"Ace of Aces" - WWII Challenge!

[Varibraun]

Calling all Pilots wanting to prove their mettle!  I am throwing down the gauntlet to see who can exceed WWII's leading aces when their virtual life is at risk in an Iron Man Campaign.  It's never too late to join, there are plenty of IRL Rivals to challenge, and fate will claim many of our virtual challengers along the way. 

 

Reward Update:  Our very first "Ace of Aces" (in any category) will also add a "Steel Birds" Scripted Campaign to their library.  VERY FIRST claimed by @Monksilver 11 July - Nice work!  Thank you for the hard work @BlackSix!  I will also substitute "Steel Birds" (or any Scripted Campaign of your choice) for the listed category reward in case you want to take on a Rival where you already have that item.

 

Current rewards claimed by our virtual "Ace of Aces:"

 

C-47 - @Monksilver & @Hastati (Tied) 11 July 2021 - bested Rival: Clostermann (French Ace of Aces)

BoN - @Eisenfaustus 23 July 2021 - bested Rival: Mölders (1st 100 Victory Ace of Aces)

Yak-9T - @justin_z3r0 24 July 2021 - bested Rival: Albert (Normandie-Nieman Ace of Aces)

U-2VS - @grcurmudgeon 3 Aug 2021 - bested Rival: Litvyak (Female Ace of Aces)

Ju-52/3m - @oc2209 3 Aug 2021 - bested Rival: Martinoli (Italian Ace of Aces)

Flying Circus Vol I - @justin_z3r0 24 Aug 2021 - bested Rival: Pattle (Commonweath Ace of Aces)

BoK Premium - @oFlyingDutchman 11 Oct 2021 - bested Rival: Bong (USA Ace of Aces)

BoBp Premium - @Varibraun 16 Oct 2021 - bested Rival: Kozhedub (Allies Ace of Aces)

Spitfire V - @grcurmudgeon 6 Jan 2022 - bested Rival: Beurling (Canadian Ace of Aces)

Hurricane & FC I - @FTC_DerSheriff 28 Jan 2022 - bested Rival: Johnson (UK Ace of Aces) *Reward donated to 2nd pilot besting JJ (TBD)

BoN - @IV./JG51-P_Mainz 13 May 2022 - bested Rival: Hartmann (THE Ace of Aces)!

 

I hope this challenge will provide some entertainment for all, plus it will allow me to make a small "thank you" donation to the Devs for their great work by offering a reward to the first pilots besting their chosen historical rival.  If you are the first to meet your chosen challenge you can either take the reward, direct it to a friend, or offer it to the community.  I will also send Pat a virtual beer/coffee when each of these first "Ace of Aces" is claimed to thank him for all his work making each of these categories possible. The challenge rules and categories follow:

 

To accept the challenge:

1. Post in this thread that you are entering AND include the Ace Rival (category) you choose to challenge.

 

*First rewards won't be provided if you didn't post here that you were entering BEFORE you begin your chosen challenge category campaign.  The IRL aces usually knew their rivals.

 

*For IL-2 Career Mode:

 

2.  Create a new IRONMAN Career matching the nationality of the Ace Rival you choose to challenge (any timeframe and squadron is fine).

 

3.  Be sure to check the Ironman box on the lower left "Character Setup" screen - below the pilot portrait column.  We are on the honor system here, but the point is to have some small appreciation of the challenges your IRL rival faced. 

 

4.  Prior to each mission, use a random number generator (or die) to generate a number 1 - 3.  Under the Options setting pick the Difficulty Level of that mission to match the random number: 1 = Easy; 2 = Moderate; 3 = Hard.  These settings control the AI level for the mission and will add some RL randomness to each flight.  (Pick the other settings to your preference based on your system).

 

5.  Once you have bested your Rival, come back here to claim your "Ace of Aces" title.  The first one in each remaining category can also claim the reward for that category.  You need to post the following 3 Career screenshots to claim a "First" reward:

 

-Pilot Screen (top) reflecting the pilot photo, bio & date/timeline.

-Pilot Screen (bottom) reflecting your victory totals and awards.

-World News screen reflecting date and aces.

 

*For PWCG Career:

 

2. Create a new "Dead is Dead - Ace of Aces" PWCG SP or Coop campaign that matches your chosen Rival PWCG category from the choices below.

 

3. In the "Advanced Config" PWCG Menu "Select Max Pilot Injury" = 4 (Death). 

 

Follow these menus if you haven't done PWCG before (the PWCG sub-forum community is also very helpful if you have questions):

Main Campaign Menu==>Configuration==>Advanced Config==>Campaign Preferences button==>Select Max Pilot Injury: 4 (the default is 3).

 

4. Fly your pilot in an unforgiving, no matter what, "Iron Man - Dead is Dead" Mode.  We are on the honor system here, but the point is to have some small appreciation of the challenges your IRL rival faced. 

