You know, will some of you stop you're darn whining already?
Last night, my wingman and I are flying Spit 16's. I know, training wheels and all, but I didn't feel like working so hard like in a jug.
Anyway, we get separated in a couple of engagements halfway between two bases, friendly and enemy. As I finish with my guy, I ask where my wingman is and he's 3/4 towards the enemy field, huge dar bar growing, and engaged defensive with another Spit 16. I tell him to try and drag the guy back towards our base while I head direct to him and pick him and the enemy up a minute later, still in the enemy radar area.
This enemy spit sees me coming, and decides to stay with my wingman even though I'm about to engage him. Short version, I roll in, we go a few turns, and I kill him.
As me and my wingie are heading back home, I throw out a .s salute to him because he fought very well in a 2v1. Nothing back, but that's ok.
Then Stoney comes on and we start chatting while we're RTB and it turns out the guy I shot down was talking a bunch of smack on 200 which I had de-tuned. So, I missed the pleasure of having a smack match on 200.
Bro, this is the MA. YOU made the decision to stay engaged. YOU made the decision to fly towards my base. YOU could have turned away anytime, but decided to stay and you died. Oh, and you fly with a well-known squad, so don't give me any grief about flying with a squad mate.
I saw a little of everything last night. I saw a bomb and bail. I saw this dude fly right in front of my Typhoon when I was over my base getting ready to land, in an F4U-4, with me in the typh, Stoney in an A-20, and some other guy in an unknown plane. The F4U-4 ran straight home from me. You know what? I gave him a salute and wished him a safe flight with his wounded F4U-4 because I understood wanting to egress outnumbered (probably didn't realize I was bingo and winchester and Stoney was an A-20).
Ultimately we all make the decision about what field to up from, what fights to seek, and what planes to fly. In a game with absolute freedom to choose your engagement, it never fails to amaze me how folks will somehow feel justified in whining just because THEY GOT THEMSELVES IN A SITUATION THAT GOT THEM SHOT DOWN!
Heck, 3 nights ago I stayed with a 3v1 when I could have egressed. At the end, I threw they 3 a salute for a good fight, I didn't whine that I got ganged. I chose to stay, and they fought well, no HO's and good teamwork.
If this thread applies to you, save the drama for your mama and stop being such a doggone sissy already.