cubancoverunner

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***Note: Flak will run at reduced levels on this and future Syn maps. Machine gun fire is still deadly at low altitude and "archie" can still score the odd hit, but the "laser guided flak" of old is gone. Good riddance! Battle of Vendin - "Lifeline" Date: October, 1917 The German army is using canal barges to get their supplies to the lines. This makes the transfer points a priority target for the Royal Flying Corps. RFC 46 squadron, which is just converting from Pups to Camels, are ordered to attack every ship between Don and Vendin. as well as trucks just behind the lines. 59 Sqn, flying the RE.8, has been ordered to destroy the transfer points, a fuel depot and train station, in Don and Vendin. RFC 40 Sqn with Se5as and RFC 11 with Bristols, will provide top cover. Jasta 12 and 18 are stationed nearby and will be protecting their airspace in their Albatros DVa, Pfalz DIIIa and a handful of the new Fokker Dr1 scouts. The German Flieger Abteiling has been assigned various objectives: Photo recon objectives and two tactical ground targets; enemy artillery and vehicles east of Bethune. Important: completing any of these objectives will unlock new Camels or Fokker Dr1s. To complete the recon objective: Take a plane labeled "Recon", load a camera and fly to the objective area. The camera icon will pop up when over (one edge) of the target. Weather: Will attempt to match real world conditions at time of mission. Mission start time 1800GMT Good luck gentlemen S!

Greetings gentlemen! This week's Vintage Mission will take us to the 30th of November, 1917. We will go down and dirty into the mud of the trenches for close ground support with the boys in the Battle of Cambrai. BATTLE OF CAMBRAI Date: 30.11.1917 Weather conditions: TBA - will match real world weather at Cambrai, France at mission start time. Mission Duration: 9.00am-13.30pm Historical Background: The Germans reinforced Cambrai so rapidly that it became clear that it was possible to go over to the attack, the first attack made by the Germans on the Western Front since Verdun. A pincer mover was planned, with attacks from north and south driving to Metz to surround the British forces. The attack was to be led by the new 'stormtroopers,' and also by the CL-type aircraft, which were expected to provide more consistent support from the air than the unwieldy and unreliable British tanks had fom the ground. However, the northern pincer ran straight into the British artillery supporting the attack on Bourlon. Though the British had failed to progress through Bourlon Wood, which became saturated with German gas, the attack was not called off. It may have been difficult for Haig to order a retreat after bells had been rung for a great victory. Meanwhile, reports of German forces massing on the flanks were simply ignored at HQ, from the belief that the German army was exhausted. On the morning of November 30th the thinly held and unfortifed southern British perimeter was quickly overrun. The German attack in the south is beginning to falter. Both sides need to support their ground operations directly from the air, and also to protect their ground attack aircraft. The German trucks will advance down the two red lines marked on the map, on in the northern section and one in the southern. *NOTE* The mud of the trenches on this map is offset, the blue and red shading will mark the true current position of enemy / friendly territory, not no man's land. Entente Objectives: *Machines are to strafe and bomb the enemy at all opportunities.*Destroy enemy horse artillery on the roads and enemy strongpoints*. German objectives: *Assist in the reduction of enemy strongpoints. *Destroy enemy reinforcement trucks before they can interfere*. VICTORY: The side that first destroys 100 targets wins (vehicles and strongpoints). Subtitles will report progress of how many targets have been destroyed by each side throughout the mission.

The Battle of Messines - June 1917 Date: June 13, 1917 17:00hrs Location: Front lines south of Ypres, Flanders. Historical Background: The Battle of Messines (7–14 June 1917) was conducted by the British Second Army (General Sir Herbert Plumer), on the Western Front near the village of Messines in West Flanders, Belgium, during the First World War. The Nivelle Offensive in April and May had failed to achieve its more ambitious aims, had led to the demoralisation of French troops and dislocated the Anglo-French strategy for 1917. The offensive at Messines forced the Germans to move reserves to Flanders from the Arras and Aisne fronts, which relieved pressure on the French. The tactical objective of the attack at Messines was to capture the German defences on the ridge, which ran from Ploegsteert (Plugstreet) Wood in the south, through Messines and Wytschaete to Mt. Sorrel, to deprive the German 4th Army of the high ground south of Ypres. The ridge commanded the British defences and back areas further north, from which the British intended to conduct the Northern Operation, an advance to Passchendaele Ridge and then capture the Belgian coast up to the Dutch frontier. **NOTES** - All aerodromes can be destroyed and will be out of action for 15 before being repaired. - "Laser flak" has been reduced however can still get a lucky hit. Machine gun fire is still deadly around targets and aerodromes so they are worth destroying when attacking a target at low level. - It's mid June and there is a massive heat wave on over France. The temperature is 29C / 85F, Dewpoint: 24C / 75F. Standard atmospheric pressure of 29.92in. ***This hot, humid air has the density altitude at 700m / 2100ft. Your aircraft will perform as though it is already at this altitude when at ground level. This will decrease performance overall, increase takeoff roll, etc. Wind is from the North at 5-7m/s. Light / moderate cloud cover at 700m - 1200m. Windsocks on the aerodrome are correct and reflect proper wind direction and speed.*** - Balloons can be destroyed and will be out of action for 15min before being repaired. Mission objectives: -Each side will have 6 primary targets to destroy, indicated by a flag on the map. Before a target becomes active, it has to be reconnoitered by making 10 photographs. The flag will then turn red. When a primary target has been destroyed, the flag will be removed from the map. Secondary targets are any vehicle, trains or tanks and balloons in enemy territory. -For photo recon missions only the designated planes "Recon" can trigger the photo sequence! -Photo recons need to land safely at an active base to complete their mission! Winning conditions: Complete all six objectives first. Good luck gentlemen!

