Author Topic: Aces High and Patriotism (Read 824 times)

B@tfinkV · « **on:** May 24, 2006, 06:40:10 PM »

Whilst flying i 190A5 in the AvA arena BoB scenario, It struck me to immerse myself into the mindset of a 23 year old German Pilot. And i mean really try to convince my mind to collect information, and anything i ever listed to without realising, and create the world and environment around me in my head to an extent of being the view being more opaque through the mind's eye than the two balls in your head. the exersise is a form of meditation, and must be practiced in very quiet and unpoluted places, and low light, a forced daydream, I enjoy attempting to do the same with animals, try to best imagine the mindset of a cat, stupid things, but excelent mind excersises. unfortunately it would be next to impossible while playing aceshigh

Enough random rubbish, but there is a reason behind the madness. From my young days i would make a model spitfire, and a second a 109, paint them as best i could, and continue by burning holes in the Bf's wings and trailing cotton wool behind it with the spitfire in persuit hanging from the cealing. I would expect to see the reverse in a young model makers room in Germany, and rightly so. The ver largest % of us here are from the USofA, with another large chunk being {ex}allied and {ex}axis Europeans.

Little Jimmy from England would jump into a spitfire first time on AH and want to shoot at black crossed machines, and Hans from Austria would hop in a 109 and start shouting Arghtung Spitfire.

Now the Question is How many of the Player base here would fly soley the planes of thier countries and allies, and take most pleasure in shooting down historical opposition? How many fly anything and dont even think about it? how many feel strong patriotism to a 60 year old war?

personally i love jumping in a 190 and tearing some spitfires apart just as much as any other plane match-up.

I am curious to know peoples thoughts about the deeper significance of what we do for fun. I am sure there are some people playing the game that remember air raids and rationing, our squadron has a real old chap named DeeBee who was blitzed, or so he says.

I appreciate those that couldnt care less about philosophy and pointless thought are in a large majority in the world, so i just thought i'd type this down somewhere before i sober up.

rpm · « **Reply #1 on:** May 24, 2006, 07:05:12 PM »

I think you're onto something. When I first started playing AW, I immediately went for the P-38 and A-26. I don't think I flew an Axis plane for a year.

Booz · « **Reply #2 on:** May 24, 2006, 08:39:04 PM »

Started AW in '91 or so, pretty much nothing but US iron the whole time up to today. P-51, P-47, F4U , well ok, 5% spitfires. I'm pretty sure it's a national pride thing somewhere in the back of my drunken stupor.

WW2 movies were still a popular thing when I was a kid, Combat! was a prime-time show. Every drug store had plastic models of every WW2 plane and ship. I rarely see them anymore...*sigh*

Brenjen · « **Reply #3 on:** May 24, 2006, 09:04:32 PM »

I wish I could fly the Corsair & do it well. Unfortunately I have to fly the Hurri & the Spit if I want to stay in the air in a fight more than a few seconds, & I end up in that position most of the time even then. That being said I'm sure you have hit on a bit of human nature accurately. ( I did the same thing with models when I was a kid, I used hot needles or safety pins to make the holes. What did you use?)

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 24, 2006, 09:09:31 PM »

Hmm. I fly mostly allied planes not because of a hate for the axis countries, but because they handle exactly what I like best in a plane.

I just don't like how the 109's, LaLa's, 190's and so on handle. They just don't handle the way I want them to, nor do they match my flying style.

But in FPS's, I mainly play as US soldiers. I just feel dirty and wrong playing as the germans..

Sandman · « **Reply #5 on:** May 24, 2006, 09:42:29 PM »

For the longest time, my favorite plane was the C205.

I am a fascist.

Slash27 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 24, 2006, 10:53:55 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Sandman
I am a fascist.

And I thought you just had a calzone fetish.

asilvia · « **Reply #7 on:** May 24, 2006, 10:56:28 PM »

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

Wolfala · « **Reply #8 on:** May 25, 2006, 01:25:11 AM »

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.

For instance, if my wife is in the room and i'm playing IL2 - i'd up a 109 with American or Russian markings. B/c I know with a certainty i'd get **** from her the second she see's an iron cross b/c of her history.

As for me, I just like P-47's and P-38's and obliterating 109's and 190's at 20k.

But that is just me.

Wolf

Debonair · « **Reply #9 on:** May 25, 2006, 01:38:10 AM »

In CTF i'm always blue, becasue im no commie

straffo · « **Reply #10 on:** May 25, 2006, 04:34:24 AM »

SM3RT FASCHISTAM !