 

For example, if a "not my fault" event like a computer crash along the way takes out your pilot, think about how many aces died in flying accidents.  Unlike McCudden and Marseille, just to name two, you at least get to start over with a NEW pilot if your flying machine (computer) kills you.  Or maybe you get tempted to restart the mission because your stupid A/I wingman doesn't know when to hold his fire, then remember that Bader spent most of the war as a POW likely because of the same event.  So, please honor the spirit of the challenge - no do-overs, no unlimited ammo, etc.

 

5.  Once you have bested your Rival, come back here to claim your "Ace of Aces" title.  The first one in each remaining category can also claim the reward for that category.  You need to post the following 4 PWCG screenshots to claim a "First" reward:

 

-Main Squadron Menu Board reflecting the pilot board, squadron identification, airfield & date.

-1st Page of your Pilot Logbook reflecting your victory totals AND your first victory date from the right side.

-Last Page of you Pilot Logbook reflecting your last victory date.

-Your Awards and Citations Medal Box/Pilot Screen.

 

(Again, we are on the honor system here and I am not going to overly scrutinize claims, but I won't award the "First" title/reward if the claim is too incredible - like someone shows up tomorrow to claim the Hartmann reward).

 

Challenge Rivals/Categories & "First" Rewards:

(The +1 score reflected is based on Wikipedia, so I realize there will be disagreement, but I have to use a benchmark).

 

Rival: Litvyak (Female Ace of Aces)

PWCG Category: VVS, any Yak-1 squadron, female Russian pilot name & photo

Ace of Aces Score (+1 above historical): 13

Reward: U-2 (keep up the support for those other brave Soviet female pilots) - CLAIMED

IL2 First Ace of Aces: @grcurmudgeon

Challengers:

@grcurmudgeon

@ShamrockOneFive

@Duce_de_Zoop

 

Rival: Martinoli (Italian Ace of Aces)

PWCG Category: Regia Aeronautica

Ace of Aces Score (+1 above historical): 23

Reward: JU-52 (Mussolini will need it in a couple years) - CLAIMED

IL2 First Ace of Aces: @oc2209

Challengers:

@Topeka

@oc2209

 

Rival: Albert (Normandie-Nieman Ace of Aces)

PWCG Category: Normandie

Ace of Aces Score (+1 above historical): 24

Reward: Yak-9T (the French girls love a big cannon) - CLAIMED

IL2 First Ace of Aces: @justin_z3r0

Challengers:

@justin_z3r0

 

Rival: Beurling (Canadian Ace of Aces)

PWCG Category: Royal Canadian Air Force

Ace of Aces Score (+1 above historical): 32

Reward: Spit-V (Malta is coming...right?) - CLAIMED

IL2 First Ace of Aces: @grcurmudgeon

Challengers:

@Hartsblade

@oFlyingDutchman

@ShamrockOneFive

@busdriver

@Peregryn

@=RS=Funkie

@grcurmudgeon

 

Rival: Clostermann (French Ace of Aces)

PWCG Category: Free French

Ace of Aces Score (+1 above historical): 34

Reward: C-47 (putting 1st boots on the ground to free France) - CLAIMED

IL2 First Ace of Aces: @Monksilver & @Hastati (Tied)

Challengers:

@Hastati

@Monksilver

@Siv5122

 

Rival: Johnson (UK Ace of Aces)

PWCG Category: Royal Air Force

Ace of Aces Score (+1 above historical): 39

Reward: Hurricane (Johnnie just missed the BoB...but what if?) & Flying Circus I (for the last regular Rival bested)

IL2 First Ace of Aces: @FTC_DerSheriff

Challengers:

@No105_Swoose

@kozmo514

@Requiem

@grcurmudgeon

@FTC_DerSheriff

 

Rival: Bong (USA Ace of Aces)

PWCG Category: United States Army Air Force

Ace of Aces Score (+1 above historical): 41

Reward: BoK Premium (You are best from the US, now try the East in a P-39) - CLAIMED

IL2 First Ace of Aces: @oFlyingDutchman

Challengers:

@chrisnj96

@PatrickAWlson

@Hotaru_Ito

@oFlyingDutchman

 

Rival: Pattle (Commonweath Ace of Aces)

PWCG Category: Royal Air Force

Ace of Aces Score (+1 above historical): 42

Reward: Your choice - Hurricane OR Flying Circus Vol I (are you more impressed by his prowess in the mono or the biplane?) - CLAIMED

IL2 First Ace of Aces: @justin_z3r0

Challengers:

@justin_z3r0

 

Rival: Kozhedub (Allies Ace of Aces)

PWCG Category: Voyenno-Vozdushnye Sily

Ace of Aces Score (+1 above historical): 67

Reward: BoBp Premium (I didn't add the 2 P-51s to his score, so they are your reward) - CLAIMED

IL2 First Ace of Aces: @Varibraun

Challengers:

@Varibraun

@grcurmudgeon

@oc2209

@ShamrockOneFive

@Duce_de_Zoop

@justin_z3r0

@oFlyingDutchman

@krebs

 

Rival: Mölders (1st 100 Victory Ace of Aces)

PWCG Category: Luftwaffe

Ace of Aces Score (+1 above historical 1st): 101

Reward: BoN Premium (with that score, see if you can bring your Luftwaffe buddies for day at the beach on 6/6/44) - CLAIMED

IL2 First Ace of Aces: @Eisenfaustus

Challengers:

@Eisenfaustus

@grcurmudgeon

@Oskar_GD

@Hetzer-JG51

 

Rival: Hartmann (THE Ace of Aces)

PWCG Category: Any (You can also carry on from any of the Rivals/categories above, in which case you are already entered).