Greetings gentlemen, this Sunday's Vintage Mission will feature a new early war map that has only been run once before and has been modified a bit from the original version. Here is the situation: It is a desperate mission in the Sissonne sector that puts the Entente scouts having to destroy trucks and trains just behind the enemy lines as it appears a counter attack is massing after a failed Entente offensive and limited ground attack 2 seaters are available. Two points to pay attention to. 1. "Laser flak" has at long last been eliminated on both sides and over the mud. The machine guns are still there and are a threat, but it isn't suicide to attempt a low level attack. 2. Most airframes are limited on both sides and aircraft replace individually every 5min, however if you run completely out of a type of airframe, it is 30min before they will be replaced. So, use the aircraft wisely and try to return them to the aerodromes when possible. Entente is furnished with unlimited DH2's and Central has unlimited EIII's. Good luck gentlemen! Standoff in Sissonne Date: November, 1916 Intel report: Recent Intelligence reports indicate that the Germans might prepare a counter attack after our failed offensive. A lot of troop movements have been spotted just behind their lines. French escadrilles stationed at Bonnemaison Ferme are operating from forward airfields at Vauxcere and Maizy, supported by a small contingent of RFC and AFC Squadrons. In a desperate attempt to prevent an immediate counter attack, the scouts are ordered to strafe the enemy transports. **Note: Limited Entente reconnaissance two seaters have been pressed into service as bombers, however reinforcements are not available and Entente two-seater airframes will not replace if lost!** German HQ is anxious to know what the state is of the French defences therefore a photo recon missions have been requested. If the recons are succesful, German bombers are to attack targets behind the French lines. Mission objectives: Entente forces will attack enemy transports; vehicles and trains. Central Forces will have to defend the transports and recon the enemy lines. How to complete a recon sortie: Take the special recon plane (Recon Plane 1,2,3,4) and fly to one of the endpoints of the recon area at the designated height (see map). Follow subtitles. You must land at an active airfield. Weather report: We will attempt to match real world weather conditions at the time of the mission.

Salute gentlemen! After 5 weeks of Jasta 5's epic event, Black September, we are going to keep the "100 years ago today" theme going with this week's Vintage Mission. This Sunday will see over the Somme for an all out bomber offensive. No recons are necessary, however targets are very hard and take large bombs to destroy. Previous versions of this map gave Entente forces too large of an advantage with the powerful Breguet bombers. On this version, we will have limited Breg's. This will make the primary offensive bombers Gothas and Handley-Pages. It is late 1918 and the situation is desperate. September saw the Central forces carry the day, but this is October and the Entente forces are looking for payback! Mission Description: Date: October 14, 1918 Location: Somme River, France Both Allied and Central Squadrons are ordered to: (1) Destroy all enemy targets marked on the map; (2) Fly offensive patrols over enemy lines to intercept enemy aircraft. Both AI and human flown bombers will have to destroy important targets for the upcoming final offensive. The more targets they can destroy, the better they will be prepared for the following battle. The first side that destroys all targets will have won this "bomber offensive". Weather: Will match real world conditions at location on Sunday. Good luck gentlemen S!

It's that time again gentlemen! https://riseofflight.com/forum/topic/52126-knights-sea-iii-1918-sept-2-1600gmt-ultimate-channel-battle/

Sorry gents, the stats are all black magic to me. I informed J2_SteveF about this issue but he's a bit at a loss as to why it's happening. The other individual stats seem fine. He's dealing with a RL issue at the moment but will revisit it again soon. Thanks for bringing it to our attention and as always thanks for flying S!

Salute gentlemen! Just a quick reminder that this Sunday's Vintage Mission will feature the great "Eagle of Lille / Der Adler von Lille" Tournament created and with permission of Jasta 99. There will be a weather report posted Saturday morning and we'll try and match real world conditions over Lille, France for Sunday's tournament. No death penalty for the event, but we do ask everyone to maintain a spirit of sportsmanship and remember some airframes are limited, so use them wisely Start time is the usual 1800GMT. Hope to see you all in the skies over France! S!

