Author Topic: Real World War II Vets Who Played  (Read 1097 times)

Offline Muzzy

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Real World War II Vets Who Played
« on: July 02, 2024, 07:05:21 PM »
Hello all,

I'm doing an essay on combat flight sims and I was wondering if anyone recalls any vets who played Aces High or its predecessors. I recall there were some very early on in the old Air Warrior days and here on Aces High, but I never had any firsthand encounters with any.

If any of you recall some of these vets please let me know. I'd love to hear about them.


CO 111 Sqdn Black Arrows

Wng Cdr, No. 2 Tactical Bomber Group, RAF, "Today's Target" Scenario. "You maydie, but you will not be bored!"

Offline MDStampf93

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Re: Real World War II Vets Who Played
« Reply #1 on: July 02, 2024, 09:58:54 PM »
Vilkas, conscripted by the Germans at 13 years old in Lithuania and sent to the Eastern Front.

Vilkas flew with our squad JG 11 for many years, he passed maybe 8-10 years ago now.

Somewhere we have a lot more information about his time during WW2.
MDStampf - CO of JG11 'Sonderstaffel'
USMC 2010-2021


Here since Tour 71

Offline xanax

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Re: Real World War II Vets Who Played
« Reply #2 on: July 02, 2024, 10:16:58 PM »
Earl "Dutch" Miller played Air Warrior in the late 90's. He flew P-39's and P-47's during the war. He had great stories and was a wealth of info. Also a really nice fella.
+Tiff/Slack has wealth of info on him and even met the gentleman.


https://www.lacrosselibrary.org/sites/default/files/u117/10-earl_miller_p-47_thunderbolt_pilot.pdf
https://couleecremation.com/earl-dutch-miller/
The Damned
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Offline Animl-AW

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Re: Real World War II Vets Who Played
« Reply #3 on: July 02, 2024, 10:23:09 PM »
Earl "Dutch" Miller played Air Warrior in the late 90's. He flew P-39's and P-47's during the war. He had great stories and was a wealth of info. Also a really nice fella.
+Tiff/Slack has wealth of info on him and even met the gentleman.


https://www.lacrosselibrary.org/sites/default/files/u117/10-earl_miller_p-47_thunderbolt_pilot.pdf
https://couleecremation.com/earl-dutch-miller/

he was just a all around great guy. He helped us a lot on physics of AC and how they should feel. He really contributed to FM in sims. From what I recall he was also a test pilot, flew several planes we had. I miss his presence.

Offline Kini

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Re: Real World War II Vets Who Played
« Reply #4 on: July 03, 2024, 10:58:00 AM »
There was an event years ago in the old Warbirds sim where several 332 Fighter Squadron pilots participated in a special scenario. I lasted about 15 minutes before being shot down by a fellow player and not one of the Red Tail pilots. 

Offline JimmyD3

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Re: Real World War II Vets Who Played
« Reply #5 on: July 03, 2024, 11:11:51 AM »
Wasn't Earl one of the B17 bomber groups here in AH?
Kenai77
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Offline xanax

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Re: Real World War II Vets Who Played
« Reply #6 on: July 03, 2024, 11:39:55 AM »
Wasn't Earl one of the B17 bomber groups here in AH?

I'm not sure if he ever tried AH. I think he trailed off flying in AW around 99-ish. Flossy or Slack can probably verify if he ever gave it a go over here.

I thought I had a .zip of the entire news.bigweek.org archive somewhere to try to single out and compile his posts but I can't find it. I should have taken better care of that stuff.
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Offline flippz

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Re: Real World War II Vets Who Played
« Reply #7 on: July 03, 2024, 02:02:23 PM »
ET was a bomber pilot that flew both bombers and P51s (all though the p51s were not in combat conditions). He was super great guy and could whip the sorriest bomber pilot into shape in about two flights. Later in his game flying he would take off and sneak a nap in at times which usually led to him waking 30 mins later way of course and he was hilarious about it.