Ace of Aces Score (+1 above historical): 353

Reward: Any GB product of your choice (you are THE Ace of Aces after all!)

IL2 First Ace of Aces: @IV./JG51-P_Mainz

Challengers:

@Eisenfaustus

@No105_Swoose

@grcurmudgeon

@Topeka

@Hastati

@Oskar_GD

@Monksilver

@chrisnj96

@justin_z3r0

@Siv5122

@Hetzer-JG51

@ShamrockOneFive

@Duce_de_Zoop

@Varibraun

@Hartsblade

@oc2209

@PatrickAWlson

@kozmo514

@Requiem

@Hotaru_Ito

@oFlyingDutchman

@krebs

@[F.Circus]FrangibleCover

@IV./JG51-P_Mainz

@FTC_DerSheriff

 

 

Good luck & remember to check your 6...the AI can shoot straight and you can't keep scoring from a smoking crater!!

 

 

 

Edited May 14, 2022 by Varibraun

[Eisenfaustus]

What a splendid idea! This evening I‘ll update my pwcg and than I‘ll compete with Werner Mölders. Although my impatience will most likely get me killed in my third mission ?

[No105_Swoose]

1 hour ago, Eisenfaustus said:

What a splendid idea! ?

I agree that it's a splendid idea and thank you @Varibrown for coming up with it!  A great way for a SP to test air combat skills and the amazing capabilities of PWCG.  I will try to exceed leading RAF ace Johnnie Johnson.  

[grcurmudgeon]

I could use BoN and love the idea, so I'll go after Molders. Of course I've been sticking strictly to allied aircraft so far, so now I have to go buy at least the 109G-6 to help me with this...

[=EAustral=Topeka]

Nice idea!Teresio Martinoli  (Reggia Aeronautica) here

 

[Hastati]

I'll be taking on Clostermann.

 

I assume for this challenge we will be using full Claims rules as well? High command can be quite fickle sometimes after all.

Edited June 26, 2021 by Hastati

[Eisenfaustus]

On the 29th of may 1942 young Leutnant Richard Freiherr von Falkenbach reports for Duty at HQ I./JG 51 "Mölders" at Timashevskaya.

Raised by a strict father in the firm belief that a prussian baron is not superior by nature but has to prove his superiority to be worthy of his title he volunteered right after finishing school. At first he wanted to join the U-boat crews of the Kriegsmarine but figured the war might already be won before he got to command his own boat. So he joined the Luftwaffe aspiring to become the red baron of this war to fullfill his families high expectations. Gruppenkommandeur Maj Markus Apfelbaum gives him one day to settle in. On the first of june 0600 he'll fly his first mission. Oberleutnant Liebleins Schwarm will be flying a high altitude patrol to intercept russian reconnaissance aircraft...

Von Falkenbach impatiently looks forward to this. He will prove his worth! He will be the ace of aces or die trying...

 

[Varibraun]

2 hours ago, Hastati said:

I'll be taking on Clostermann.

 

I assume for this challenge we will be using full Claims rules as well? High command can be quite fickle sometimes after all.

 

Ah yes, Clostermann and claims' controversy...lol!  In PWCG you have to claim your kills, so you don't have to share if you feel you should be credited.  You will get the full kill credit if Pat's claims' algorithm agrees with you.   Good luck! 

[Hastati]

1 hour ago, Varibraun said:

 

Ah yes, Clostermann and claims' controversy...lol!  In PWCG you have to claim your kills, so you don't have to share if you feel you should be credited.  You will get the full kill credit if Pat's claims' algorithm agrees with you.   Good luck! 

 

I actually had been confused and was thinking of Wings Over Flander's claim system, which has claims settings, and on the full realism setting can be brutally unfair sometimes, especially for planes shot down past the front lines, as it requires a witness most times.

Edited June 26, 2021 by Hastati

[Hastati]

Well my first career, as Warrant Officer Aubert Huppet of the 326 Squadron, Royal Air Force ended on it's 2nd mission.

 

Those flak batteries are just harmless enough to catch you off guard when one of them actually has a gunner who can aim. Dead before we even hit the ground.

 

 

[PatrickAWlson]

20 hours ago, Varibraun said:

 

Ah yes, Clostermann and claims' controversy...lol!  In PWCG you have to claim your kills, so you don't have to share if you feel you should be credited.  You will get the full kill credit if Pat's claims' algorithm agrees with you.   Good luck! 

 

PWCG emulates this perfectly, as it is very lenient in awarding victories.  You can over claim like mad if you want to.  If you were anywhere near the downed plane and the plane is not definitively shot down by somebody else you will get credit.  Sort of like real life.

