The Circus Post

[JGr2/J5_Baeumer]

Possibly.  He will fit right in with the dialect up there.

[Guest deleted@83466]

Sorry Chunko.  I was rooting for ya.

[J2_Drookasi]

Edited February 2, 2021 by J2_Drookasi

[JGr2/S27b_Loppnow]

I love it.  Our bomber squad is exceedingly happy.  ?

 

Edited February 1, 2021 by J5_Loppnow-Sch27b

[JGr2/J5_Mueller]

might i suggest adding the new Entente squadron to the recruiting section? The 76th im sure would like to be represented here.

 

[No.23_Triggers]

Like the new format, and the ground attacker scoreboard is a nice touch ?

Edited February 1, 2021 by US93_Larner

[J2_Drookasi]

4 hours ago, J5_Mueller said:

might i suggest adding the new Entente squadron to the recruiting section? The 76th im sure would like to be represented here.

 

 

Any squadron that wants to advertise in the Circus Post can send me a PM with he text they would like to be published, and I'll try my best to fit them in.

[BMA_Hellbender]

Go go Sch27b!

[1PL-KJ-1Esk]

On 1/31/2021 at 3:34 PM, J5_Loppnow-Sch27b said:

I love it.  Our bomber squad is exceedingly happy.  ?

 

well all the bomber are "happy death" :)

[BMA_West]

46 minutes ago, 1PL-KJ-1Esk said:

well all the bomber are "happy death"

 

Only by planting them they sprout to multiply, like decapitating a dragon  ?

[J2_Drookasi]

The 13th (most recent) issue of the Circus Post has been republished in order to correct a mistake in the number of ground kills credited to certain pilots. All the corrections are now depicted in bold letters. The positioning of the pilots in the HoF (G) is also accordingly corrected.

 

We apologize for the misinformation and for the liqueur wasted in celebrating non-existing kills. The reporter responsible for the error has been kicked out of the newspaper and was sent to the trenches.

[BMA_Hellbender]

2 hours ago, J2_Drookasi said:

The 13th (most recent) issue of the Circus Post has been republished in order to correct a mistake in the number of ground kills credited to certain pilots. All the corrections are now depicted in bold letters. The positioning of the pilots in the HoF (G) is also accordingly corrected.

 

We apologize for the misinformation and for the liqueur wasted in celebrating non-existing kills. The reporter responsible for the error has been kicked out of the newspaper and was sent to the trenches.

 

Can I ask you how you got to 135 ground kills in one vlife for me?

 

It looks like I got 57 in January (2020) and 75 in February, but that's 132. Or did you also add the 2 air kills and 1 assist?

 

In March I was unfortunately sent home with the Spanish It's Just a Flu. My Central pilot did not survive and was only recently reincarnated crumpet side.

 

Edited February 2, 2021 by =IRFC=Hellbender

[J2_Drookasi]

2 hours ago, =IRFC=Hellbender said:

 

Can I ask you how you got to 135 ground kills in one vlife for me?

 

It looks like I got 57 in January (2020) and 75 in February, but that's 132. Or did you also add the 2 air kills and 1 assist?

 

In March I was unfortunately sent home with the Spanish It's Just a Flu. My Central pilot did not survive and was only recently reincarnated crumpet side.

 

 

Those, plus 3 from here:

http://stats.jasta5.org:8000/en/vlifes/80/=IRFC=Hellbender/?tour=30

 

Total 57+75+3=135

Edited February 2, 2021 by J2_Drookasi

[ST_Catchov]

3 hours ago, J2_Drookasi said:

The reporter responsible for the error has been kicked out of the newspaper and was sent to the trenches.

 

What I don't understand is why you let Larner back in the first place ?

[JGr2/J5_Mueller]

A Gentlemans Duel,

           Yesterday afternoon while most of Jadgstaffel 5 and Shlasta 27b were enjoying copious amounts of beir and shnapps, to wash down the sausages and saurkraut,i didnt retire to the Chateau with the others, something was calling me back to my plane. A stirring that food cannot satiate, so i donned my flight gear and took off in my DR1 and headed out in a direction south of Bapaume. Before i took off Herr Loppnow saw me preparing to depart and having just returned from a bombing sortie in the north reported there were no enemy in those sectors. Therefore i headed south. I climbed the machine for all it was worth and headed into the setting sun southwest, toward the muddy no mans land, strangely quiet, a lull in the fighting. Flying by yourself presents a soleness of focus, a peaceful state where your senses are heightened, like the tip of a pyramid all things fall away and are replaced with a preoccupation with the now.

