Excalibur Squadron OOC Thread

[The Tiger Kingdom]

Oh and uh, I'm going to be annoying about this now, so does anyone plan to ask Samantha about what she was doing earlier? Just wondering.

Like I said earlier, I think the best shot of that happening is after the landing - maybe she could even continue the Thompson petting when we're at the airstrip.
If all else fails, I'll have Noble do it, Page'll be busy.

[Monfrox]

Oh and uh, I'm going to be annoying about this now, so does anyone plan to ask Samantha about what she was doing earlier? Just wondering.

Like I said earlier, I think the best shot of that happening is after the landing - maybe she could even continue the Thompson petting when we're at the airstrip.
If all else fails, I'll have Noble do it, Page'll be busy.

Okay, sounds good. It's just no one came up and stepped up for me so I assumed no one was going to.

[United Kingdom of Poland]

um cal, 1. there are only two CR.32's, one of which was already downed and 2. did you really just break formation AGAIN just to get one more kill.

[Calizorinstan]

um cal, 1. there are only two CR.32's, one of which was already downed and 2. did you really just break formation AGAIN just to get one more kill.

Oops, that's what happens when you post early in the morning.. Will edit!

[The New Greek Republic]

Name: Johnny Blides
Age: 24
Rank: Lieutenant
Physical Description/Picture: 5'11". Brown hair,Brown eyes, for the most part he is muscular, type of build that of Captain America.
Country of Origin: The United States of America
Flight/Flight Combat Experience : Little
Ground Combat Experience: Little, but higher than that of Flight Combat
Specialties (air or ground - communications, demolitions, disguises, languages, etc.): Languages, Mechanics, Demolitions.
Weapons of Choice: Standard Issue Cabrine Rifle, Standard Pistol.
RP Experience: Tiger invited me, but I'll place one if you need it.
Personal History/Bio (more than one line please): I'll put it up later,I just woke up.

[Goram]

Tiger, would you mind awfully linking this up for me?

[The Tiger Kingdom]

Tiger, would you mind awfully linking this up for me?

I'll do a general one-shot roundup tonight.

[Goram]

Tiger, would you mind awfully linking this up for me?

I'll do a general one-shot roundup tonight.

Thank you.

[United Kingdom of Poland]

Hey guys, where eagles dare is on AMC at 11 eastern.

I guess tigers handing out brownie points if we watch it.

do we get anything for Eagles attack at dawn.

[Morrdh]

Sabres In The Night, Part VIII

Running around the frost bound French countryside on a cold November night certainly wasn't Charlie's idea of fun, even if his bruises and possible broken rib or two weren't taken into account. But Josée had insisted that they go after Rankin and they had been joined by a couple of Frenchmen whom Charlie presumed to be part of the Resistance, though they didn't speak much in the way of English if anything which to the only conversation being the whispered instructions from Josée.

After a while Charlie was feeling the chilly air bite deep and he was getting quite fed up at being dragged across half-frozen fields and through hedges, it was getting awfully tempting to turn himself in and be taken off to a nice warm place to get some medical attention. Though the temptation was denied as he was dragged sharply downwards, much to the protests of his bruised muscles. Josée hissed into his ear. "Your friend, with Germans."

Charlie nodded and carefully peered over the top of the wall where they were sheltered and saw Rankin speaking to a German patrol, from what Charlie could make out it sounded like Rankin was speaking in German and gesturing towards the direction of the farmhouse. Bastard, Charlie cursed as Josée hissed instructions to the two Frenchmen who quickly hurried off as Josée explained. "They create distraction, we give Germans slip."

"Right." Nodded Charlie and prepared to follow the French women whilst the two Frenchmen diverted German attention elsewhere.

~

It took another hour trudging through frozen mud by a circular route before they reached a field with a small part of Resistance waiting for them along with what Charlie considered the most beautiful sight in the world; a Westland Lysander.

Though before he had a chance to admire the aircraft he quickly found himself bundled aboard with Josée, then settled back as the aircraft took to the night sky and headed northwards bound for Blightly. Now that they could finally relax he found Josée to be a bit more talkative as they passed the hours by with idle chatter. Eventually Charlie's spirits were lifted even further when RAF Tempsford came into sight beneath them and the Lysander came into land, an ambulance was already waiting as they taxied in and a couple of medical orderlies stood ready.