[Eisenfaustus]

On his eleventh day at the front during his nineteenth sortie Leutnant von Falkenbach met his fate...

Major Apfelbaum had high hopes for the young officer. During the 5 Sorties that actually involved aerial combat von Falkenbach manged to shoot down 23 enemy aircraft. But on the 9th of June flying as elemnt leader he got fixated on his target and didn't see the MiG 3 stalking him. His wingman locked in a turnfight himself didn't warn him either. The burst took out the Kommandogerät and send him spinning. While he managed to regain control the engine overrevved and died. After belly landing on the wrong side of the frontline he tried to evade capture and when chellenged by a soviert sentry he drew his pistol - but the rifleman proved to be faster...

Major will send the boys iron cross, that is still on it's way to be awarded, to von Falkenbachs father, along with a letter stating that Richard is MIA and expressing the hope he might return after the war...

 

What a pitty - but hey I got three missions farther than I predicted ^^

Edited June 27, 2021 by Eisenfaustus

[sevenless]

On 6/25/2021 at 11:55 PM, Varibraun said:

 

Rival: Johnson (UK Ace of Aces)

PWCG Category: Royal Air Force

Ace of Aces Score (+1 above historical): 39

Reward: Hurricane (Johnnie just missed the BoB...but what if?)

 

 

 

Very often forgotten: Pat Pattle

 

Pat Pattle - Wikipedia

[Varibraun]

2 hours ago, sevenless said:

Very often forgotten: Pat Pattle

 

Pat Pattle - Wikipedia

 

You are of course correct...and I even read the Pattle book "Ace of Aces" this year.  In the Wikipedia aces list, they keep Johnson as tops for the UK and have Pattle under South Africa.

 

To make amends, I will add Pattle as another RAF Rival tomorrow and add another Hurricane reward, which seems appropriate for him.  Thank you!

[Eisenfaustus]

Richards younger brother Georg had always admired him and joined the Lw as soon as he could to follow his footsteps. The news that his brother went missing was hard on him. Originally in training for dive bombers he asked to become a fighter pilot and be allowed to join his brothers old unit. End of April 1943 he arrives at I/JG51 Mölders in the Kuban area. His first mission is scheduled 1st of may. 

Edited June 28, 2021 by Eisenfaustus

[Varibraun]

@sevenless - I added Pattle, thanks again for refreshing my recollection.  I am embarrassed to have read his amazing story during the pandemic and then left him out just by sorting nationality lists in hitting all the PWCG campaign categories.  I thought it would be a nice touch to offer a choice of rewards for his status to recognize his victories in the Gladiator.

 

@Eisenfaustus - Great bios and narratives, please keep it up!

 

@Hastati - Yeah, as you know, flak took out several of the best (including "friendly" fire ending Preddy's life, he likely would have otherwise led the US European aces).  I think PWCG does a pretty good job of providing some idea of the amazing accomplishment of these pilots with the dangers they faced, especially when you are playing true Ironman.  I look forward to hearing about your next attempt.

 

Edited June 28, 2021 by Varibraun

[No105_Swoose]

I'm also enjoying reading Eisenfaustus's bios and narratives.  Unfortunately my virtual pilot Warrant Officer Tom Holland of Number 66 Squadron under the command of Squadron Leader Johnnie Johnson met his demise on 23 December.  He was #4 of a four-ship formation on a low altitude patrol mission.  Weather was overcast at 5,000 feet with snow and ground fog.  Shortly after reaching patrol altitude of about 4,500 the formation encountered four FW-190D9s and proceeded to engage them.  Holland pursued one into the clouds but lost him and briefly suffered vertigo and disorientation.   After breaking through the cloud cover Holland immediately began to look around and spotted the other Spitfire Mark XIVs engaging at least three of the FW-190D9s.  Holland was also constantly looking back in case the Dora he had chased into the clouds got on his six.  Unfortunately during all this looking around, normally a necessary action, Holland lost situational awareness.  He had been gradually circling lower and lower and the last thing he saw was the ground rushing up at him.  It was too late to pull up.  Really too bad.  Holland was a promising pilot with 19 missions and 20 kills to his credit.  ?  Now it will be up to Warrant Officer Richard Attenborough flying Tempest Mark Vs with Number 56 Squadron to take up the challenge.   Can Attenborough survive and score enough air-to-air kills to meet the challenge?  The Germans are rampaging in the Ardennes in the soon-to-be-named Battle of the Bulge, but otherwise their days are numbered and the war in Europe is heading towards a close.

 

 

Edited June 28, 2021 by No105_Swoose
Corrected word order

[Hastati]

It was on the 4th mission, with 3 kills to his name, that Guillaume Nicollier met his fate. A single bullet to the back of the skull while bombing an infantry platoon.

[Panzerlang]

I haven't entered Otto in the competition (very generous Varibraun  ) but he's doing well without that extra incentive, all he wanted was a cure for his throat-ache. ?

72 sorties (3 for 1 in the settings to keep a more realistic show) and 52 kills so far. He had to bail once and has bellied twice.