Offline JimmyD3

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Re: Real World War II Vets Who Played
« Reply #8 on: July 03, 2024, 02:33:15 PM »
ET was a bomber pilot that flew both bombers and P51s (all though the p51s were not in combat conditions). He was super great guy and could whip the sorriest bomber pilot into shape in about two flights. Later in his game flying he would take off and sneak a nap in at times which usually led to him waking 30 mins later way of course and he was hilarious about it.

Good to hear from you Flippz, hope all is well.  :salute
Kenai77
CO Sic Puppies MWK
USAF 1971-76

Offline TryHard

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Re: Real World War II Vets Who Played
« Reply #9 on: July 03, 2024, 04:04:03 PM »
ET was a bomber pilot that flew both bombers and P51s (all though the p51s were not in combat conditions). He was super great guy and could whip the sorriest bomber pilot into shape in about two flights. Later in his game flying he would take off and sneak a nap in at times which usually led to him waking 30 mins later way of course and he was hilarious about it.

I believe Earl (ET37) flew B29s in Korea right?

I still remember the massive strat raids he would put together, guy was a hoot to fly with.  :salute

Offline Oldman731

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Re: Real World War II Vets Who Played
« Reply #10 on: July 03, 2024, 09:27:39 PM »
Wasn't Earl one of the B17 bomber groups here in AH?

Two different Earls.  Earl Miller flew in AW.  He flew P-39s and P-47s in North Africa and Italy during the war, and F-80s after.  He didn't make the transition to AH.

The other Earl was AH handle "ET."  He flew a wide variety of planes, was revered here for realistically leading bomber missions, and almost literally died online in his final illness.

Great people and heroes, both of them.

- oldman

Offline Muzzy

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Re: Real World War II Vets Who Played
« Reply #11 on: July 03, 2024, 10:02:01 PM »
Now that my memory has been jogged, I do recall flying with Earl "ET" during one of my stints here. His bombing missions were legendary. If memory serves there was a memorial service of sorts for him here, was there not?


CO 111 Sqdn Black Arrows

Wng Cdr, No. 2 Tactical Bomber Group, RAF, "Today's Target" Scenario. "You maydie, but you will not be bored!"

Offline save

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Re: Real World War II Vets Who Played
« Reply #12 on: July 04, 2024, 01:00:27 AM »
I escorted ET in some of his B17 sorties, he always joked feeling funny about me escorting him in the FW190A8   :D
I remember he said they used the B17 to distinguish wildfires after the war.
My ammo last for 6 Lancasters, or one Yak3.
"And the Yak 3 ,aka the "flying Yamato"..."
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Offline Animl-AW

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Re: Real World War II Vets Who Played
« Reply #13 on: July 04, 2024, 06:39:42 AM »
Two different Earls.  Earl Miller flew in AW.  He flew P-39s and P-47s in North Africa and Italy during the war, and F-80s after.  He didn't make the transition to AH.

The other Earl was AH handle "ET."  He flew a wide variety of planes, was revered here for realistically leading bomber missions, and almost literally died online in his final illness.

Great people and heroes, both of them.

- oldman

Such a great experience to have these guys.

Offline Frodo

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Re: Real World War II Vets Who Played
« Reply #14 on: July 04, 2024, 09:05:16 AM »
Vilkas, conscripted by the Germans at 13 years old in Lithuania and sent to the Eastern Front.

Vilkas flew with our squad JG 11 for many years, he passed maybe 8-10 years ago now.

Somewhere we have a lot more information about his time during WW2.

 :salute So much fun to fly with. Loved when he would start singing.


There was an event years ago in the old Warbirds sim where several 332 Fighter Squadron pilots participated in a special scenario. I lasted about 15 minutes before being shot down by a fellow player and not one of the Red Tail pilots. 

I flew that with Rexx/Killjoy who sadly has passed away. Great fun and memories.  :salute  They were not easy to fly against either. If I remember right we didn't do very well.  :devil
« Last Edit: July 04, 2024, 09:14:33 AM by Frodo »


JG11 

TEAMWORK IS ESSENTIAL....IT GIVES THE ENEMY SOMEONE ELSE TO SHOOT AT.