<S> Everyone! It has been 11 years in the making, but I have finally managed to achieve our squadron's highest award, the Medal of Honor, which requires 50 victories and zero deaths while having your sortie classified as a fighter. I was fortunate enough to accomplish this in my favorite aircraft, a mid-war P-51 Bravo. I have made several attempts to attain this goal, but up until this point I was just unable to cut the mustard.
A less than optimistic squad mate of mine has expressed misgivings toward my public proclamation; however, my long tenure as a member of this community has motivated me to share, what is to date, my most fortuitous exploit with my fellow cartoon pilots, countrymen, and respected enemies.
Over the greater portion of the past decade, I have unwittingly attracted a dedicated fan club of grinning and back-patting Waldorf and Statler-esque detractors. It is to the darkened recess of that lofty balcony that I now turn, issuing the following challenge:
In the upcoming Aces High tour (LWTour154), successfully secure 50 fighter victories in any piston driven aircraft, while simultaneously incurring zero deaths, ditches, or otherwise unsuccessful landings during sorties classified as a fighter. For those wishing to truly meet or exceed my achievement, and do not mind a borderline anachronistic lack of explosive firepower in the main arena, perhaps attempt this in a P-51 Bravo.
Edit: Oh wait now, there is more! The aforementioned squad mate has brought to my attention something that, in my embarrassment, I neglected to address previously. My fan club playfully enjoys ribbing me for "picking and running" in my Mustang of choice. As to remove any shadow of a doubt, any challenger can do as much "picking and running" as they desire, as long as the challenge is completed inside of my total fighter sortie time of 4 hours, 12 minutes, and 27 seconds.
As an incentive to sweeten the pot, anyone capable of meeting or exceeding the given parameters within the time allotted and in a comparable (mid-war or earlier) aircraft to the P-51 Bravo, shall receive at no charge to themselves, an autographed 8x10 photo of yours truly--- So manage your time wisely, do not let climbing to 40K and fleeing when you appear to have lost the advantage ruin your chances at what is sure to become a collector's item (suitable for framing).