 

[grcurmudgeon]

I'm only 7 missions in (less time to fly than others), but I'm loving the 109F. Finally got the F-4 with the 20mm, but even with the 15 things go down much faster. 12 kills so far, I've had to bail twice including surviving a collision with a Pe-2 when I was careless cutting through the formation, and I've landed 3 sorties with oil all over the windshield, but this 109 is much more deadly than the Mig-3s and La's I've been flying. Last mission my flight leader and I tangled with 3 LaGGs, he got one, I got two, at the end he went off to land but I still had 1/3 ammo left so I went hunting. There were some 202s on the radio trying to down some il-2s, found them and got one before I was down to BBs and had to head home. I think that was the first plane I've landed needing just a rearm / refuel before heading back up in this career.

[Varibraun]

9 hours ago, Hetzer-JG51 said:

I haven't entered Otto in the competition

 

Hi @Hetzer-JG51 - I was actually hoping you (and your brother in Coop?) might take up one of the challenges with a new pilot.  I knew you play Ironman, and honestly, it was your post over the the PWCG "Interesting Missions" thread about Maj Sigard Falke's last fateful mission with 146 victories that got me thinking about this idea of an "Ace of Aces" Challenge. 

 

I thought it was impressive that you were almost 1/2 way to Hartmann.  Especially in light of the improving A/I (thank you @Jason_Williams for finding the A/I programmer), combined with the unpredictable nature of the enemy encounters in PWCG (including timing & # E/A faced), variety of skill A/I skill levels, and new Iconic Events.  It also brought home the point again that now matter how skilled, it just takes a moment of inattention or bad luck to end the run.  Then, I thought it would be interesting to see how it might play out within the community if virtual pilots were willing to play a true Ironman compared to the IRL scores.  So, thank you (and I think you should take a LW break and challenge Pattle since I don't see FC with your badges)!

 

23 hours ago, Hastati said:

Guillaume Nicollier met his fate

 

Great screenshot...BTW!

 

On 6/28/2021 at 1:51 PM, No105_Swoose said:

Holland was a promising pilot with 19 missions and 20 kills to his credit.  ?  Now it will be up to Warrant Officer Richard Attenborough flying Tempest Mark Vs with Number 56 Squadron to take up the challenge.

 

As always, nice writeup Swoose, those low clouds and ground fog add another danger that took out so many pilots.  I am feeling good about WO Attenborough...the Tempest is a true beast if you are careful along the way.

 

3 hours ago, grcurmudgeon said:

12 kills so far, I've had to bail twice

 

Good, but scary, start @grcurmudgeon! 

[Panzerlang]

1 hour ago, Varibraun said:

I thought it was impressive that you were almost 1/2 way to Hartmann.  Especially in light of the improving A/I (thank you @Jason_Williams for finding the A/I programmer), combined with the unpredictable nature of the enemy encounters in PWCG (including timing & # E/A faced), variety of skill A/I skill levels, and new Iconic Events.  It also brought home the point again that now matter how skilled, it just takes a moment of inattention or bad luck to end the run.  Then, I thought it would be interesting to see how it might play out within the community if virtual pilots were willing to play a true Ironman compared to the IRL scores.  So, thank you (and I think you should take a LW break and challenge Pattle since I don't see FC with your badges)!

 

I do have FC (and TC and BoN) but they're on my other account.

I don't think I'd last very long in an allied plane, too many levers and knobs.

Edited June 29, 2021 by Hetzer-JG51

[Willy__]

4 hours ago, Varibraun said:

I thought it was impressive that you were almost 1/2 way to Hartmann.  Especially in light of the improving A/I (thank you @Jason_Williams for finding the A/I programmer), combined with the unpredictable nature of the enemy encounters in PWCG (including timing & # E/A faced), variety of skill A/I skill levels, and new Iconic Events.  It also brought home the point again that now matter how skilled, it just takes a moment of inattention or bad luck to end the run.  Then, I thought it would be interesting to see how it might play out within the community if virtual pilots were willing to play a true Ironman compared to the IRL scores.  So, thank you (and I think you should take a LW break and challenge Pattle since I don't see FC with your badges)!

 

How's the AI compared to a year ago ? I dont have much time to play, but I'm willing to give it a go. Just dont want to be disappointed by the stupid AI once again

[Eisenfaustus]

His Staffelkapitän Hptm Sigwalt Kirschenbaum notices mainly two things about Georg von Falkenbach - he's a capable marksman and lucky as hell. In four sorties where he actually engaged the enemy he manged to shoot down 12 airplanes and to destroy 2 AA guns. What he did not manage to do is to land his Fw 190 intact on his home airfield. After two emergency landings, one crash landing and jumping in a parachute his superior explains to him in no uncertain terms that if he doesn't check his six more often and becomes a harder target for AA there is no way in hell he'll survive this war.

But the short time at the front seems to already have changed the once idealistic and philosophical young man noticably. After landing his first badly shot up fighter with bullet holes all around the cockpit area he had jumped out, ran for cover and vomited. From his last crash he climbed out of the Focke Wulfs remains with his parachute under his arm and walked without a word to the ground personel into the officer mess to check the table of duty for further missions.

