Aces High and Patriotism

[Angus]

This morning it was:
Spit VIII
Hurry I
F4U-4
Lancaster
A6M2

Basically fly about everything, least the 190's and Jap planes though.
It's a simulator you see, and the sides are bishes, rooks and knights.

In Axis vs Allies, I usually join the team with less players.

[FiLtH]

Bat I did the same stuff with models as a kid. I had a B26 that I put a few flak holes in, sanded away most of the plastic thickness around the holes and made it look like jagged metal. Then I painted silver around the jagged parts. I also cut pieces of plastic to look like the ribs of the wings inside. I was quite proud of it.

  As for WW2, I have always been a buff since I was a kid. I like flying alot of the planes in here.  I dont think I ever looked at is as "Im American, I should fly US iron! " though.

[EagleEyes]

Originally posted by asilvia
Have to admit when I see a Zero I get that.."For Pearl Harbor" feeling.

I couldnt agree more.  When there is a CV attack on an airfield and i see zeros.  The first plane i jump in is a P-40E.  I stick to the runway to gain speed then pull her into the air and let er rip!

I pretty much fly all American Planes.  There is that whole being from America and proud to fly such wounderful fighters.  But also, like BatfinkV, i often "Daydream" while flying fighter, pretending im actually in this fighter and my life depends on how well i fly.

Alittle over a year ago, my old squad 31st BomberBarons were escorting the Screaming Ealges (now called Silent Executioners) on a long range high alt HQ run.  The SE's were B-17s and we were P-51Ds.  Once we got to around 25k feet, we set our engines to cruise and sat back and enjoyed the large amouth of 17s that were there.  As i sat there, i began to get cold myself sitting at my computer.  It was like 80 degrees outside and inside the house.  I began to shiver.  I got so much into "being" in the Mustang, that i felt like i was there at 25k feet.  Feeling the coldness all the way down through my body!!  Lets say, i had a nice big sleeping bag to warm me up!!

[ChickenHawk]

Interesting topic.  I did not realize I was a minority in being an American flying LW planes.  

While I am a patriot and hate Nazi's, I have always rooted for the underdog.  As a kid, when we played Cowboys and Indians I was always the Indian.  When watching a football game and I don't really care which team wins, I always root for the loosing team.

My other reason is that LW planes are generally harder to fly and I feel I will be a better pilot if don't get in a nancy boy no skill TnB plane.  Hence the reason you will NEVER see me in a LA-7 and the reason I hunt down those Dweeb LA's with great fervor.

So that is why I fly LW and IJN planes almost exclusively.  I think the U.S. planes are too numerous and have too much of an advantage and someone needs to fly for the underdog.

[Goomba]

While it's not a powerful, pervasive mindset, I do find that I have a distinct preference for Allied choices in any game.  In AH, my preferred fights are against axis airframes, when I'm in allied colors.  Doesn't really matter, as I usually die in flames anyway.  

Though I've enjoyed flying the occasional luftwobble aircraft, and always liked the look of 109's, I guess I'd still prefer to play for the good guys.

Both the Germans and the Japanese killed members of my family back in the day, and I can't quite forget that.

Yup...some patriotism does kick in here, I suppose.

[Nifty]

Nothing gives me more pleasure in AH than shooting down a N1K2 or Zeke in a F4F, F4U, or F6F.  I love the scenarios and squad ops that feature the Pacific theater, and I usually want to be on the USN side of things (though I did lead a IJN attack squad in Midway scenario a few years ago.)

I still enjoy flying a Spit I in a Battle of Britain set too. My last name is of English origin, so I have a place in my heart for jolly ol' England.

I do like to try out different planes though, regardless of their country of origin.

[Timofei]

Originally posted by Wolfala
I dunno Bat, its a bit touchy in my family. Relative of mine on my dads side survived Auchwitz but her entire family didn't. I don't mind flying 109's or 190's from an aircraft perspective, but it is a bit disconcerting from a standpoint of what the symbology going along with it stood for.

Many German planes were assembed by workers of the concentration camps, see:
http://www.gusen.org/gu20101x.htm

"At Mauthausen-Gusen, DEST (the SS firm responsible for the exploitation of the prisoners in the stone-quarries since 1938), the German Air-Force (Luftwaffe), and Messerschmitt GmbH Regensburg started the joint venture of B8 BERGKRISTALL-ESCHE 2 for the final assembly stage of the Me 262 jet-plane within the Mauthausen-Gusen complex.
...
So, Messerschmitt GmbH Regensburg (together with DEST) produced nearly one third of its over-all aircraft production at KZ Mauthausen-Gusen and KZ Flossenbuerg
...
The Jews belonged to the lowest group in the KZ Gusen hierarchy. They had to do the worst jobs and often survived just for a few working-days in that "Hell of Hells"at KZ Gusen II.  Fr other groups of prisoners, the average survival-period reached up to four months."

[Hangtime]

I was very partial to the Mustang. I greatly enjoyed hunting Luftwhiners.

Kurt Tank invented Luftwhiners.

[Red Tail 444]

I only fly US aircraft. Mostly the Jug and Corsair and P51B.

[Brenjen]

I think 90% of my ammo in panzers & tigers is old surplus & they were assembled by concentration camp jews to start with. Because 90% of them are duds or don't penetrate, I think Schindlers people replaced the cores with talcum powder.

J/K sort of.

[Midnight]

My favorite AH scenario is flying P-51D against LW. If bombers are involved, it's even better.

I first started playing AW thinking that would be the normal thing.... oh well... I still do try to play the role sometimes.

[Ripsnort]

The first Balsa wood model I built (the type  where you had a paper template and cut the stringers out each, individually by hand!) was that of a BF109 (or was it ME109? I don't remember...1968 was along time ago)...anyway, the first plane I flew in AW was the 109. The first squadron I joined in AH was JG2.  German blood runs deep.

[Debonair]

u r teh nazii!!!1!!1!!one!!!11!!!ein!

[Nifty]

Originally posted by Ripsnort
The first Balsa wood model I built (the type  where you had a paper template and cut the stringers out each, individually by hand!) was that of a BF109 (or was it ME109? I don't remember...1968 was along time ago)...anyway, the first plane I flew in AW was the 109. The first squadron I joined in AH was JG2.  German blood runs deep.

heh, I seem to remember a thread like this a few years ago and both of us mentioning something about Corsairs and watching Black Sheep Squadron.  

[AlGorithm]

When I first started playing AW on GEnie, I was all for the American planes. Tried the P-51 first, of course (High Blower Engaged). Then the F-4. I managed to become a fairly proficient moving target.

Then somebody turned me on to the Ki-84, the ultimate "lamer plane". I finally started getting some kills.

By the time AW hit the internet, I was flying the FW190-D9. That plane was so sweet it felt like cheating. This was my favorite ride for several years. No, i'm not a fan of nazis or fascism (no offense Skuzzy). The speed, roll rate and cannons on this beast made it a killing machine.

AH1 found me flying the F-6 and the D-9.

Now the game dynamics have changed. There's more gang banging, and reduced performance on my favorite rides. I've been flying 190s, F-4s, nikis, P-38s and mossies... it's generally the same old story. Start closing, and he heads for the deck while six of his buddies jump you. I'm still trying to find a plane that fits, and still holding out hope that this game can be as enjoyable as it once was.

A return of Fightertown would be nice.