Imagine the following kill claim report and response.
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Kill Claim Report:
May 12th
Approximately 3pm yesterday I was flying low level CAP in the vicinity of our airfield when I spotted an enemy fighter several thousand feet below me pursuing a friendly aircraft. I immediately Split-S’d down and commenced an attack run. The bogie spotted my approach and broke into my attack and downward. As the enemy crossed below me, I fired a short burst and was rewarded with the sight of strikes scattered all over then enemy aircraft. Black smoke began pouring out of the bogie. I reversed and followed the bogie down to the deck. As I was closing on the enemy aircraft, it did a crash landing about 3 thousand feet due SW of our airfield. I saw the port wing separate from the craft as it skidded along the ground but otherwise it seemed fairly intact.
Response:
Numerous witnesses at our airfield and your gun camera footage both confirm your version of the story. Furthermore, a patrol from airfield security located the wreckage of the enemy aircraft and captured the pilot at approximately the location you specified. Interrogation of the prisoner further corroborates your story.
Unfortunately the enemy aircraft DITCHED. Therefore no kill can be awarded. We thank you for your efforts that resulted in the capture of a partially intact enemy aircraft and of the pilot. We believe that the intelligence information gained from the interrogation of the pilot and examination of the aircraft may turn out to be very useful. However, since as I repeat, the enemy aircraft DITCHED, no positive notations can be added to your record.
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All WWII airforces gave kill credit when an enemy aircraft was forced down. I can’t really imagine a kill report and response like the one above. Kill credit should be given when the target ditches. Given the way “ditching” is determined in AH (i.e. roll 50’ past the end of the runway and it’s a “ditch”) perhaps the rule should be ditch=kill except when the ditch occurs within 1000’ (or whatever criteria Pyro deems appropriate) of a friendly runway. If you’re vulching and put 2 rounds into an enemy AC on the tarmac and the guy gets out of the aircraft and happens to be off of the runway, you shouldn’t get a kill.
Besides I think ditch=kill would make the game just a teensy bit more chivalric if you could just let the other guy ditch in peace once you did fatal damage to his aircraft and still get the kill credit which you deserve.
Hooligan
[This message has been edited by Hooligan (edited 05-15-2000).]
