Christmas Eve - 2005,
I had only been in the game a few months, and was up in an FW190A-5 looking for action. I had recently joined my first squadron in AH - VF-15 - 'Satan's Playmates'. I could hear them on vox, fighting it out and having a blast doing so, but as was the usual case, I found myself miles from them...as they were launching bluebirds from carriers, and I was in my Luft crate as always. I started playing AH because I wanted to fly Luftwaffe, and found the 3 country non historical set up of the Main Arena game...surprising and honestly, disappointing as well.
Alone...and continuously being jumped and shot down I contemplated leaving the game altogether as I was unable to find the experience of what I was looking for. The guys in VF-15 were all good guys, and helpful as well, but being a Luft enthusiast and a noob, among skilled US Navy flyer's I couldn't shake feeling like an outcast.
Shot down again...launch again...
Glancing out the canopy I spotted a squadmate. The icon over his Bf109 read, 'Zud'. I chuckled to myself everytime I saw him, thinking of the little yellow can of cleaner my father always had on the workbench in the garage as I was growing up. In the few weeks I was in the squad I couldn't recall ever hearing Zud on vox, but it dawned on me that I had never seen him in anything other than one of Willie's finest. I wondered if perhaps he was feeling the same way I was and decided to take a chance and send him a PM, asking if he wouldn't mind meeting me over in the Training Arena for a couple minutes. He replied, "Sure".
I was nervous, as my mind raced on what I was thinking about. I had rolled my plane out of the hanger in the TA and was awaiting Zud to arrive. Presently I heard a 109 spin up, and out of the hanger taxied Zud. He rolled up to me, shut down, and transmitted, "So Stampf, whats up?" I wasn't sure where to begin, so I just let it all rip...explaining my feelings to him, and my dissatisfaction with the situation, and what I had in mind. As it turned out...He felt exactly the same way I did and explained that his only interest was the Luftwaffe, and flying his beloved Bf109.
I didn't even know how to form a squad, other than it took two players to do it...so I asked him if he would leave the 15th, and join an all German unit, if I created it. He agreed...and we talked long into the Christmas morning hours together. Finally I was excited about the game and decided that if I could not find the experience I was looking for, I would create it for myself, and try to find others looking for the same thing. And so the all Luftwafffe experience was born.
I could never imagine on that night, seven years ago, what would all come from that simple gamble and encounter with Zud, and never dreamed that our little experiment would turn out so wonderful for all involved. Finally the game had meaning to me, and I was determined to make this squad something special, and unique in the game.
From that night to this day, we still begin every squad night together in the TA, not only to group up and warm up, but to honor the very beginnings of the unit, and to remind myself why we started the squad, and what our goals were, the standards we would hold ourselves to, and the path we had chosen to accomplish those goals. As we begin out 7th year together, I can only marvel at how it all turned out, and be grateful for all the outstanding times I have had, and to the people that I have met both within and outside the unit. To me...I am the luckiest CO in the game, to have had such success, and to have been supported and joined by the best bunch of guys I have ever had the privilege to be a part of, in any on-line gaming experience.
So, to all of you in the 11th, and to all of you in the game, both friend and foemen, I thank you very much. May you have all happiness during this holiday season, and find only blue skies and good hunting in the coming years.
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