Salute gentlemen! This week's Sunday Vintage Mission will see us in the skies over the Aisne region of France in May of 1918. This map puts the Central forces on the offense while Entente is tasked with defending territory. Once announced in game, subtitle objectives remain active for the duration of the mission or until they are completed. Historical Background: The Third Battle of Aisne, from 27 May-6 June 1918, comprised the final large-scale German attempt to win the war before the arrival of the U.S. Army in France, and followed the Lys Offensive in Flanders. The focus of the offensive was the Chemin des Dames Ridge, held by the Germans upon their retreat from the Marne in September 1914 until their ejection, at huge cost to the French, during the Nivelle Offensive, also known as the Second Battle of the Aisne, in April 1917. Mission Start Time: 1800GMT Third Battle of the Aisne - Securing the Flanks Date: May 27, 1918 Time: 15:00 (in game) Mission objectives Entente: Protect ground forces, Intercept enemy aircraft, reconnaissance Central: Reconnaissance, attack enemy ground forces, bomb tactical targets. Orders will be issued in the game using subtitles. Please follow these (note: you can't see subtitles in the hangar). Certain planes are only available when they are needed (bombers). Instructions: Contact patrol: Fly to the specific area at low altitude (1000m) in the aircraft named "Contact Recon". When over target follow subtitles. Photo recon: Fly to the specified target at altitude (between 1250-4000 m) in the aircraft named "Recon". When directly over the target, use camera icon to take 10 pictures. Combat patrol: Patrol over the specified area, as marked on the map. Patrol altitude is between 1500m (intercepting low targets) and 4000m (high targets). Close escort: Other two-seaters can provide close escort by flying in formation with the recon plane and defend with their rear guns. Ground attack: Low-level attacks against enemy positions, guns, vehicles and tanks. Bomb target: Bomb the specified target from altitude because of heavy AAA near the targets. Weather report: Light cumulus clouds at 700m, good visibility. Wind 5 m/s, from the west, 270.

The Battle of Messines - June 1917 Date: June 13, 1917 Location: Front lines south of Ypres, Flanders. **NOTE** Balloons will flare on this map. Upon sighting an enemy aircraft, a balloon will fire 3 white flares at 15-20sec intervals. At 2500m the balloon will begin winching down and fire a yellow flare. At 1000m the balloon will fire a red flare to signal it is under attack. Balloons can be destroyed and will repair in 15min. Mission objectives: -Each side will have 6 primary targets to destroy, indicated by a flag on the map. Before a target becomes active, it has to be reconnoitered by making 10 photographs. The flag will then turn red. When a primary target has been destroyed, the flag will be removed from the map. Secondary targets are any vehicle, trains or tanks and balloons in enemy territory. -For photo recon missions only the designated planes "Recon" can trigger the photo sequence! -Photo recons need to land safely at an active base to complete their mission! Winning conditions: Complete all six objectives first. Weather report: Cumulus at 400-500m. Wind 3-4 m/s, from the north. Early morning fog. Tempurature: 15C / 59F Good luck gentlemen!

St Mihiel Salient - May 1918 This week's Sunday Vintage Mission will see us in the St. Mihiel Salient area of the map in mid 1918. This map is set several months before the big St. Mihiel Offensive that started in Sept. 1918. Date: May 16, 1918 Mission Objective: Each side needs to accomplish three important objectives. The side that completes all three objectives first will win. Entente is tasked with photo recons and Central is tasked with artillery spotting. These are subtitle based recons and artillery spots so there will be no camera icon, you will be directed by subtitles on screen. Subtitles are visible to all players on your side to aid in coordinating flights and escorts. Once pictures are complete, you will get a subtitle message saying to return to base. Once pics are complete, there will no more subtitles if you stay above recon area. To be successful on a photo-recon mission you need at least 10 photographs at 2500-3500m (10,000ft). ***IMPORTANT NOTE: PHOTO RECONS MUST LAND AT THE TWO SEATER AERODROME FROM WHICH THEY LEFT*** To successfully direct your artillery fire you need to hover over the observation area at 2500 m for at least 6 minutes. Hover with your mouse over the target icon to see a description of the target. You will get a message if you leave the area telling you to return. The only plane that can make photos or do artillery spotting is the two-seater that is named likewise. Only one such plane (per side) can be in the air at any time. There are more two-seaters available for escort purposes. There is no particular order in which the targets should be accomplished. Weather: Clouds at 1250m, wind 3m/s from the north west. Good luck gentlemen!

https://riseofflight.com/forum/topic/51499-knights-sea-iii-1918-march-4th-1700gmt/?p=690367

Greetings gentlemen, this week's Sunday Vintage mission will see us in the Somme sector, late in the war. As always, air superiority is the name of the game to allow army observation aircraft to recon the front and provide intelligence and spotting to their respective forces. This map allows for both high altitude plane sets as well as limited aircraft, which must be used wisely. This "Battle for Intelligence" is pretty straight forward, first side to 100 pics wins. We will roll to another map if / after this one completes. Somme - High Recons 1918 Battle for Intelligence - September 1918 Location: Somme river, France Mission objectives: Both Allied and Central Squadrons are ordered to: (1) Fly offensive patrols over enemy lines to intercept enemy aircraft and (2) to protect their own reconaissance aircraft. Description: Both AI and human flown reconaissance two-seaters will have to photograph strategic targets. The more photographs they can bring home safely, the better they will be prepared for the upcoming offensive. The first side that obtains 100 photographs will have won this "battle for intelligence". Any marked target on the map may be used to obtain more photos. Photographs can be taken by the two-seaters (with camera!) from any altitude between 1500-4000 m. Weather report: TBA Will post weather 24hrs before mission start and will be available in mission briefing in-game. Good luck gentlemen!