That night when the pilots celebrate Georgs "birthday" he doesn't seem to be there. His smile seems shallow. After a comparable short time and having drank next to none of the excellent Crimea secco he hands some money to the Meibaum brothers, telling them to buy more drinks in his name for the others and excuses himself. Before going to sleep he writes to letters - one to his father and one to his sister. While the former reads basically like an after action report, the latter contains his conviction that neither he nor any of the pilots in his Gruppe will live to see the peace.

6 hours ago, Willy__ said:

 

How's the AI compared to a year ago ? I dont have much time to play, but I'm willing to give it a go. Just dont want to be disappointed by the stupid AI once again

Much better overall - but PWCG does an especially good job of creating believable AI behaviour compared to career mode. (Although the latter is still a very fun way to play the game with current AI imho)

Edited June 30, 2021 by Eisenfaustus

[Varibraun]

14 minutes ago, Willy__ said:

How's the AI compared to a year ago ?

 

Hi Willy - There have been good gradual improvements to individual A/I over the past year, the most immediately noticeable is much improved EA gunnery.  I think I remember from somewhere that the work is continuing and will begin focus on more team logic down the line.  So, don't expect huge improvements from your own wingmen.   You generally have to look after them more than they will look after you.  Don't forget to use the "follow me" command frequently when you are in lead, they do have a mind of their own at times, but will most often come back into the fold if you catch them soon enough.   

 

Also, I think playing Ironman helps to take some of your attention off A/I performance, especially when you are trying to survive to reach a goal.  One of the nice things about PWCG is that the squadrons will have different skill levels for each enemy pilot, and you may run into a lot of them on occasions depending on how the flights line up for that mission.  The "randomness" of each flight is wonderful and probably the most realistic recreation we have right now.  I am often thankful for some novice AI on the other side to help score some kills and get back home while looking over my shoulder for the ace EA fighting nicely in the vertical.

 

Bottom line - It would be great to have you pick a "Rival" and see what you think!

[Panzerlang]

*Sigh*. Ritterkreutzjager Otto Steiner had a head-on with a RAT (I16). 57 kills down the kyber.

Change of pace, we're a pair of public-school boys, flying with the RFC over the western front. DiD meets canvas and no chutes, ooer! ?

2nd Lt Sidney Chumley Warner reporting for duty sir!

Edited June 30, 2021 by Hetzer-JG51

[Eisenfaustus]

Georg died a soldiers death. He passed a Sturmovik he just attacked when the soviet pilot pulled up hard and the propeller cut into the young officer killing him on the spot. Just like his brother he was rewarded the iron cross posthumously.

A week later the letters of his family arrive. His father told him that a good soldier may die for his country but a great soldier survives the war, that he is very proud of Georg and wishes him to be carefull so he returns one day...

 

End of september 1944 5./JG 51 got a new Staffelkapitän - Hptm Ansgar Bergmann. Bergmann served as a Kampfflieger flying a Do-17 over Britain in 1940. When his bomber got mauled by a Hurricane he had managed to bring it home but bullet wound and several glas splinters in his body send him to a hospital for half a year after which he was considered unfit for frontline duty and send to a flying school. But the war progressed and Germany needed combat pilots. In spring 1944 he was considered fit to fight - but there was ne demand for Do-17 Jockeys anymore. What Germany needed at this point was fighter pilots - so he was retrained on the Me 109.

Bergmann never liked fighter pilots - undisciplined glory boys. But he will be Staffelkapitän - so the discipline problem will soon be gone. When he arrives at the his Staffel's new airfield he sees exactly what he feared. Four man standing next to a 109, smoking and laughing. An Oberleutnant without his cap fraternizing with an Obergefreiter aviator in open jacket and a third pilot in a civilian pullover without any rank insignia.The fourth in the group is a mechanic dillydallying along as well! When he shouts at the Oberleutnant to snap to attention the man just frowns at him. While the other two men start to smile the young man in the pullover introduces himself as Major Hechter, the Gruppenkommandeur. He explains to him that this kind of formality has no place in frontline fighter units, that he'll be only Staffelkapitän at the ground to do the paperwork and the Oberleutnant Nessler here will lead the Staffel in the air. Bergmann himself will fly as a wingman until he has proven to be a capable fighter pilot.

Bergmann doesn't know what to say - but after the Major has left he swears to himself that he'll show those arrogant pigdogs what a proper soldier can achieve - he will be the highest scorer of the Staffel soon!

[grcurmudgeon]

Mission 12 was boring - escort the Ju-88s to a spot in no-man's land then back. Uneventful - no AAA, no enemy fighters, no kills to pad my score

 

Mission 13 was a bit more interesting - load up the 109s with 250kg bombs, head 30km behind enemy lines, and bomb a train. We encountered a bit of flak but no fighters, circled around the target, and made our runs. I was used to dropping 50 or 100kg bombs and got a little too low on my drop, and the pressure wave damaged the engine. I was keeping a close eye on things the whole way home, but nothing else happened and we got home safely. Again, no score increases.

