Played my first PWCG mission, ended up writing in the journal...

[Dijital_Majik]

After becoming slightly annoyed by the repetetive nature of my realistic speed career with 56 Sqn in BoBp, just seeking a bit of a change, I decided to finally get off my arse and download PWCG after putting it off for so long, thinking it would be much harder to setup than it was.

 

I setup a test campaign in the same Squadron, at the same timeframe I'm at in career mode to see just how different things can be.  Well, having just finished my first ever PWCG mission about 10 minutes ago, which was unlike anything else I've yet done, or at least not for some time in my other career (a night mission, travelling some distance to new areas, just two of us, bombing!), I just unexpectedly started writing in the "Narrative" box of the journal, as a sort of diary by my newbie Pilot Officer, in the vain of replicating the feeling of some of the real accounts I've read over the years.  I'm not sure if I'll continue to write, but it does help get into the spirit feeling like one there.

 

Thought I'd share:

 

Quote

 

1st December 1944

 

My first actual mission with a real Squadron in middle of the action; a ground attack of the enemy near Rotterdam.  I'm finally going to be fighting the enemy for real.  And it's a night mission, not exactly what I'd have chosen to start, but the needs of the Squadron come first.  Besides, Sqn Ldr Hawksworth assured me that'd I'd had the finest Airmanship training in the world, and that most of the flight would be in Allied air, surrounded by friendlies, should we get into any trouble.

 

Flying as a duo formation, with Fg Off Molins in the lead, we ventured to the target area on a serene, frozen night, illuminated only by the odd star, flying well past Tilburg to Breda, and then north to the frontline. I could scarely see his Tempest against the coal black sky after take-off, and more than often not at all, which made for some truly harrowing formation flying, and a couple of close calls.  A flight of immense joy and beauty, interspersed with moments of sheer terror.  And that's before we happened to sneak by what I can only assume were two enemy fighters north of Breda.  I must have held my breath for five minutes straight, as heavy on fuel and carrying two bombs, we weren't exactly set for an air engagement, and I was keen to have them pass by.  Luckily they did just that.

 

Once in the target area, given the call to search for targets on my own, in my eagerness I stupidly opened fire on a poor friendly ground asset, a spotlight turning off.  I truly hope the poor chap's okay!  What a start to my Squadron career...  But alas, I put that behind me, and once identified, I immediately went to work on the enemy position in a series of dives at tremendous speed, followed by cranking to look back over my shoulder as I climbed to see the damage I had, hopefully, inflicted on the enemy.  Not sure if it was the real-war bomb load, or it was just because it was nighttime, but I've never seen anything as blinding as those explosions in all my life.  I ended up with nine ground targets destroyed between bomb and cannon fire, and Fg Off Molins with four destroyed.  A roaring success if I do say so myself!  All of that ground attack work back home with Fg Sgt Cooper in Training Command finally put to use!  Fg Off Molins congratulated me with a big smile and and firm handshake on "a mission well served Old Boy!" upon seeing him in the mess afterwards.  It felt good.  Bloody exhausted though!

 

My landing back at Rips could have been better, a bit bumpy, which I'll put down to the nerves. Must keep vigilant though, don't want to make a habit of doing so; it mustn't be like that awful week at Duxford!  And that poor friendly, I must work on my identification.  

 

Still, I feel jubilation at a successful mission, my first of the war; all of that training finally put to use, and now I can get stuck into Squadron life!

 

 

Suffice it to say, I'm quite excited to see what comes next.

 

Edited February 25, 2020 by Dijital_Majik

[TheSNAFU]

Great mission diary!
 

When the game and in this case PWCG inspires great stories of our experiences I think it  provides the best examples of why we fly. 
 

I enjoyed the read! 

[Varibraun]

Great way to start PWCG!

[Dijital_Majik]

On 2/26/2020 at 2:53 AM, TheSNAFU said:

Great mission diary!
 

When the game and in this case PWCG inspires great stories of our experiences I think it  provides the best examples of why we fly. 
 

I enjoyed the read! 

 

Thanks! 

 

I completely agree, it's crazy how few pixels on a screen can bring so much emotion out.  I was completely surprised by wanting to write the diary, it's not something I ever imagined doing, and such a little feature (amongst all the others in PWCG) has taken the immersion leaps ahead in my eyes.

 

21 hours ago, Varibraun said:

Great way to start PWCG!

 

Thanks, I'm completely sold, and finally understand all of the love for @PatrickAWlson's work I've seen here for so long.  I almost wish I hadn't started this as a test campaign, as now I feel emotionally bound to see it through.

[Varibraun]

I wholeheartedly agree about the PWCG immersion element.  Once @PatrickAWlson finishes 8.0 for FC, we need to figure out a way to convince anyone sitting on the fence for FC because of the current lack of campaign to give PWCG a try just like @Dijital_Majik did.  I think it would move those folks into FC if that is the only thing really holding them back - especially at the current sale price. 

 

Dijital_Majik's journal/dairy writing is very compelling,  maybe he will start an 8.0 WWI career for everyone to follow in the FC Forum to lure them in!  

[Dijital_Majik]

3 hours ago, Varibraun said:

I wholeheartedly agree about the PWCG immersion element.  Once @PatrickAWlson finishes 8.0 for FC, we need to figure out a way to convince anyone sitting on the fence for FC because of the current lack of campaign to give PWCG a try just like @Dijital_Majik did.  I think it would move those folks into FC if that is the only thing really holding them back - especially at the current sale price.

 

I'm one of the ones who recently bought FC, and I must admit, as an overwhemlingly singleplayer er.. player, knowing there is PWCG for it definitely sealed the deal for me.  I may have bought it for a love of aviation alone, but would have been disappointed with no singleplayer content. 

 

3 hours ago, Varibraun said:

Dijital_Majik's journal/dairy writing is very compelling,  maybe he will start an 8.0 WWI career for everyone to follow in the FC Forum to lure them in!  

 

You're too kind.      I've just started learning to fly the FC planes (loving it btw), and I fear if I start another campaign/diary I may just develop multiple personality disorder!!  Still, will be fun to channel my inner Mick Mannock, rather than Geoff Wellum, when I eventually get around to it!