"This where we part ways Charlie..." Muttered Josée before she pecked Charlie on the cheek and walked off towards a waiting car, but all Charlie could only say one thing as the woman who'd saved his life and helped him escaped climbed into the waiting car.

Aw dammit.

---

Germany, May 1945

It was a farmhouse he found himself at when he climbed out of the jeep, for the most part the war had passed it by but it still looked decayed and rundown. A couple of RAF Regiment Gunners stood guard outside the entrance to the house, who saluted as he approached. "Sir, the prisoner's inside."

"Thanks." Charlie replied as he returned the saluted and headed inside, in the kitchen he found another RAF Regiment soldier standing guard and another man dressed in a tattered German uniform. He was looking a little older and more gaunt than what Charlie remembered, but it was most definitely him. "Hello Rankin ye bastard, tis been a while..."

THE END

[The Tiger Kingdom]

Hey guys, where eagles dare is on AMC at 11 eastern.

I guess tigers handing out brownie points if we watch it.

do we get anything for Eagles attack at dawn.

Half brownie points for it being a general commando raid/feats-of-derring-do movie, even if it isn't about WW2.

[Monfrox]

Desert Thunder Part 1

“Hey Ford, who’s the new chick?” “Dunno, Hopper. She looks good, though.” “I heard that.” “Why’d they let her in the Air Force, though?” “And that’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you see a new girl on the tarmac? You need to get your priorities straight.” “My priorities are straight. When did they start letting women into the Air Force?” “I don’t know, but she’s a special case, you know?” “Oh, what, is her daddy a General or something?” “Nah man, get this: I heard her grandma was an Ace in World War 2.” “You’re shitting me!” “You can ask her yourself if you don’t believe me.” Jeez, man. You think she’s as good as her grandma?” “Only one way to find out.” “Yeah, hey, new blood!”

A woman: tall, fair skin, light weight, with dark brown hair and wearing an olive drab colored flight suit with a pair of silver bars on it, turned towards the sound of someone calling her name. Two men were waving her over to them. She shrugged and approached them from the spot of which she had been standing, which was next to her fighter. “You boys called me?” She asked the two. “Yeah. Hey, listen. There’s been a couple of rumors floating around, you know?” “Oh?” “Yeah, it is true that your grandma was an Ace in World War 2?” The woman started giggling. “What? What’s so funny?” “Nothing. But you are correct.” “No way.” “I’m not lying. My grandmother flew in World War 2, but my mom only worked as a nurse in Korea and Vietnam.” “So you think the apple falls far from the tree?” “I don’t think it does.” The woman replied with a hint of challenge in her tone. “I’ll see you boys later.” And with that, she left to the barracks. “So you gonna try and get in her pants, Ford?” “Man, shut up!”

The woman, known as the granddaughter of one Samantha Melody, lay in her cot and stared at the ceiling as she sketched out little pictures in a blank journal. Her name was Lucy Paddock. First Lieutenant of the United States Air Force, stationed at one of the countless airstrips in the middle-east during the Iraq war. She flew an F-15E Strike Eagle as a part of Operation Desert Storm and was now operating in Operating Enduring Freedom. She had just transferred to another fighter wing and was enjoying the time the base commander had given her to settle in, for tomorrow would be a busy day.

[United Kingdom of Poland]

do we get anything for Eagles attack at dawn.

Half brownie points for it being a general commando raid/feats-of-derring-do movie, even if it isn't about WW2.

did you know it of the bat or did you look it up.

[The Tiger Kingdom]

Half brownie points for it being a general commando raid/feats-of-derring-do movie, even if it isn't about WW2.

did you know it of the bat or did you look it up.

Had to look it up. It's pretty obscure, honestly.

[Calizorinstan]

What about Dirty Dozen? I 've seen that movie before

[United Kingdom of Poland]

did you know it of the bat or did you look it up.

Had to look it up. It's pretty obscure, honestly.

eh according to the dvd thing I have it's a "war classic" (its wording not mine) though to be honest it also list "Commandos" and that was just one dirty dozen/spy cliche after another

[The Tiger Kingdom]

What about Dirty Dozen? I 've seen that movie before

That counts.

