TOD assignment request

[Midnight]

Originally posted by Nifty
Midnight, so what you're saying is you will forfeit all side preferences except in TODs that include the P-51?

Basically, yes. If that's what I have to do to fly the P-51 when it's in, that's what I will do.

I can't garuntee huge squad turnouts if we are stuck with the flying targets every tour, but I will make my efforts to keep the squad participation up.

And this particular offer goes on the premise that we know what the TOD lineup will be and when we will be back in the P-51. If you have the next 4 TODs setup to be whatever, and then TOD 5 back in the P-51...

[Midnight]

Originally posted by Ripsnort
Hey midnight, I'd have assigned you guys to the P51B in Frame 1

No big deal Rip... the battle plan you came up with would have made it tough to get P-51s where they needed to be in time. 412th had plenty of fun in the F6s you gave us.

Originally posted by Ripsnort
but I associated the 13th TAS as the squadron you belonged to!

No body is perfect Rip.  I've been in the 412th since last April though.

[Nifty]

oh, no, we don't line up the TODs months in advance or anything.  We wouldn't be able to tell you when we'll have another P-51 TOD, for example, unless it was the next one.  Heck, I'm not even ready to announce the next one, let alone the one after that.  

but we're almost ready.  just need to discuss scoring first.  I mean the way we've been scoring is hardly fair when one side is defending the whole time and will have no strike objectives other than knocking down the enemy before they get over their homeland while the other side will have ground/coastal/shipping targets to hit as well as trying to take out as many enemy fighters as possible...    if that doesn't give it away, nothing will!

[Midnight]

Wotan

I don't want to get into a shoving match over this, but we obviously don't see things the same way here.

I think of it like sports. If you got a guy that spends all his time training to be a defensive lineman, are you going to put him in that position on gameday, or tell him that he got assigned to wide reciever instead?

In the same context, if you have a squad that spends the majority of their time training and fighting as a team in a certain A/C, then why would you not want to make sure that they get a chance to fly it in an event that means something?

MA flying is fun, but it doesn't really mean anything. No one really wins, because it's always the same thing. A TOD or scenario has a purpose, a goal and clear results at the end.

Call it the olympics if you want to look at from another angle. Say you are the USA. You have your mens volleyball team, that play V-ball all the time and work to be the best, and you have your mens wieghtlifting team, that lifts weights all the time. Sure, sometimes the V-ball guys might lift weights, and sometimes the weightlifting guys might play V-ball. But again, when it's time to go to the olympics, who are you going to want going for the Bench-press gold medal?

[Wotan]

I am not rying to augue with you personally but I believe tod works well as it is.

fyi you launched 15 p51bs last friday

5 kills 11 deaths (some of you guys were killed and upped again by the the logs)

Now your telling me that you think this is the "olympics" and you guys are the "most qualified" to fly 51s. 35 total points

(Ill save ya some time 3./JG2 14 kills 8 deaths, were had 7 guys and were split in 2 groups 5 with me 2 with urchin)

Now I know most of you all kick bellybutton in 51s but theres a fine line between wanting and deserving. Just mho

[daddog]

Often Frame C.O.’s ask what we would like and try to accommodate squads.

If I was a frame C.O. and a squad on my side who I was writing up a mission for wanted to fly a P-51 I would not have a problem giving it to them. This is assuming the P51 is even listed as a ride. If several wanted that ride I would see who was the last to use it and give it to those who have not used it yet. I have noted many squad really don’t care so often this is not an issue.

It is a pretty simple formula that only takes a few minutes to check out.  Tac and his P-38 squad would want to fly P-38’s when possible, no brainer. I don’t see a problem with this as long as they fly and keep up their numbers even when they don’t get the ride they want.

Sling has the final say on how this is done. If he wants to add that info on the TOD site that is fine with me. If he feels it could cause problems then it is his call not to and I will support that.

In any case we do try to accommodate squads when possible.

[sling322]

In my opinion, this falls under the same thing as choosing sides.  It was stated in the sign-up agreement for the TOD that you cannot choose to always be on the same side.  And that if your squad gets assigned to a side that you dont like that you cant just take a tour off.  It is a delicate thing acheiving the balance for the sides as it is.  To further complicate the issue by having to place squads into their favorite rides only makes it that much more difficult.  