 

Mission 14 was back to an exciting patrol. We mixed it up some Mig-3s, one of which shot down a flight mate, but I did get one myself. Some I16s showed up, and reminded me why I always found that a fun little aircraft that was more effective at dogfighting than it appears at first glance - it retains quite a bit of maneuverability at a very low speed. I got behind one that was really good at getting into a slow scissors and we had an extended dogfight. He got in one or two head-on passes, but I worked the vertical well enough to avoid overshoots when I did get behind him, and eventually was able to line up the killing shot and get kill #20.

 

Only 81 more to go!

[grcurmudgeon]

And it ends on mission 15. After making a pass through some bombers and getting bounced by escort, dove back beneath the cloud cover and headed for the nearest airfield. At 150m the engine stopped responding to throttle. Should have ditched, tried bailing, was too low, KIA.

 

Attempt #2 coming up.

[Varibraun]

I have updated the OP to reflect the current challengers.  We don't have a challenger in several of the Rival categories yet, so still plenty of opportunities to get a head start.  With tomorrow being the USA 4th of July, someone really should jump into the USAAF and give Maj Bong a European challenger!   

 

Also, wanted to thank the posters above for some great stories along the way.  I think they are a nice tribute to the memories of their IRL "Rivals" and the dangers those amazing pilots faced in reaching their scores illustrating why they were the respective "Ace of Aces."

 

On 6/30/2021 at 5:19 PM, Eisenfaustus said:

Major has left he swears to himself that he'll show those arrogant pigdogs what a proper soldier can achieve - he will be the highest scorer of the Staffel soon!

 

@Eisenfaustus - I don't think he is going to be the one - I feel a regrettable "friendly" fire incident on Bergmann's horizon.   

 

19 hours ago, grcurmudgeon said:

At 150m the engine stopped responding to throttle. Should have ditched, tried bailing, was too low, KIA.

 

@grcurmudgeon - I think it was Krupinski (197 victories) who almost always chose to ride the wounded a/c down.  Including his first impression on Hartmann:

 

 

On 6/30/2021 at 3:14 PM, Hetzer-JG51 said:

Change of pace, we're a pair of public-school boys, flying with the RFC over the western front. DiD meets canvas and no chutes, ooer! ?

 

@Hetzer-JG51 - Yes, I think trying to best those WWI scores puts surviving this WWII challenge in perspective.

 

@No105_Swoose - I saw your post over in the PWCG forum, good call not engaging those flak nests!

 

Keep up the good work everyone! 

[Panzerlang]

The WW1 gig went a bit tits up, we were intermittently having missions where the bloody Camels wouldn't get off the deck, like something heavy was sitting on the top wing. 1400rpm, sometimes would take off sweet as a nut, other times no go. Weird. So we hopped in the time pod and waddaya know, WW2 again.

So it's Stukas now and they can be a proper pig too but they take off nicely.

[=EAustral=Topeka]

 

Domenico Riberi, 15 missions, 15 kills. Still in the fight, half of the missions came back with the engine sounding very bad and several holes all over the place.

[Hastati]

I'm submitting this before I log my latest mission, which I fear is the end of my latest pilot's career by POW. We were send on a 2 man patrol deep behind german lines to support paratroopers in Eindhoven on the 19th of September. We got jumped by 3 flights of germans with BF109s and FW190s, and the only friendly formation in the skies was a group of A20s, all who met their end rather quickly among the onslaught. Stupidly, instead of turning back, Warrant Officer Adrien Sabourin attempted to pick off one of the Germans who has gotten separated from the fracas and was already leaking some sort of fluid, the kind of easy kill he has often taken advantage of in the past. He never saw the fascist on his 6, one quick burst and his tail was inoperable, and one stall recovery attempt later, he knew he had to bail.

[No105_Swoose]

The 21st mission jinx strikes again, this time for Warrant Officer Tom Holland of Number 56 Squadron on 15 January 1945 on a ground attack free hunt mission to attack vehicle convoys in the vicinity of Doetinchem east of Arnhem.  Shortly after arriving in the target area, and about to start following a road east  leading to Doetinchem to look for vehicles, Holland's Tempest received a direct from an antiaircraft round, probably a Flak 36 37mm hit to the engine.  Holland barely had time to bail out but managed to do so.  He will spend the rest of the war as a guest of the Reich in various OFLAG POW camps.  The flak hit cut short a promising career highlighted by 19 kills, a DFC with Bar, and a DSO.  His younger brother James, newly arrived from the Commonwealth Air Training Program in Canada and just having completed a Tempest familiarization course with an OTU in England, will pick up the torch.  Will James be able to beat his brother's score or perhaps go on to be the highest ranking RAF ace in the 2nd TAF?  Only time will tell.  Things will become increasingly challenging as the Luftwaffe, decimated by losses suffered on the desperate Operation Bodenplatte missions on New Year's Day, is making fewer appearances in the area of operations.  Tom Holland shot down five aircraft that day; the pilots were probably novices with little to no operational experience.  Consequently Number 56 Squadron is receiving more very risky ground attack missions.  (Swoose Note: Echoing the sentiments of others participating in Ace of Aces, the contest has really made me focus on survival and avoid taking unnecessary risks that I may have done otherwise.  The flying has really improved my abilities in British fighters, something I've always wanted to do, and I've lasted many more missions than I think I would have otherwise, all the while seeing some amazing things over a virtual battlefield enhanced by PWCG).