           I climbed up past 2000m the land below becoming a patchwork of greens and tans,  the no mans land approaching looked dark and foreboding as i saw sporadic machine gun fire on the ground from those who shared the calling of battle at this late hour like myself. I scanned the skies in all directions, constantly checking my 6 and above, blocking the suns glare with my wing to observe anyone diving on me from the west. Then in the distance a lone plane, higher than myself and climbing, approached from the west. Instantly, i recognized the distinct outline of a Spadxiii! I realized a lone enemy climbing out over the front on a solo hunting sortie at this hour could likely be a pilot of great skill and cunning, having lost many comrades in recent times to skilled spad flights, those images flashed through my mind, were there others lurking higher? Waiting in the sun for me to attack this lone plane? I tracked the lone spad as he continued eastward, toward me. Almost stalling the DR1 i cut the mixture back for more power and asended higher, higher, I must get above him, but he was climbing as well, and i could feel his stare and intentions to attack me from kilometers away. I had to decide now, turn to face him or away and back over my own lines, my hand moved by instinct to the right as i lined up an intercept course, still lower i would enter the fight at a disadvantage, but it would be ahead on pass, like knights of the middle ages in the lists pointed toward one another there was no turning back now. I was committed.

           The enemy pilot dove hard at me and I strove to keep my gunsights directly on his cowling, breathe, stay smooth, the reminders coming from sortie after sortie, dont jerk the trigger, smooth pull, almost in range...... almost....., NOW!!!! I squeezed the trigger and my guns sprang to life, blazing lead toward the fast approaching spad, flaming barrels obscuring my sight picture, the smell of cordite filled my nostrils, as the spent brass showered back around my cockpit, adrenaline surged into my blood stream as the enemy pilot opened fire as well, the sounds of ripping cloth and pranging metal all along my aircraft, it shuddered as the rounds impacted from closer and closer still, focus your aim, get some hits!!!! I scolded myself hold, hold.......,and with a woosh we passed so close i could see the  steel faced determination on the other pilots face, the grim look of a deadly killer practicing his craft for the umpteenth time. I swung my head to follow as he passed and the DR1 responded instantly to the right to set in pursuit of my brave foe, questions flooded my mind, did i hit him? how is my plane? are there other enemies about? My senses providing answers by the microsecond, processing the inputs and creating a model in my minds eye of the battlespace.

           Assessment, i had survived the head on pass, my engine was good still despite some damage to the airframe and i had my foe in sight and in range with plenty of rounds still on board, Open fire! Again i smoothly squeezed the trigger using the ring sight in comparison to the size of the target to estimate range and hold over as my target rapidly increased the separation, DAMN!!! I missed!!! and the spad driver skillfully maintained the boom and zoom doctrine and used the spads speed to attempt to outreach my fire. Fire again!!!! the stattacco, dumf,  dumf,  dumf,  dumf of my maxims built my aggression and the adrenaline fueled my bloodlust as i pitched the DR1 forward into the dive, straining the tachometer past the redline wondering if the engine would hold....... FIRE!!!! hes almost out of range!!!! Flames spout from my guns ,tracer rounds chased after the Spad like hounds on the sent trail, leaving spirals of steam as they cut through the cold air at altitude.Down we dove and i think at the same instant my foe and myself realized his direction of attack had placed him on an Eastward trajectory towards our lines. In an attempt to correct this he began a slow left turn around trough north and back towards his own side.