Battle of St Quentin Canal - Smashing the Hindenburg line In September 1918, the Allied armies faced formible German prepared defences, known as the 'Hindenburg Line'. One of the obstacles was the St Quentin Canal. Before the big assault on the canal, Allied troops had to get a good starting position. *NOTE* - This map takes place east of the mud, after the Germans have pulled back. Therefore, there is no "mud / no man's land" to mark enemy / friendly lines visible. There is the St. Quentin Canal and a line of fortifications that are identifiable from the air, but you must check the map closely! All the objectives will take place in the 4 zones marked on the map so the action will be mainly concentrated there. We ran this map once before but I think many pilots got a little lost or confused because the familiar mud of the trenches was not there and the action got spread out all over the map. Mission objectives will be communicated in-game, by subtitles. Once a subtitle objective is announced, it is available to be destroyed / completed throughout the entire mission. New orders are issued each 50min. Reconaissance targets are marked on the map. Achieving the recon objectives will make a new aircraft type available. When airfields have been destroyed, they will be out of action for 15 minutes. Weather: Wind 3-4 m/s from the South. Clouds at 1200m Good luck gentlemen!

Happy new year to you all gentlemen, This first Vintage Mission of the year will take us to the Battle of Vimy Ridge (Bloody April Revisited). There is quite an extensive mid 1917 planeset and as objectives are completed, different plane types will become available. Mission objectives will appear at the bottom of the screen every 1min and new orders issued every 40min. Once a mission objective is announced, it stays active for the duration of the mission until it is destroyed / completed. Subtitle objectives are only visible to the players on the same team. The mission will start at 1800GMT, 5:15am in game time, just before dawn. Weather report: Heavy clouds at 1500 m, poor visibility. Wind 5 m/s from the West The Allied forces are on the offensive. Their air force has to support the ground troops by targeting tactical targets and flying photo recon patrols to determine the enemy defences.The Central forces are on the defensive. They have to make sure the Allied aircraft are kept away from the battlefield while the bombers attack the enemy's line of communications. Orders will be repeated every minute by subtitles. Please follow these, you can't complete objectives until the order has been given!< (note: you can't see subtitles in the hangar). Certain planes are only available when they are needed (bombers, recons). Instructions- Photo Recon: Fly to one of the specific areas at medium to high altitude (2000-3500m) in the aircraft named "Photo Recon" and wait for the camera icon when over one end of the leg. Make photos using the camera icon and cover the whole area. The higher you fly, the easier it is to have complete coverage. Don't forget to bring a camera! Recon aircraft with photos can land at any active field. Historical Background: The Battle of Vimy Ridge was a military engagement fought primarily as part of the Battle of Arras, in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the Canadian Corps, of four divisions, against three divisions of the German Sixth Army. The battle, which took place from 9 to 12 April 1917, was part of the opening phase of the British-led Battle of Arras, a diversionary attack for the French Nivelle Offensive. Good luck all pilots and observers S!

Just a reminder post that this Sunday's Vintage Mission will run at the normal time, 1800GMT but will be "mods on" for the Knights of the Sea III 1918 Event! Your game settings must be set to "modifications on" in order to see the server in the multiplayer list and you must have the two mods installed. Dropbox link to mods: Here is a dropbox link to a folder containing both mods and the JGSME.exe tool for those that don't already have it. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/y03azydb8uo1ceg/AADy_1BnUBjoLij6lkvjxBKna?dl=0 Simply download the two mods, drop them into your ROF MODS folder and activate them using JGSME. Make sure they are the ONLY two mods you have activated. Instructions on mods: 1. Download the JGSME.exe file and place it in your main Rise of Flight directory. Example: C:\Program Files x86\1C-777\Rise of Flight (or wherever your particular install is located) 2. In that main ROF directory, create a folder named MODS <-- must be in all CAPS 3. Drop the two mods you downloaded (Soldiers_Package_2v4(SYN) and Tirpitz_Battery_Object_v1.0) into that MODS folder. 4. Double click the JGSME.exe program and it will ask if the MODS folder is where you want it to look for mods, click OK or Yes. 5. The two mods should be visible in the left hand pane of the JGSME program, select each one and click the arrow pointing to the right to activate. Note: Upon activating one of the mods it will warn you about overwriting some files, this is normal, click yes or ok to this. 6. You're done! The mods are now active on your game, however to see the game server for the event, you will have to launch the ROF settings window (where you control graphics settings, etc) Under Game Settings, click the checkbox next to Modifications. This will put your game into MODS ON mode. When you start ROF, you will see a flashing "Mods On" message in the upper right corner of the screen. Remember to turn this off when you want to connect back to the regular "Mods Off" servers like Wargrounds, NFF, etc. otherwise you won't see them in the list. If anyone has difficulty with the mods, don't hesitate to PM me and I'll help as best I can. Good luck!