Had to look it up. It's pretty obscure, honestly.

eh according to the dvd thing I have it's a "war classic" (its wording not mine) though to be honest it also list "Commandos" and that was just one dirty dozen/spy cliche after another

"Classic" here likely meaning "it's kinda old".

[The Tiger Kingdom]

Also, note: If you haven't already, get preordering Wargame: Airland Battle. It comes out tomorrow (and if you have Wargame: European Escalation, its predecessor, you get 25% off). I'm playing the beta, and it's fucking amazing. If you like RTS games, this is basically the one to beat the band. 12 factions: Americans, Brits, Canadians, Swedes, Danes, Nores, French, and Germans on one side, with the Soviets, East Germans, Czechs, and Poles on the other, squaring off in huge RTS battles in Scandinavia. It's awesome.

[Goram]

August 13th 1940,
Adlertag,
A Luftwaffe airbase, Normandy.


"Eagle Day, Gentlemen."

A black uniformed Luftwaffe officer began

"The complete destruction of the English RAF on the ground."

Before the officer sat a collection of airmen, either standing or perched on various pieces of equipment that had been left dotted around the makeshift briefing room. Even the gigantic map of Southern England and North France, to which the Officer enthusiastically referred, was propped against the fuselage of a Heinkel 111. Each man in the room was a pilot, later in the day or concurrent to this briefing, there would be specialised meetings for navigators and bomb aimers. Much to their relief, the air gunners were spared the often tedious briefings. For the pilots, however, they were engaged with watching the officer mark various locations in England with his cane and then plant a little red flag on them.

"These are the main targets for today...Kenley...Hornchurch...Manston...Hawkinge...Dover and finally, our target, Biggin Hill. The weather people say we should have favourable conditions over England and your navigators will be giving you your flight plans at the conclusion of this briefing. You will be joined by several Junkers 88's of Kampfgeschwader 76 as you cross the English coast line. The English defence networks will be knocked out by the time you arrive, so we do not expect much resistance. Even if the English Spitfires get off the ground, they will be too busy to deal with you. Good luck men, Heil Hitler."

The Luftwaffe men returned the "Heil Hitler" as half heartedly as the briefing officer gave it. They were all engaged in far more important matters that such pleasantries.

Ventor radar station, several hours later

A WAAF corporal stared into the screen in front of her, making a note of the blips as they appeared. The radar station at which she worked had been bombed earlier in the day, by JU-87 dive bombers, however the tall radar masts had not been entirely knocked out of action. She was tracking a medium sized contact that was forming up over the channel and headed their way.

"Hello Uxbridge, I'm afraid the raid is coming into my sector now. Height and direction to follow, standby."

She said into a radio mouth piece.

The result of this information, was for a little marker to be placed onto the operations table at RAF Uxbridge. The station at Uxbridge, whilst lacking aircraft, was the nerve centre for 11 Group. From here, incoming Germans were plotted and squadrons dispatched to intercept them and they'd been having a busy day. The table was covered in markers, each denoting a German raid. The operations board that ran around the room showed that a large number of 11 group's fighters were airborne and dealing with the incoming bombers.

From the radar information and the targets already hit, the controllers deduced that the target was somewhere around London. Surely the Germans would not bomb the city, especially as they were going to such lengths to hit RAF stations today, so the target had to be either RAF Hornchurch or Biggin Hill. The units at Biggin Hill were already up and engaged, leaving only the Spitfires of Hornchurch to deal with the incoming bombers.

A senior officer picked up a telephone and said simply

"Hello, 41 Squadron. Scramble."

RAF Hornchurch, minutes later

An man in a pale blue shirt and tie, swung out of a window clutching a telephone in one hand.

"41 Squadron scramble!"

Within seconds, the first engines began to cough into life and the once bored pilots sprang from their seats around the operations hut. For Stanford, the scramble couldn't come quickly enough. Months had past since Dunkirk and it had been weeks since his last "test" flight that had resulted in a severe dressing down from the CO. In that time, he had attempted to reconcile himself with the unit but many of them, behind their smiles and warm words, were still mistrusting of the fighter pilot who retained a reputation as a killer of men rather than aircraft.