           This i felt was an opportunity to attack yet again and i banked hard left, winging over to get a gun solution at closer range, quickly estimating hold over and lead for the now approaching snap shot, Pow!!!! I fired again and seeing the results as dust and paint fluffed off the Spads outer skin.. Yes, again fire!!! with mixed results and then hes already almost out of range. I have spent my energy on the snapshot and am quickly falling behind, once more for good measure i fire, no hits!! /damn!!!  I swear i can hear him cackling in laughter beneath his scarf as he pitches forward and speeds towards friendly lines .As i pursue him im thinking of chess in my mind, My instinct and adrenaline fueled, hell bent, smoke breathing, fire belching animal self wants to persue and kill, but, hes outrunning me, and he can outclimb me, we are rapidly approaching his territory and vulnerable at low altitude. Check 360, I scan in all directions, the front is erily quiet as if our absolute focus on one another has drown out everything else, no ground fire, no explosions, no other aircraft are around, so think it through now and quickly if you are to survive. This pilot is no fool, he is controlling the fight and dragging you back to his side where eventually he will gain altitude advantage once again and turn to attack, then you cannot escape as he is faster and you die or are captured, not good!

           So, then time to break off, having an altitude advantage i break left out of direct pursuit but looking back over my shoulder to observe my foes reaction carefully. what will his next move be? Im still just over no mans land and now heading south but wait!!! He is most certainly not heading back to base,,, hes climbing!!!! This means only one thing,  this fight is not over, i need every wing on this thing to get me some air as i pull back, careful not too much, maintain at least maneuvering airspeed. Now chess again, i cant out climb him hes rapidly approaching equal altitude and can soon attack me again, so i turn East to increase separation, maybe he will take the bait and follow me. No!  instead he turns north and i am forced to mirror his move to maintain visual contact, ahhh this one is good, i really need to take care here. So now its my move i climb and bank north west, He mirrors my move heading northeast, The joust is on once again, to the lists, Knights of the air!!!!

          As the separation decreases we continue to bank slightly towards each other now approaching a direct collision course. At near equal altitude it will be a meatgrinder of lead and a recipe for instant death, this is the second time this brave pilot has tempted fate and so boldly attacked, he must be confident that this pass will slay me, i steel myself with the same resolve that this will be his last pass as well, but i will fly home to Boistrancourt with his rudder tucked under my arm, for proper hanging in the Beirstraub. Now we get near and its time to focus.

          The engine sounds diminish in your consciousness ,your vision tunnels, your hands and feet feverishly work the controls to hold the plane on target, here he comes!!!!! Ratatatatatat!!!!!!! We both open fire at the same instant and tracers and smoke trails swarm out both directions, holding the trigger down im gritting my teeth against the hits pinging off my engine cowling and through my wings and down my fuselage, How much punishment will it take? I must be hitting him, why has he not turned?, maybe hes dead and hurtling toward me , closer , closer, and at almost 50 meters we pull out, i look back but hes not there, ahhhh!!! where has he gone???  He down? I must find him, the frantic search for awareness of the situation has begun,,,  ahhh haaa hes turned underneath me back towards his side, i dive in pursuit.

          Firing as i dive, the DR1 is creaking under the strain, as my awareness increases i hear a faint ticking from the cowl, i look at the ammo counters running low now, my wings are showing clear damage and perhaps now is as good time as any to attempt to disengage. I slowly begin ruddering left out of direct pursuit, and fire a few short bursts as i do so to encourage his retreat, as well as enable my own retreat from this noble engagement, as i fear a third trip down the lists against this highly skilled ,courageous and daring Spad pilot might assuredly be my last, i turn sharply east away from him, and look back over my shoulder, he slowly descends towards his lines and in the direction of his aerodrome, possibly i think even from this distance i can barely discern his angled and outstretched arm, flexing in a motion from his brow down the side of his goggle and scarf covered face. A Salute!!! I proudly swivel fully in my cockpit, soberly and carefully return the gesture in kind, Salute my enemy and my friend, a good and noble fight this day we did have, until we meet again, Salute my friend!

Edited February 3, 2021 by J5_Mueller

[J2_Drookasi]

What a narration! Worthy of a book! Salute indeed J5_Mueller, you excellent shooter and really great fighter pilot. 

[JGr2/J5_Mueller]

Thank you J2_Drookasi, it is the story of our engagement from yesterday as im sure you know, great shooting from you as well as great piloting skill, always a pleasure to fly with or against you sir S!