Greetings gentlemen, apologies for there being no Vintage Mission up last Sunday. Real life got in the way, and I lost my internet connection for the day. This week will bring us to the Spring Offensive or Die Kaiserschlacht (Kaiser's Battle) of March 1918. Die Kaiserschlacht- March 1918 March 29, 1918 Location: Front lines between Bapaume and Marchelepot, north of the Somme. Historical Background: The 1918 Spring Offensive or Kaiserschlacht (Kaiser's Battle), also known as the Ludendorff Offensive, was a series of German attacks along the Western Front during the First World War, beginning on 21 March 1918, which marked the deepest advances by either side since 1914. The Germans had realised that their only remaining chance of victory was to defeat the Allies before the overwhelming human and matériel resources of the United States could be fully deployed. They also had the temporary advantage in numbers afforded by the nearly 50 divisions freed by the Russian surrender (the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk). Mission objectives: -Each side will have 6 primary targets to destroy, indicated by a flag on the map. Before a target becomes active, it has to be reconnoitered by making 10 photographs. The flag will then turn red. When a primary target has been destroyed, the flag will be removed from the map. Secundary targets are any vehicle, trains or tanks and balloons in enemy territory. When 2 (more) enemy targets are destroyed, new airfields will be activated with different plane types. -For photo recon missions only the designated planes "Recon" can trigger the photo sequence! -Photo recons need to land safely at an active base to complete their mission! Winning conditions: Complete all six objectives first. Weather report: Clear skies. Wind 3-4 m/s, from the North.

Salute gentlemen, we are pleased to announce the gents at Syndicate Squadron have given us a special treat to share with the ROF community. Knights of the Sea III, featuring a 1918 plane set. This map differs somewhat from the first two Knights of the Sea events in not only the plane set, but some naval targets being moved farther SW closer to the area between Dover and Calais. This should allow for more action over the water without having to navigate extreme distances offshore with no land marks. However, for the brave there are still a few naval targets operating out to sea of Ostende Harbor and far east of Felixstowe, England. There is also the long haul Gotha raid of the infamous "England Squadron" that is tasked with flying completely across the Channel and hitting Felixstowe and Harwich, and returning home, about a 3hour round trip We will run this in place of the normal Sunday Vintage Mission, just remember you will have to go "Mods On" mode to see the server. This is a 6 hour mission that starts at 0500 just before dawn. For those who don't care for night flying, don't worry, there will be light enough to see 30min after mission start. IMPORTANT - This tournament is mods on. It requires only 2 mods to be run by all players - Soldiers_Package_2v4(SYN) - Tirpitz_Battery_Object_v1.0 Here is a dropbox link to a folder containing both mods and the JGSME.exe tool for those that don't already have it. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/y03azydb8uo1ceg/AADy_1BnUBjoLij6lkvjxBKna?dl=0 Simply download the two mods, drop them into your ROF MODS folder and activate them using JGSME. Make sure they are the ONLY two mods you have activated. There is a quick how-to for those that have never used mods in ROF before at the bottom of this post. Mission Background: The unrestricted submarine warfare campaign has failed to end the war, now it is down to the German army, reinforced by units from the Eastern Front. The German Marinekorps are to support the army with attempts to hinder British logistics and reinforcements, and to defend the U-boats in and around their ports. The Royal Navy have discovered that the Dover barrage has been ineffective. Admiral Bacon has been replaced by Admiral Keyes, who has emphasised the defence of the Straits and also has plans to attack Ostend and Zeebrugge. The side which completes the most objectives will win. The Germans have the advantage and will be awarded a free objective at the beginning of the mission so that they win any ties. CENTRAL OBJECTIVES Bomb the naval dump at Harwich, Dover Station and either the dump or station at Ramsgate. Sink merchant ships in port at Dunkirk and Calais. Sink merchant ships in English ports and home waters. Sink Royal Navy drifters. Destroy bridges on the rail route out of Calais. Bomb the big British depot at Furnes. Destroy Entente balloons and transport, also complete the indicated recces. ENTENTE OBJECTIVES Sink a German destroyer as the flotilla returns to Zeebrugge from northeast of Ramsgate. Sink German minesweepers as they clear the old advanced barrage. Sink a U-boat as it attempts to ambush the Dutch convoy. Sink a U-boat between the barrages as it tries to pass the Dover Straits . Sink U-boats in port at Bruges, and also Ostend and Zeebrugge. Destroy coastal defences at Zeebrugge and Ostend.<br>Bomb bridges over the Bruges ship canal at Zeebrugge. Bomb the dump and railyard at Bruges. Destroy German balloons and transport, also complete the indicated recces. NOTES - Only the fuel dumps need to be destroyed at Harwich. The Ramsgate target can be either the station or the ammunition dump in the harbour. The Bruges dump consists of the fuel tanks and surrounding sheds, as well as the sheds around the railyard. -Both Bray Dunes and Klemskerke aerodromes will be deactivated if their hangars are destroyed. Any machines based there will have ten minutes to take off, or they will be lost. -The coast bombardment can only be conducted once. It may begin shortly after it is light enough for balloons, though the Ostend balloon has to be destroyed before the cruisers will approach the coast. German seaplanes have radios and can direct fire on the bombarding ships. -Further recces of Bruges and Zeebrugge and targets in England are needed to complete the bombing missions. The bridges are tough and may also be repaired. -Balloons are vulnerable just before dawn. No recces possible before dawn! Thanks to SYN_Vander and SYN_Bandy for the original drifter vessels mod which then made it into the game! Good luck gentlemen!