At the time I discovered AH I was reading this :

bsdaddict · « **Reply #11 on:** May 25, 2006, 09:19:21 AM »

Coming from a Navy (USN) family, where Dad, Granddad, Uncle #1 and Uncle #2 were all USN pilots, I have a preference for USN birds. Corsairs and Hellcats are my fav, but for base defence sometimes I'll up a spit, depending on if I think I'll have time to climb or not... You'll never see me in any axis planes, just on principle...

Airscrew · « **Reply #12 on:** May 25, 2006, 09:44:16 AM »

I never really considered the nationallity of the planes when I started playing or even now. I see each plane and its abilities and try to pick the one that I like and feel is best suited for what ever type of fight or task I'm about to undertake. If I'm going after bombers low level I might pick a La-5/7, Typhoon, or G14. High Alt bombers (15k and up) I might use the 109k4, 190D9. Ground attack, Typhoon, P-47, Mosie, A-20G, 110. Base Defense, Nikis, Spits, Hurris, La-5/7. Goon hunting, La-5/7, Typhoon, Niki. I try to mix it up and fly something different.

what Bat said got me thinking about why I'm addicted to this game,or at least why I've stayed with it as long as I have. I still remember being in the library in the 5 or 6th grade and reading the "A" encyclopdia because thats where the airplanes where. I still recall the large foldout color plate of all the airplanes from the Wright Flyer to F-100 and F-105. Most of my 5 and 6th grade was spent drawing airplanes in class. I spent alot of weekends grounded because I got in trouble at school drawing those airplanes instead of school work. I remember sitting in the parking lot somewhere on base and I could see the F-105s and F-4s taxiing on the flightline. By the 7th grade I discovered all the books about WW2 and airplanes in the library and proceded to use the copier in the library to copy pictures from all the books I read and studied books on flight and rockets. Then I discovered models. I built them all, the monogram A-26, B-26, B-25, B-17, B-24, and B-29. Hurricanes, P-40, Typhoon, P-51, P-38, and Skyraider. I hated that Skyraider too, it had folding wings and I couldnt get the folding wings to stay together, and the more glue I used the worse it got.

Thanks Bat

indy007 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 25, 2006, 09:45:53 AM »

I know a couple people I've flown with that make their choices based on patriotism. I was asked the 69th HB's F-86 vs MiG. Some chose the F-86 because they consider it a better platform (radar gunsight, fast dives). Some picked the F-86 simply because they're American. I don't think anybody even picked the MiG.

In the MA... there's just so many good choices I couldn't limit myself to a single nationality, or even just ally or axis rides. I like Jugs & Ponies for JABO runs. My absolute favorite dogfighters are the n1k & la5fn. If somebody HO's me, and it makes me mad, I'll go get an 3-gun la7 and get my revenge. If I'm in an absolutely nasty fight with lots of cons and need better performance to make up for my lack of skills, I'll break out the SpitXVI or SpitVIII (unless I feel like paying perkies, in which case it's Tempest, F4U4, or 262). If I'm bomber hunting, I take up LW iron. It just feels like they're the best tools for the job, whether you need a truckload of cannon rounds & rockets or fast climb rates. For last ditch base defense I'll take up an A6M5b. If Fighter Town is available, I only up 2 aircraft, La5 & P-40E.

I know this is a weakness to my gameplay... I really should pick a single ride and stick with a few months to master it... but honestly, I'd rather just be decent in most rides, than the absolute god of a single aircraft

Mustaine · « **Reply #14 on:** May 25, 2006, 10:15:42 AM »

first in AH i could not name a single participant in WWII except patton, hitler, and ummm... those jap kamakazi dudes. i know pathetic, it was just never a part of my life. i was more into the cold war type stuff.

got pulled in by an LW squad, and show the ropes. started learning about the war more and more. i read alot of accounts and pilot statements from the LW side, and realised many many of them were not nazi's in any sence of the word. they had no belief in hitler or national socialism, they were recruited to fly planes. they loved to fly, and got out of going to the "trenches". alot of these german pilots i read about only served because they were either forced to or to fight for their "country" as in protecting their family. the propagana made it sould to them like if they didn't the russians would come kill their family.

now though flying is for fun (when i am active) and a plane is a plane. once you have seen the true gang bang horde gaming the game nature of the MA it is pointless to say "i only fly this"

the Dora is still the coolist bad-ass looking plane in the plane set though