Victory claims: None

Casualties: None

Combat reports:

Flint (#3):

Took off with #8Fuches,#10 Hudson. We patrolled down the front. At about 21:20 sighted 1 friendly low and about 3 high in C2-5. We continued our patrol and at about 21:30 I developed engine trouble and was forced to rtb.

After straightening out the problem I met up with my flight over the rendevous point and we proceeded on with the flight. I took us over the Hun side of the lines patrolling near the airfields in hopes of sighting some EA. No such luck though and after hitting drome 20 I led us to a base to refuel.

As we waited at the drome at about 22:12 the sirens went off. I cursed and pleaded with the mechanics to get our planes refitted so we could get back up. The guns now began to fire and we could just make out 2 or 3 planes high above the drome. They seemed to hover near the drome for awhile, but just when our planes were finally ready Fuches' plane developed problems and he couldn't take off. We waited for a few minutes to see if the mechanics could fix the problem, they could not. Hud and I finally decided to go up, but the huns were nowhere in sight and soon the wailing sirens quit.

A little peeved at the missed chance. I took us across the lines and circled hun drome 20. At about 22:30 I glimpsed a hun plane on the field, but they kept wheeling him back and forth from the hanger to the field. I figured he would never get up so I took us south.

Now flying south a few minutes later at about 3200 meters in D2-7, I was flying straight and level scanning about me for EA when a sickening sound rang in my ears. Horrified, I glanced over to see my lower right wingtip shredded and my plane entered into a sicking spin.

I struggled for what seemed like an enternity, trying to regain control. The ground was coming ever closer and I swore I was beginning to make out Austrian soliders frolicking with sheep in the field below me. Just when my life started passing before my eyes and I thought it was all over, she came out of it. I wiped the sweat off my brow glanced at my altitude, now at 1000 meters, and thanked my maker. I signaled to Hud I was rtb and we headed for drome 5 where we ended the day.

Flint #3, Fuches #8 and Myself (Hudson #10) took off in Spad XIII's and started our patrol. We made several patrols and then I noticed Flint was having engine trouble. Fuches and I continued to patrol and then met Flint at a predetermined location after his mechanic fixed his plane. Not finding any action we crossed into hunland. I kept a close eye on my fuel gauge knowing that Flint would not be able to tell how much we had left. When fuel became low enough that I did not feel comfortable starting a fight, I signaled RTB.

We landed at a base and were refueling when air sirens went off. I could not see the huns. Fuches then had engine trouble. After waiting a short time, Flint and I took off gaining altitude and looking for the huns. We could not find them. Flew into hunland once again and all of a sudden I saw Flint diving. I thought I missed an attack order, then I realized that he was in a spiral toward earth. Figuring he must have been hit by flak I watched him closely hoping he could pull out of dive. He pulled out and headed back toward an allied base. I kept a good altitude watching for any huns that may be waiting for such an opportunity, but none arrived. Landed without event.

#3Flint, #10, Hudson, and myself, #8Fuches taxied our planes for take off shortly after 2100 hours. As we headed south, our planes climbed to achieve an altitude of 3500. That is when I started to experience some problems. My plane laboured to keep up with my squad. Our formation was loose due to that fact. My plane finally caught up to #3, #10. Flint looked as though he had engine problems, I could tell because I passed him. He returned to base and #10 and myself continued to patrol the skies looking for unsuspecting hun, or suspecting for that matter...anything. #10 having taken the flight brought us back to the rendezvous spot to wait for our fearless leader. After #3 caught up with us, we gained a bit more alt and then went into enemy territory for a chance to meet the notorious hun and their willy machines. We patrolled the area in hun territory and after a few passes returned to base to refeul.

The mechanics finished #3 and #10's plane with the sirens wailing overhead. We spotted 2 or 3 huns circling over us as we were stranded on the grass, cursing the tardiness of the mechanics. Do they have to polish the brass now???....Then it happened. Charles the lead mechanic, took me aside and informed me that my plane could not go up. I fumed. Apparently there was a minor crack in the housing. If I took it up, without the repair, I would either not be able to maintain any speed or worse the engine would flame. I was grounded. The mechanics worked on the plane for half an hour, one of these days someone should invent duct tape, a strong metal fibre bandage. I returned to the field and taxied for take off...trying to catch up to my team. Heading south, I climbed to 2500 and then was called back in, as there was a temporary armistice. My luck. Will I ever meet the hun in a face to face??....I landed my plane without incident. Returned to my room, and called it a night. I really didn't feel like a warm beer and songs about victories, so I read.