Salute gentlemen! We cordially invite you all to come celebrate the happy news of Rise of Flight's continued development from Jason and the team! Years of uncertainty and doubt have been vanquished and we have much to look forward to with the recent announcement of the Flying Circus package coming soon. This week's Sunday Vintage Mission will take us to a classic battle in the vicinity of Roye-Montdidier, France in mid June 1918. Historical Background: The Battle of Noyon-Montdidier, 9-13 June 1918, was the fourth of General Erich von Ludendorff’s great offensives of the spring and summer of 1918 that came close to breaking the Allied lines on the western front, but instead critically damaged the fighting capacity of the German army. The first and third of those offensives (Second Battle of the Somme and Third Battle of the Aisne) had created two giant salients in the Allied lines. The Noyon-Montdidier offensive was designed to link these two saliants. This would straighten out the line and potentially threaten Paris. Two German armies – the Eighteenth under General Oskar von Hutier and the Seventh under General Max von Boehn were allocated to the attack. They were opposed by two French armies – the Third under General Georges Humbert and the Tenth under General Charles Mangin. The French also had access to American troops, who would play a part in defeating the offensive. The French had sufficient warning of the German attack. On 9 June the German Eighteenth Army attacked the French Third Army from the north. Its attack was disrupted by a French counter-bombardment, but was still able to make some progress, although not on the same scale as in the earlier offensives. The German Seventh Army joined the offensive on 10 June, attacking the French Tenth Army from the east. This attack failed to make any significant progress. The two armies were meant to meet at Compiègne, but only Hutier made any progress towards the rendezvous. On 11 June the French and Americans launched a counter attack which pushed the Germans back from their most advanced positions. On 13 June the battle came to an end. It was a clear German failure, and was a clear sign that the German army was wearing down. It would launch one more offensive, on the Marne in mid July, but that would soon be followed by the great Allied counterattacks that would push the German armies back towards the French border. Roye - June 16, 1918 Mission Start: 1800GMT (map will be up before this, we will restart at 1800GMT) Location: Front lines between Montdidier and Roye, south of the Somme. Mission objectives: Each side will be given orders every 30 mins. The mission objectives are photo reconaissance and bombing. Scouts units should fly offensive patrols or provide cover for the two-seaters -Two-seaters can take off during a 10 min window, every 15 mins. -For photo recon missions only the designated planes can trigger the photo sequence! Take at least 10 photos. Photo recons need to land safely at their base and hit "Finish" to complete their mission! Winning conditions: Complete all six objectives first. Targets may be bombed either before or after they are photographed. A triangle pointing to the left designates the target has been photographed. A triangle pointing to the right means the target has been destroyed Weather report: Cloud base at 1200m. Wind 2 m/s, from the north Good luck all pilots and observers!

A big thanks to all for flying and making it one hell of a fight! It was certainly an intense 4 hours of early bird flying. The victory went to Central Powers by a single 3 point objective late in the match. There will certainly be a rematch at some point in the future Stay tuned for Knights of the Sea III We'll try and get a date set sometime mid December, before the Christmas holiday truce. The great guys at Syndicate hooked us up with a different Knights of the Sea map for this event that is a 1918 plane set. Objectives are similar but naval targets are moved farther SW where the Channel narrows between Dover and the coast of France. Thanks again to all, keep 'em flying!