[Hastati]

30 minutes ago, No105_Swoose said:

(Swoose Note: Echoing the sentiments of others participating in Ace of Aces, the contest has really made me focus on survival and avoid taking unnecessary risks that I may have done otherwise.  The flying has really improved my abilities in British fighters, something I've always wanted to do, and I've lasted many more missions than I think I would have otherwise, all the while seeing some amazing things over a virtual battlefield enhanced by PWCG).

Very much so, as mentioned I've found myself trying to spot the lone stragglers to pick off, staying out of trouble where possible. By the way, good news, Sabourin managed to get back to friendly lines, his career continues.

[Hastati]

And I spoke too soon, again, it seems to be direct hits to the pilot that are the bane of my existence, as the 11 kill, 20 sortie Pilot Officer Sabourin took lead to his chest this time while trying to take a JU-88 from behind.

[Varibraun]

11 hours ago, No105_Swoose said:

Swoose Note: Echoing the sentiments of others participating in Ace of Aces, the contest has really made me focus on survival and avoid taking unnecessary risks that I may have done otherwise.  The flying has really improved my abilities in British fighters, something I've always wanted to do, and I've lasted many more missions than I think I would have otherwise, all the while seeing some amazing things over a virtual battlefield enhanced by PWCG

 

Yes, @grcurmudgeon made a really good note on these points over in the the PWCG "Interesting Mission" thread where he ran into a Soviet Paradrop.  @PatrickAWlson's programming talent, historical interest and singular focus on improving the campaign experience has really brought some amazing missions to the table.  The addition of the Iconic Events with their flurry or Air and ground combat takes it a step further - it was almost like you and @Hastati were around the Market Garden operation at the same time.

 

This was @grcurmudgeon's observation:  Paying a bit more attention to the actual mission I'm flying and what's going on around me makes me realize just how alive Pat is making these skies...

 

23 hours ago, Topeka said:

Domenico Riberi, 15 missions, 15 kills. Still in the fight, half of the missions came back with the engine sounding very bad and several holes all over the place.

 

Almost there - Salute to Domenico!

[Oskar_GD]

OFw Eren Jaeger / Assigned to I./JG51 / Stationed at Gzhatsk / 01.10.1941

PWCG Version 12.3.1 (default settings, except: Max Pilot Injury=4 and Air Density=Med)

 

I dont need a reward, Im just interested how far I will go. Salute.

 

Скрытый текст

 

PS. I want to offer to create a list of top 10 aces in this topic. For example:

 

1. Virtual pilot (nickname), His pilot in PWCG (name and squadron), number of sorties and kills.

2. ...

3. ...

Edited July 6, 2021 by Oskar_GD

[Varibraun]

10 hours ago, Oskar_GD said:

I dont need a reward, Im just interested how far I will go. Salute.

 

Welcome aboard Oskar!  I will go ahead and put you in the LW category challenging Mölders, you can always decline or donate the reward if you are the first.

 

10 hours ago, Oskar_GD said:

PS. I want to offer to create a list of top 10 aces in this topic. For example:

 

Good idea, I think others have already been posting their victories here before meeting their demise.  You can just check the thread for those posts and start a tally by posting the list here (probably easier than starting another thread).  Thank you!

Edited July 6, 2021 by Varibraun

[Oskar_GD]

1 час назад, Varibraun сказал:

 

Good idea, I think others have already been posting their victories here before meeting their demise.  You can just check the thread for those posts and start a tally by posting the list here (probably easier than starting another thread).  Thank you!

 

I can do it but Im afraid that nobody can see my post on the bottom of topic (

 

 

 

1.  Eisenfaustus        Richard von Falkenbach ( I./JG 51)         kills - 23     missions - 6         MIA  (MiG-3)

 

2. grcurmudgeon     Unknown pilot (Luftwaffe)                       kills - 20     missions - 15       KIA  (enemy fighter)

 

3. No105_Swoose    Tom Holland ( Number 66 Squadron)     kills - 20     missions - 19       KIA  (Crashed)

 

4. No105_Swoose    Tom Holland ( Number 56 Squadron)     kills - 20     missions - 21       MIA  (FlaK 36)

 

5. Topeka                 Domenico Riberi (Aeronautica)                kills - 15      missions - 15       Active

 

6.  Eisenfaustus       Georg von Falkenbach ( I./JG 51)            kills - 12      missions - 5         KIA   (Collided with Il-2)

 

7.  Hastati                  Adrien Sabourin ( RAF)                            kills - 11       missions - 20      KIA   (Ju-88)

 

8.  Hastati                  Guillaume Nicollier ( RAF)                        kills - 3       missions - 4        KIA  (BF-109)

 

9.  ...

 

10. ...

 

Edited July 6, 2021 by Oskar_GD