Real combat pilos in AH

[clerick]

I have always wondered if we have any WWII pilots in AH and what their thoughts are or would be as to the way the game portrays combat flight.

[StuB]

While not a WW2 vet, my dad is a retired USAF Command Pilot.  During his career he primarily flew F86's, B57's and F4's but also flew F100's, F101's, F102's, T33's (quite alot), T38's and I think F105's.  He flew two combat tours in SEA....the first (1966) flying the B57 Canberra and the second (1972) flying the F4 Phantom.  He also went on quite a few FAC mission in O1 Birddogs as a back seater (supposedly out of boredom    ).

Anyway, he has watched me play AH and he was VERY impressed an the realism, both in how the planes flew and in how the combat progressed.  I convinced him to try flying in it but he did not like the lack of feel that you get with the cartoon planes.....plus he's 73 years old now and isn't the most patient person....actually, as I remember he NEVER was all the patient  hehehe.

Originally posted by clerick
I have always wondered if we have any WWII pilots in AH and what their thoughts are or would be as to the way the game portrays combat flight.

[SkyRock]

There was a WWII vet that played back in the day, but I can't remember his name, I'm thinking it was Earl.

[Rino]

Earl Miller, P-39 and P-47 pilot flew a little AW..not sure if he made the
jump to AH.  Corky would know more, of course.

[SFCHONDO]

Oldest person I know playing AH is Vilkas, He is in his 70's. WWII vets have to be at least in there 80's.

[Guppy35]

Earl flew AH a little early on.  He flew Airwarrior quite a bit more.  As you can imagine Earl never took things real serious in Airwarrior

I think Earl had the most fun trying to torpedo carriers in a TBF.

Earl flew 38s, 39s and P47Ds with the 345th FS, 350th FG, The DevilHawks

He earned the DFC and Silver Star for his ground attack work in the Jug.

A bunch of Airwarrior guys got together and commissioned a painting of Earl's P39 over Anzio and we presented it to him at the AW Indy Con way back when

As Earl is also from Minnesota I was lucky enough to get to visit he and Mrs Miller a few times and he was kind enough to let me borrow many of his photos.

This shows Earl with a P38G that was loaned to the 350th for intercepting high alt recce birds in North Africa.  The P39s they had couldn't get up high enough.

[Guppy35]

Originally posted by clerick
I have always wondered if we have any WWII pilots in AH and what their thoughts are or would be as to the way the game portrays combat flight.

As for Earl's thoughts on how the game portrays air combat.  He thought it was a fun game but that was about as close as it got

[Mr No Name]

Dan, you always seem to have some interesting stuff to post on almost any subject!

[Scotch]

I haven't checked Bigweek in a very very long time. But Earl used to post his AAR's. Those were interesting reads.

[Murdr]

Originally posted by Scotch
I haven't checked Bigweek in a very very long time. But Earl used to post his AAR's. Those were interesting reads.

He still does

from bigweek
August 10

1942:  
I flew a BT-13 on a cross-country solo flight for 2:25 hours.

1943:  
I flew a P-39N on convoy patrol for 1:10 hours.

1944:
The three squadrons of the 350th Fighter Group mounted a group effort
with their new P-47s to support the invasion of Southern France,
including "untasked" strafing attacks.  From August 10 - 17, the 345th
Fighter Squadron had a detachment of 12 P-47s at Fertilla airfield,
Alghero, Sardinia, where the 347th Fighter Squadron was stationed.

The quote below is from the War Diary 345th Fighter Squadron by Captain
Allan C. Wills, S-2 Officer:

"10.  Lt. Mark Stephens led a flight of 12 a/c to Alghero, Sardinia as
the advance group of an air echelon to operate from that base
temporarily during the invasion of Southern France.  The ground
personnel and the remainder of the pilots will follow within the next
few days.
     The 345th resumed their soft-ball activity tonight by defeating the
team of the base security guard by a count of 4 - 2.  It was a close
game throughout and the outcome was not decided until the last man was out."

1965:  
I flew two dive bombing missions in an A-1H for 3:15 hours.  My logbook
shows that the VNAF reported that our flights resulted in 250 Viet Cong
killed by air (VC KBA).  Talk about body count mania!

earl

[Guppy35]

Yep, Earl still posts daily.  His wife's health hasn't been the best and Earl isn't getting any younger, but he's still kicking.  Last I talked to him he still gets some flight time in a Cessna 152 now and then.

[clerick]

I wish that i had had a chance to know some of these guys you've mentioned.  Though i am a bit surprised that any WWII vets would play since most of the vets I've ever met, while proud of their service, didn't want anything to do with glorifying it.

[Treize69]

A lot of it depends on how they felt about it after the war. Some of the Vets wanted nothing to do with aviation and avoided flying at all costs (like John Godfrey, who developed a severe fear of flying after he got out) and some stayed in and flew every chance they got for as long as they could (like Bud Anderson and Chuck Yeager, who STILL fly when the can).

Its like reunions- some refuse to attend or have any contact with their old friends, and some have gone to every reunion and get together for 65 years.

[Murdr]

Originally posted by clerick
I wish that i had had a chance to know some of these guys you've mentioned.  Though i am a bit surprised that any WWII vets would play since most of the vets I've ever met, while proud of their service, didn't want anything to do with glorifying it.

We used to have a WW2 C-47 pilot in Air Warrior.  He flew a fighter once in awhile, but mostly he enjoyed resupplying bases and bringing troops.

[storch]

there was a B-26 crewman who flew B-26s in this game his CPID was shack but I haven't seen him on in ages.