Salute gentlemen, I'm pleased to announce that thanks to the efforts of J2_SteveF, we will have separate mission/event stats for the Eagle of Lille Campaign this Sunday, for those that are keeping score http://vintage-missions.net There are 26 aircraft per side at the start of the mission, aircraft replenish after 5 minutes. Fuel loads are unlocked, *Note: the Airco DH2 fighter has 3hr 15min of fuel at 100%, so 33% will get you at least an hour of flight time and a good bit more manuverability* Good luck all pilots! Map Targets and Objectives will be displayed on the map for both sides. During the mission targets will be marked on the map if they were destroyed. Each side will get the same information from the map, where to attack and where to defend. There are no subtitles, objectives can completed in any order. Observation Airfields will fire green flares when friendly aircraft come near and yellow flares when an enemy aircraft comes near. Additionally there are several observation points that fire yellow flares when an enemy aircraft comes near. AAA There is anti-aircraft artillery deployed near the frontline and at each airfield and target. Objectives Balloons There are three observation balloons on each side that have to be destroyed. Each balloon is covered by anti-aircraft fire. Once a balloon is destroyed, it will remain destroyed for the rest of the mission. Balloons will fire yellow flares if an enemy plane comes near and fire a red flare when being attacked. A destroyed observation balloon will be marked on the map by a cross. Trains There are two trains on each side commuting between two locations. Trains can be combated by either a fighter using his machine guns or a 2-Seater using bombs. A destroyed train will be marked on the map by a cross. Convoys There are three convoys on each side commuting between two locati ons. Each convoy consists of five unarmoured vehicles. Convoys can be combated by either a fighter using his machine guns or a 2 Seater using bombs. A destroyed convoy will be marked on the map by a cross. Photo Reconnaissance Missions There are two Photo-Reconnaissance missions for each side. These missions can be flown from each 2-Seater aircraft that is carrying a photo camera. There is a minimum altitude of 1500m / 5000ft for a successful mission. After taking the photos that cover minimum 75% of the Photo-Reconnaissance area the aircraft have to carry them back to the airfield. A successful Photo-Reconnaissance mission will be marked on the map by a cross. Bombing and Photo Reconnaissance Missions There are two bridges and two artillery positions on each side, which have to be destroyed by a 2- Seater aircraft carrying bombs. At each artillery position there are two batteries each consisting of four guns that have to be destroyed completely. A destroyed bridge or artillery position will be marked on the map by a cross. After a bridge or an artillery position was destroyed it is subject to an additional Photo-Reconnaissance mission. These missions can be flown from each 2-Seater aircraft that is carrying a photo camera. There is a minimum altitude of 1500m / 5000ft for a successful mission.After taking five photos of the Photo -Reconnaissance area the aircraft have to carry them back to the airfield. A successful Photo -Reconnaissance mission will be marked on the map by a camera symbol. This means a maximum of 51 mission points for each side. Additionally each confirmed kill of an enemy airplane will add one point to the total score. A confirmed kill will be considered as a kill that is stated in the server statistics. In case, that server statistics are temporary offline, maybe a kill will not count. This will reflect the fact of several unconfirmed kills of pilots, like Max Immelmann, during the Great War. Scoring Photo reconnaissance - 2pts each (4 total) Balloon busting - 2pts each (6 total) Bridge bombing - 2pts each (4 total) Photo reconnaissance of destroyed bridge - 3pts each (6 total) Artillery position bombing - 2pts each (4 total) Photo reconnaissance of destroyed artillery position - 3pts each (6 total) Train attack - 3pts each (6 total) Convoy attack (5 vehicles per Convoy) - 5pts each (15 total) Penalties No death penalty, but remember the two seaters need human gunners when possible, so if you are handy in a gunner's position, consider asking to join an aircraft, someone will need you! An airplane that was shot down or has been landed outside an active airfield will be replaced by a new one after 5 minutes. A damaged airplane that has been landed on an active friendly airfield will be repaired after 5 minutes. Menin Airfield 5x Roland C.IIa 3x Fokker E.III 5x Roland C.IIa 2x Fokker E.III, 1x Halberstadt D.II (after recons complete) St. Marguerite Airfield 5x Fokker E.III 3x Fokker E.III, 2x Halberstadt D.II (after recons complete) Beaucamp Airfield 5x Fokker E.III 3x Fokker E.III, 2x Halberstadt D.II (after recons complete) Phalempin Airfield 5x Roland C.IIa 3x Fokker E.III 5x Roland C.IIa 2x Fokker E.III, 1x Halberstadt D.II (after recons complete) Entente St. Marie Cappel Airfield 5x F.E.2b 3x D.H.2 5x F.E.2b 2x D.H.2, 1x Nieuport 11.C1 (after recons complete) Baileul Airfield 5x D.H.2 3x D.H.2, 2x Nieuport 11.C1 (after recons complete) La Gorgue Airfield 5x D.H.2 3x D.H.2, 2x Nieuport 11.C1 (after recons complete) Bruay Airfield 5x F.E.2b 3x D.H.2 5x F.E.2b 2x D.H.2, 1x Nieuport 11.C1 (after recons complete) Achieving the two photo reconnaissance objectives, each side will be equipped with a new advanced fighter model. For the German side two of the Fokker E.III will be replaced by a Halberstadt D.II at each of the airfields St. Marguerite and Beaucamp and one Halberstadt D.II at Menin and Phalempin. The Entente pilots will be equipped with two Nieuport 11.C1 at each of the airfields Baileul and La Gorgue and one Nieuport 11.C1 at St. Marie-Cappel and Bruay, replacing the older D.H.2.