[Guest deleted@83466]

 

[J2_Drookasi]

Edited February 7, 2021 by J2_Drookasi

[J2_Drookasi]

 

 

Edited March 28, 2021 by J2_Drookasi

[J2_Drookasi]

Edited March 28, 2021 by J2_Drookasi

[1PL-KJ-1Esk]

There are rumors of a pilot that crashes on the 1PL guys ....;) investigation in process 

[No.23_Triggers]

23 minutes ago, 1PL-KJ-1Esk said:

There are rumors of a pilot that crashes on the 1PL guys ....;) investigation in process 

As in deliberate ram? 

[1PL-Husar-1Esk]

Who knows really,  some players are dangerously reckless, always trying to "help" when help is not needed.

[1PL-Sahaj-1Esk]

Sir @J2_Drookasi

 

that below paragrapgh needs an edit I guess. I received the Order of the Red Eagle 3rd Class, with Crown and Swords for flying for the German side as the 2nd pilot after you.

 

S!

 

 

Edited February 22, 2021 by 1PL-Sahaj-1Esk

[No.23_Triggers]

1 hour ago, 1PL-Husar-1Esk said:

Who knows really,  some players are dangerously reckless, always trying to "help" when help is not needed.

Ohhhh, right. The "Friendly" that always tries to clear your 12 O'clock...what a rotten way to lose an exceptional streak...

[1PL-Sahaj-1Esk]

It was a full speed collision, with instant death, like my last longer streak as well. You know, I don't want to call out names etc. sometimes it is just not enough when only one pilot wants to avoid a collision ?

[1PL-KJ-1Esk]

any news from the front?

[[NLR]FreeKill]

Sad when your worst enemy isn't the people on the other side of the front, but the people that you are supposed to call friendly. I had this happen to my twice in a week by the same guy. He was escorting me and liked to showpony around me while I'm flying to the target and now has twice ended a streak of mine that otherwise would have been a really nice streak. Starting to miss getting killed by the enemy at this point.

[J2_Drookasi]

Edited March 28, 2021 by J2_Drookasi

[No.23_Triggers]

Really enjoying the 'informational' on SA. Great idea to add 'tips' to the post.

Also liked the little tidbit on Jean Navarre - the "Sentinel of Verdun"! Navarre was also wearing Red ahead of the trend  


 

[US103_Baer]

SA anticipation, nice!

 

@J2_Drookasi Just for the record, my current streak is 54 (49 PvP) as there are 22 (18 pvp) carried over from Q4 2020. Still a long way from the top guys of course, but who knows, this might be the one!

 

Keep up the great work.

[J2_Drookasi]

18 hours ago, US28_Baer said:

Just for the record, my current streak is 54 (49 PvP) as there are 22 (18 pvp) carried over from Q4 2020.

Copy that Baer! All, please understand that it is almost impossible for me to follow streaks carried from previous 'reporting periods' of the stats parser. In the case that I have missed something as in the case of Baer here please let me know and I shall make amendments.

[J2_Von-Graff]

Yup, thanks so much Drookasi for fielding and reporting on all of these elements. It takes time and effort and we thank you for it! For long term campaigners like Baer and myself it's our pleasure to do the math for these extended streaks. Mine goes back all the way to Spring last year with 35 total and 22-PVP, for which I recently gained the Pour Le Merite. So for the more realism based flyers out there who value your long term existence, tabulate your totals honestly and let Drook know, and that way the ongoing tallies and Circus Posts can be more accurate and interesting. Thanks again Drookasi for adding even more color and depth to our experience in Flying Circus.

 

Von Graff>

[NO.20_Krispy_Duck]

Navarre was an interesting figure in some of the same ways as Nungesser was. I've seen various representations of the red Nieuport scheme, and that one looks like it matches the black and white photos of the plane that I have seen. I've also seen representations of an all-red Nieuport, including the wings and cowling. The one photograph I have in one of my books shows what appears to be a lighter colored wing with dark outlining, and aluminum colored cowling, at least as best as could be inferred from black and white. It's possible that like so many other aces, he had a couple variations of the paint scheme. But that plane certainly would have stood out during his time around Verdun.

[J2_Drookasi]

Edited March 28, 2021 by J2_Drookasi

[J2_Drookasi]

 

 

 

 

Edited March 28, 2021 by J2_Drookasi

[J2_Drookasi]

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 30, 2021 by J2_Drookasi

[J2_Drookasi]

[J2_Drookasi]