Within seven minutes, the entire squadron was airborne. Stanford slid his canopy closed and slipped his Spitfire into position off the squadron leader's wing in the Red Two position. As he fastened his mask across his face he heard the leader's commentary with their ground controller.

"Tophat squadron calling Cowslip control, over...Come in Cowslip, over...For Christ sake Cowslip, wake up will you!"

Sorry Tophat leader, Cowslip control. I have some trade for you approaching Aperfield at Angels 14; forty plus bandits. Tophat climb Angels 15 on a bearing of two-nine-zero to incept bandits.

"Copy Cowslip, Tophat climbing angels 15 to engage bandits. Two-nine-zero."

Before to long, a second pilot called out

There they are! Bandits, three o'clock low.

"Right, here we go. Red, Blue go in from the port; Yellow, you take starboard. Green section, watch out for 109s above. Tally ho."

The RAF fighters broke into their sections as they went into the attack. Red and blue sections, six fighters in total, came in from the sun. The dorsal gunners on the German bombers saw them at the last second. Stanford broke through the formation, without getting a solid shot away at any of the aircraft. Breaking away from Red Leader and Red Three, he wheeled his machine around for another pass. Usually breaking formation was frowned upon, but in the general pell mell of the intercept, it was difficult to avoid.

He came in, fast pointing his nose across the path of a bomber, a Junkers 88 he thought. He gave the German a long burst and then another as he drew closer and then reversed the swooping attack as to come into the German's six o'clock where the rear facing cockpit mounted machine guns couldn't get a good shot at him. Stanford continued to fire into the starboard engine and as the .303 rounds struck home, from extremely close range. Despite the small calibre of the bullets, the damage being done by the torrent of fire was having a very serious effect. After a very few seconds of constant firing, the Jumo-211 engine began smoking heavily. The aircraft lurched and began to swing to port before the starboard engine exploded. The nacelle around the engine disintegrated and the outer length of the starboard wing folded upwards before falling away. The crippled bomber rolled heavily, before plummeting groundwards. Stanford saw no parachutes. Whilst the thought was far out his mind, the Junkers was Stanford's fifth kill of the war. He was now an "ace" pilot.

Another bomber, shot down by another Spit, joined Stanford's Junkers and several others seemed to be heavily damaged as they trailed smoke and flames. However, the twelve aircraft of 41 Squadron were not up to the task of destroying forty odd German bombers. They would be lucky to shoot down five and any more than that would be an exceptionally good day. Without a fighter escort the bombers were sitting ducks, but the defensive fire and the nature of aerial combat made it difficult for the RAF men to get enough rounds on target for the fatal blow. As a result, the Germans managed to hit Biggin Hill. Stanford could quite clearly see the bombs tumbling out of the Heinkel he was attacking. Some moments later, the German bomber slid out of formation trailing smoke from both engines. However, nobody saw the aircraft actually hit the ground.

The action was over relatively quickly as 41 Squadron disengaged soon after the Germans released their bombs, as the formation entered a relatively heavy patch of flak. Upon arrival at Hornchurch, a scene of devastation awaited the unit. They had fought to defend Biggin Hill, losing one of their own in the process, to find that Jerry had been over in their absence. Upon landing the pilots were told that a dozen or so German bombers, more Junkers 88s, had come in at very low level dropping bombs and strafing the field. Their handiwork was readily apparent due to the smouldering craters in the grass, damaged infrastructure and the row of blanket covered bodies next to the medical quarters. Finding his "home" to have been bombed, served only to fuel the fires of Stanford's hate for the Germans.

[Len Hyet]

My Cold Dead Hands Part Four: Though I walk in the Shadow of the Valley

A cold wind swept over the flagstones. An old man shivered and clutched his coat tight to his body, but the movement was instinctive, for the man stayed where he was. Some locals passed by the man, not even sparing him a glance. The two men in the car across the street however, kept their eyes glued to the old man. They were NKVD, Soviet Secret Police. This was Moscow, and any American in Moscow was considered a spy. The only reason this one hadn't been arrested and hauled to Lubyanka was a small red star pinned to the front of his coat. It had "I-15" and a small sickle and hammer on it.