Salute gentlemen! I'm pleased to annouce that with the kind permission of Jasta99 on Sunday, November 12 we will host the great "Der Adler von Lille", the "Eagle of Lille" tournament map. The original event was put on by Jasta99 to commemorate the 99th anniversary of Max Immelmann's death (16 June, 1916) and was an epic event for the whole Rise of Flight community. This year we'll mark the 101st anniversary of Immelmann's being named to be soley responsible for the air defense of the city of Lille. The man: Immelmann served as a pilot with Feldflieger Abteilung (Field Flier Detachment) 10 from February to April 1915, and then in FFA 62 by early May 1915. On several occasions he engaged in combat while flying the L.V.G. two-seaters with which his units were equipped, but never with any success. On 3 June 1915, he was shot down by a French pilot but managed to land safely behind German lines. Immelmann was decorated with the Iron Cross, Second Class for preserving his aircraft. Two very early examples of the Fokker Eindeckers were delivered to the unit, one Fokker M.5K/MG production prototype numbered E.3/15 for Oswald Boelcke's use, with Immelmann later in July receiving E.13/15 as a production Fokker E.I for his own use before the end of July. It was with the lMG 08 machine gun-armed E.13/15 aircraft that he gained his first confirmed air victory of the war on 1 August 1915, a fortnight after Leutnant Kurt Wintgens obtained the very first confirmed German aerial victory on July 15, 1915 with his own Fokker M.5K/MG production prototype E.5/15 Eindecker, one of five built, following two unconfirmed ones on July 1 and 4, all before Immelmann. "Like a hawk, I dived... and fired my machine gun. For a moment, I believed I would fly right into him. I had fired about 60 shots when my gun jammed. That was awkward, for to clear the jam I needed both hands - I had to fly completely without hands.." - Max Immelmann Lieutenant William Reid fought back valiantly, flying with his left hand and firing a pistol with his right. Nonetheless, the 450 bullets fired at him took their effect; Reid suffered four wounds in his left arm, and his airplane's engine quit, causing a crash landing. The unarmed Immelmann landed nearby, and approached Reid; they shook hands and Immelmann said to the British pilot "You are my prisoner" and pulled Reid out of the wreckage and rendered first aid. Immelmann became one of the first German fighter pilots, quickly building an impressive score of air victories. During September, three more victories followed, and then in October he became solely responsible for the air defense of the city of Lille. Immelmann became known as The Eagle of Lille (Der Adler von Lille). He gained two further victories during September, to become the first German ace. The Mission: It is going to be a warm summer day with a clear sky, but in the early morning, ground is slightly foggy. Central and Entente forces are entrapped in endless battles in their trenches. Neither, the Central nor the Entente side is able to make a breakthrough. Each side got stuck in their muddy trenches. Movement only happens in the wide blue skies of northern France. Weather: Slightly foggy on ground level, Clouds at 2200m / 7200ft Wind speed: 0-2 ms - depending on altitude. Wind Direction: West Temerature: 19°C / 66°F Pressure: 775Mmhg / 1033hPa Mapdate: 18th of June 1916 Maptime: 07:00am Duration: 4 hours Map start time: 1800GMT on 12 November *Note* There will be no mission password, we will just run it as a normal Sunday Vintage Mission. Fuel loads are unlocked, all weapon mods permitted, remember to lock your gunner seats, as the session is open to all. No death penatly, but we do ask all to fight with honor and chivalry on this one...if your opponent is going down, let him land...maybe even set down and land next to him and shake his hand as Immelmann once did Good luck all pilots! All credit for the event and the mission goes to Jasta99 - http://jasta99.de

Thanks for flying gents! Good crowd and good fights for sure. No worries Luft, J2_SteveF and I will keep the lights on as long as 777 does

Salute gentlemen, this Sunday's Vintage Mission will bring us a classic matchup of old, for those brave enough to attempt it. The Sopwith Camel vs. the Fokker Dr.I They are limited in number on both sides, and completion of objectives spawn more of each type aircraft. I've never been much of a camel jock in the days either pre or post patch but we all know she lost some power and speed. However, remember the fuel loads here are unlocked and you can adjust the weight accordingly, of course so can the Dr.I's but it's up to each individual pilot to load out the fuel he wants, bearing in mind endurance vs. performance. Also of note, in testing this map seemed to have some pretty rough flak and machine gun fire down low, so it should make things interesting and limit anyone from taking too little fuel and fighting down low, due to the fact that the archie is going to drive the fights higher. At any rate, should be some good fun! Battle of Vendin - "Lifeline" Date: October, 1917 The German army is using canal barges to get their supplies to the lines. This makes the transfer points a priority target for the Royal Flying Corps. RFC 46 squadron, which is just converting from Pups to Camels, are ordered to attack every ship between Don and Vendin. as well as trucks just behind the lines. 59 Sqn, flying the RE.8, has been ordered to destroy the transfer points, a fuel depot and train station, in Don and Vendin. RFC 40 Sqn with Se5as and RFC 11 with Bristols, will provide top cover. Jasta 12 and 18 are stationed nearby and will be protecting their airspace in their Albatros DVa, Pfalz DIIIa and a handful of the new Fokker Dr1 scouts. The German Flieger Abteiling has been assigned various objectives: Photo recon objectives and two tactical ground targets; enemy artillery and vehicles east of Bethune. Important: completing any of these objectives will unlock new Camels or Fokker Dr1s. To complete the recon objective: Take a plane labeled "Recon", load a camera and fly to the objective area. The camera icon will pop up when over (one edge) of the target. Weather: Wind is moderate, blowing from the North East, 4 - 5 m/s. Cloud base at 1250m. Some turbulance at lower altitudes.