Rowland (#14):

I took off with Vasconcell and Rucker heading of to meet up with the 36th. Our mission was to escort the recon boys. We headed deep into enemy territory and the recon boys did their job. We then returned to the base , not seeing any enemy aircraft.We landed at the base and the mechanic started to refueling our planes.As we were discussing our second mission the air raid sirens when off. As soon as the planes were refueled (5 min wait)the 76th took off to find the enemy aircraft. We circled the base looking for the enemy but found nun. Soon as the field was clear the 36th took off and we head off on our second mission. About 20 minutes in to the flight I had engine trouble and was forced to return to our base.

(I was dropped from the game at 10:20 and was unable to get back in. I rebooted my computer and tried to enter but there were no "Available Games" and called it a night.)

Vasconcells (#19):

Took off with mates Rowland and Rucker and rendevoused with a flight of recon crates over base xyz, escorting them deep into enemy territory. The flight was uneventful. Spotted one aircraft far below, presumably a machine of the enemy. Felt the urge to fall on the guy, but stuck with my charges, as per orders. After returning to base, while waiting for the cameras to be reloaded, the sirens began wailing and I took off to provide cover against an enemy attack. Rowland and Rucker followed me up, but soon the sirens fell silent again. Our recon boys took to the air and we accompanied them deep into enemy territory again. Lost Rowland to a mechanical problem. Shortly thereafter, the recon crates disappeared into a clodbank, and never emerged. I must have gotten turned around, for I never saw them again. Circled for a long time over thir targets, but saw nary a sign of 'em. Eventually, noticing that fuel was getting low, and made nervous by the accurate anti-aircraft fire, I headed home, ever searching for my charges.

When I got back and landed, Hartney soon followed me in, we chatted a bit, then repaired to the bar for a tall whiskey.

No report. (Participated and made two sorties into enemy territory.)

Royce (#20):

At approx. 2100 hrs myself and #15 took off from field #X to recon Factory and RR behind the Austrian lines. We circled to 2000m and waited for escorts. Enroute to targets in sector X 2 I lost sight of #15. I continued on alone, flying low to ground. The recon was very successfull. My observer didn't realize that he had photo plates enough for one target. So we reconned three targets (need to read the rules again :>) ) . On the return to base of course only the RR was photo'd.

For the second sortie myself and #12 and #15 circled untill the escorts arrived. We went back across their lines. #16 covered me for most of the flight as we climbeed to altitude. Somewhere deep into Austrian territory I lost # 12 and #15 and our escort. So I took the two seater down low on the target and got photos of the RR there. Returned to our field at ground level seaching the sky behind me for any hint of Austrian scouts. None were seen and no enemy contact was made during either sortie. Photo's attached.

Lt. Royce and I lifted off to climb to 2,000 meters and await our escort flight from the 76th. As we reached about 1,000 meters, I looked over the side of my ship and saw Dawson rolling down the field and up toward us. Just as we reached 2,000 meters, three pursuits from the 76th arrived, and within a few minutes, Dawson was up and we were off toward the enemy lines.

As we were crossing the lines, I spotted a flight of Spads pass a few hundred feet above us. I recognized the markings as those of the 27th, stationed some miles north of us. Then, Dawson had to drop out of the formation due to engine trouble. At some point, Royce disappeared from the formation as well, and I had three escorts all to myself and felt quite safe. We continued on into enemy territory, reached the target factory, and my observer leaned out and took his photograph. The return trip was uneventful.

Dawson and Royce were waiting for us as we put down, and we made plans for a second sortie while the mechanics refueled us. As we were beginning to prepare to lift off for our next mission, the sirens began to wail. Lt. Vasconcells of the 76th jumped into his crate and took to the skies in search of enemy ships, and Lts. Rowland and Rucker quickly followed suit. The sirens died down shortly thereafter, and the 2-seaters took to the skies as well, and in a few minutes, we were again over enemy territory.

We lost Dawson to engine trouble again, then Rowland. At some point, I lost sight of Rucker and Vasconcells as well. Royce and I proceeded to the target and got our photographs. Then, Royce suddenly plummeted to earth, apparently hit by flak. He recovered just in time, however, and I turned for home. I then hooked up with Rucker for an uneventful flight home.

Two factories photographed (attached).

Despite an early start, I had major problems getting my crate out onto the runway and missed my squad take-off by a few minutes. I was able to catch up with them and tagged along across enemy lines until the engine started sputtering and I was forced to RTB.

I waited at the base for a second sortee and again got well into enemy territory before my engine started choking. Guess it just wasn't my night.

Two sortees, both meched out, no enemy contact.