


Central Powers victories:
Ltn. Joachim Marseille - 2 Kills (Has now 5 kills)
Gained an Ace Ability. Always Coming Home.

Final thoughts:
What the hell is happening behind the enemy lines?

[Nightbomber]

Very well written and pictured report, Quim!I see you degraded the Nieuports 17th to the 23 type with B damage capability which was of course historically accurate according to the scenario rules.I liked the story unfolding very much:)CONGRATS on the ace status for Marseille:FOK:It was a good training for your PC pilot, just enough to get the 5th kill.:)Now we're gonna have an edge over the Bulldogs.:guns:

[Watchdog]

Well done, EDIT:Joaquim, congratulations on the ace status. Maybe you could have tried to down the last Nieuport too, but the one who knows when to turn tail is the one who gets to fight the other day... :salute:

What skill(s) would you like to choose for the new ace?

[Blackronin]

Thanks Andrzej!

And Andrzej of Portugal thanks you also Jan of the Czech Republic. :lol:

And I chose: Always Coming Home, as you can see below my kills in the report. ;)

[Watchdog]

Sorry, Joaquim, I see it is your report now. :D

Apparently, I should not read AAR's when I am as tired as now...

[Nightbomber]

Gentlemen, Mission 5 has been posted!

[Blackronin]

Sorry, Joaquim, I see it is your report now. :D

Apparently, I should not read AAR's when I am as tired as now...

No problem, Jan. It was good for a laugh. I think that for some reason this month is being hard for a lot of us. ;)

[Blackronin]

Gentlemen, Mission 5 has been posted!

Nice!!

[Marechallannes]

That was fun to read and watch, Joaquim!:clap:

Great AAR and a fine success for yor pilot.

[flash]

Nicely done Joaquim & congratulations - shame we didn't have any tougher meat for your Eagle to chew on ! :D

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Another incomparable story line there my boy.:salute: What an epic duel in the skies that was. :medal:Those French pilots behaved more like Englishmen in persuit for Death or Glory.:clap:
Kyte.:FOK:

[Blackronin]

Thank you very much, my friends.
You are all very kind.

[Algynon]

Just started to read the campaign .It reads like a novel. Are you going to put all these together in one "Pilots Log"? Quite outstanding. :)

[Nightbomber]

Just started to read the campaign .It reads like a novel. Are you going to put all these together in one "Pilots Log"? Quite outstanding. :)Nice idea, Bob. There are 7 AARs after every mission. Now we have reached 28 reports:) Have you thought about joining or group, like David AKA Flash did last time?The only requirement would be to fly 4 last solo missions against unknown enemy pilots and all of the next to come (now it's time for Mission Five). But I must warn you: It's hell of a job to be done in the air;)The only open slot for you would be on the German side of the front.Andrzej.

[Archidamus]

Just started to read the campaign .It reads like a novel. Are you going to put all these together in one "Pilots Log"? Quite outstanding. :)

I agree with Bob - this is certainly an attention-grabbing campaign.

[Marechallannes]

...The only requirement would be to fly 4 last solo missions against unknown enemy pilots and all of the next to come (now it's time for Mission Five). But I must warn you: It's hell of a job to be done in the air;)The only open slot for you would be on the German side of the front.Andrzej.

What about a side entry?

When our campaign advances, possible new pilots have to fly "old" missions for hours.

Think it will not be a problem if we upgrade the roster and give an average rating (4) for the "old" missions.




It's like sending new pilots to the Westfront.:serious:

[Blackronin]

One of my ideas (time, time, where art thou?!) is to write a log of all the missions.

Yes! Please do join us.

[Algynon]

Thank you for the invite, most appreciated. I would indeed like to join the guys over the trenches. If it is ok could you give me a bit of time to get up to speed on the campaign rules etc? If you have someone who can fit into the vacant slot right away then no problem ,I will be in reserve getting my pilots certificate for the Kaiser. My Albatros awaits...t:)

[Nightbomber]

Bob!There is no one waiting to join us, except you, so please feel free to join the Campaign, but of course - no pressure:) Yes, the only slot is on the German side. A great reinforcement for Kaiser's Eagles!Of course you need time to digest the rules, but they are not too many.The main idea of ours is to constantly update the roster of both sides after every mission is flown by the group. Jan, AKA Watchdog, runs the rosters on google spreadsheet excellently. The problem is some pilots may be wounded (they miss next mission-s), or even dead. Since we can not turn back time, you have to fly your missions against "unknown" enemy pilots. for we are unable to interfere with existing pilots' carreers until you catch up with all of us. From then on, you will be allowed to choose freely your PC and NPC against Bulldogs' NPC (PC are excluded) and we will update both rosters according to your scores as well.Now we have a deadline for the 5th mission AARs set on May 6th, so you have two weeks to get closer to our stage.Flying Missions is a time consuming experience if you want to publish detailed reports, so my piece of advice for you is to resign from preparing detailed reports (we give you some default marks anyway), but rather focus on final outcome of the missions for your PC and NPC pilots. Total they kills and determine their wounds in course of the missions and note them. If some of them make aces - choose their ace abilities.But first of all, create your flight which must consist of 2 PC pilots and 6 NPC. For example my Flight in our Jasta (with updated results) is here:1. Hpt. Willi Gabriel, (Jastafuehrer) (Ace, ability: Lucky Git I)2. Lt. Sylvester Garsztka, (Ace, ability: Lucky Git I)3. Lt. Franz Jach,4. Lt. Anton Wroniecki: Scenario 1 - injured - shot down - own territory. Skips 2 Scenarios (Active in Scenario 4)5. Lt. Joachim von Lisbon: Scenario 1 - Wounded - Skips 2 Scenarios (Active in Scenario 4)6. Lt. Andreas von Oppeln: 1 KILL Scenario 1 - bruised- Skips 1 Scenario (Active in Scenario 3)7. Lt. Sven von Zirndorf,8. Lt. Johann von Weissberg.Good luck and do not hesitate to ask us.

[Watchdog]

Actually, you may choose to have a two-seater crew instead of one of the pilots, so that you have a scout pilot and a two-seater crew consisting of a pilot and an observer. Some of us did choose this option.

I recommend that you create a scout pilot and a two-seater crew as your personal pilots and then create 6 NPC pilots. I would again recommend you to create another two-seater crew instead of one of the NPC pilots. Then come up with enough airplanes to let them all fly. But remember, only those airplanes available in October 1917 are allowed, so no Fokker D.VII's...

[Blackronin]

You are more than welcome to join us. And if you feel that you don't have the time to play the earlier mission now, just skip them and go straight to mission 4 and you can play the previous missions sometime in the future as flashbacks. No worries. Our main goal is FUN!

[Algynon]

Thanks guys, I will start by getting my flight crew sorted out, and let you have their details. I am now getting quite excited over the prospect of joining the "Kaisers Eagles". Right off to generate my crew. :)

[Blackronin]

Nice!!

[Marechallannes]

Great news, Bob!:salute:

[Nightbomber]

Thanks guys, I will start by getting my flight crew sorted out, and let you have their details. I am now getting quite excited over the prospect of joining the "Kaisers Eagles". Right off to generate my crew. :)

:lol: Glad you join our cause, Bob.

We are "sportsmen, not butchers" :lol:

But for now we are on top :thumbsup:

See you in the mess.