The American stood outside the Kremlin, on the famous Red Square. The NKVD men were bored. He had stood there for almost two hours, staring at two grave markers. One read "Mayor Paolina D. Osipenkova". The other, the one the American was quietly talking to in broken Russian was "General Leitenant Anatoly K. Serov" both bore the same death date.

"Sorry it took me so long Commander. You wouldn't believe how hard it is for an old man to visit Moscow. Well, maybe you would. Always were a faithful one, eh General?"

The old man paused and swallowed.

"Franco didn't last, you know? Spain was free in the end. Course, you didn't get to see it. Still, nice to know our boys didn't die in vain, in the end at least. And ladies too."

He chuckled.

"Never understood that about you Ruskies. Letting your women serve. Then again, who am I to talk. Met a hell of a woman fighter pilot. Served with her too. You woulda liked her, hell of a pilot, hell of an ace. Served in the 'ol three one nine. Course that's declassified now. Which is good, the NKVD are probably listening to every word."

In the car the two men looked at eachother, at their sophistocated listening equipment, and looked back to the old man.

"Yeah, took out a few of Franco's Pilots during the war, top secret and all that. Still, thought you'd be proud."

The old man swallowed.

"Couldn't believe it when I heard the news. Of corse it was almost twenty years late. Jeeze, it's what, nineteen sixty nine now? Time flys... But with Paolina as your Co-Pilot? Couldn't believe it. Hell of a woman. Yuri was a lucky man. What did they as it was, Engine failure? I told them horse shit. No way EF would bring you down. But it only takes once right?"

The old man sighed.

"I have to go. Probably wont be back again. I'll see you on the other side Anatoly. Guess this is the last time we'll get to talk, unless god is feeling mighty charitable when I come through. Oh well. Suppose we all have to meet him someday. Viva Espana my friend. Have a vodka waiting for old Silva when I get up there."

With that, the old man placed the pin gently on the grave marker, and slowly walked away.

[The balkens]

Also, note: If you haven't already, get preordering Wargame: Airland Battle. It comes out tomorrow (and if you have Wargame: European Escalation, its predecessor, you get 25% off). I'm playing the beta, and it's fucking amazing. If you like RTS games, this is basically the one to beat the band. 12 factions: Americans, Brits, Canadians, Swedes, Danes, Nores, French, and Germans on one side, with the Soviets, East Germans, Czechs, and Poles on the other, squaring off in huge RTS battles in Scandinavia. It's awesome.

Yea tiger?

I already did.

It feels weird though, I've been playing ww2 online way too much, same goes for war thunder, finally got me the Mig-15. It's a dream to fly.

[The Tiger Kingdom]

Also, note: If you haven't already, get preordering Wargame: Airland Battle. It comes out tomorrow (and if you have Wargame: European Escalation, its predecessor, you get 25% off). I'm playing the beta, and it's fucking amazing. If you like RTS games, this is basically the one to beat the band. 12 factions: Americans, Brits, Canadians, Swedes, Danes, Nores, French, and Germans on one side, with the Soviets, East Germans, Czechs, and Poles on the other, squaring off in huge RTS battles in Scandinavia. It's awesome.

Yea tiger?

I already did.

It feels weird though, I've been playing ww2 online way too much, same goes for war thunder, finally got me the Mig-15. It's a dream to fly.

I see you're a man with similarly excellent taste in war games.
I still need to get War Thunder. Hard to fit in with all the stuff I got on my plate these days.
Ahh...for summer...

[Calizorinstan]

I signed up for War Thunder, just waiting until it comes to the Mac... Yes, I could install Windows on a sep partition, but too lazy to do so..

[Morrdh]

I signed up for War Thunder, just waiting until it comes to the Mac... Yes, I could install Windows on a sep partition, but too lazy to do so..

Tanks will be going in soon for War Thunder, but I'll try out Wargame: Airland Battle at some point.

Did anyone here ever get Company of Heroes 2?

[The Tiger Kingdom]

I signed up for War Thunder, just waiting until it comes to the Mac... Yes, I could install Windows on a sep partition, but too lazy to do so..

Tanks will be going in soon for War Thunder, but I'll try out Wargame: Airland Battle at some point.

Did anyone here ever get Company of Heroes 2?

I didn't, but then again, it's not out for another month.