Most side COs have no problems placing you in the aircraft you want, but keep in mind, there are very few dedicated bomber squads in the TOD.  So if your CO needs some bomber pilots, then everybody has to share in the load of taking a buff up every once in a while.  So far I think the way we have it set up right now has worked great.  According to Midnight, the few times we have had P51s, they got to fly them.  I know also that Sancho and his Jug boys got to fly those a few times.  

As long as the side COs for each frame are fair and keep rotating the squads around, I see no reason to slot squads into individual rides.  What would we do then if TAS and 412th both wanted Ponys and we only had enough for one squad?  How would the masses react then if we had to choose who gets that ride for frame 3?  I really see no fair way to do what you are suggesting Midnight other than relying on the way its been done so far.  

Skernsk and Nifty communicate with each other between tours and they know who picked which side and who said "just put us where you need us."  I am sure that when and if Ponys are ever up for grabs, you would more than likely get your choice....I just dont see the need to clutter stuff up more than it already is by making 'ride preferences'.

[skernsk]

Hey Midnight.  I understand your frustration.  When I set this TOD up I wanted to place P51's in it because we haven't seen them in a while, I also wanted to place Mossie's in a TOD as I don't think they have been done.

What I do when making the sides up is quite simple:

First priority is for the squads who did not get first choice last TOD

Next is based on the squad.  Do you think it is coincidence that 412th and 13TAS are flying Allied?

After that I pick 3 CO's.  If you recall you even VOLUNTEERED for a frame this TOD.  The Frame CO's are listed at the same time we CM's make up each side.  What I suggest for YOU and EVERY other squad is to e-mail the Frame CO with the plane preference that your guys would like.

I have seen the orders from many Frame CO's and they usually ask in advance for squads to speak up and pick their preferred rides.  

Nifty and I do quite a lot behind the scenes and I will agree it is not perfect nor 100% fool proof, but I don't want to go down that road and start looking at who flew what last week and the week before that etc.  

In the future as soon as sides are made tell EACH frame CO that you guys want the Pony if it is included in a TOD.

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by Nifty
If I remember correctly, the MAG-33 B-17's tore up all the 262s though.  They were in such a tight formation, that you took fire from all of them if you tried to shoot at any of 'em, even tail end charlie!   Rip and crew!

If we only had the ability to record the Vox from that mission, Nifty, it was the closest to "realistic immersion" you could have in a flight sim with the communication going on! The fella's performed like pro's with their box formations and cross fires... Damn, that was probably the closest I've come to a heart attack!

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by skernsk
Hey Midnight.  I understand your frustration.  When I set this TOD up I wanted to place P51's in it because we haven't seen them in a while, I also wanted to place Mossie's in a TOD as I don't think they have been done.

Ahem, (Rip holds up hand) We had mossies (457th Bomber Group, Drill, if you need something dead, Drills the man to do it!) in the first frame, they were our "Back up" plan that successfully ran their mission (with P51B escorts, 13th TAS) with few losses and successfully "Captured" the field by destroying it completely. I'm just keeping the record straight is all

[skernsk]

I also wanted to place Mossie's in a TOD as I don't think they have been done.

Let me slow it down for you Ripsnort:)

I meant an event and not a Frame.  To my knowledge this is the first TOD that includes a Mossie in its planeset.  

If that is the case YOU would be the first to usethem in a TOD.

[Midnight]

OK. I understand how everyone feels. 412th will do what it takes.

Wotan, I see your point.

Yep, lot of dead P-51s last frame. Many pilots in the 412th are still on the new side, and first few times they have flown in TOD. We are working on training.

I was also killed after fighting Urchin for several minutes. We ended up in a collision and both of us went down.

[SFRT - Frenchy]

I definitly understand Midnight. After all, i think we are not that much squads who fly theme planes compared to how many squad carry an historical name.
It's frustrating for me to fly a pony in a TOD when others fly a P47. It's not a question of being the best qualified for it, this is BS. It's a matter of love for the machine, TODs are supposed to give you an historical immersion and make you think that you are in WW2. You spent all energy to have an historical name, fly the particular plane in the MA vs hordes of spits/LA7s ... and finaly when TOD comes, you fly an another plane.

Now i also understand the CM side and I'm sure everyone needs a chance to fly what he wants. I'm confident that the CM squad assignment is definitly not random. I'm pretty sure you can favor their judgement with this list :
- Is your squad is known to fly this aircraft mostly.
- Is your squad formed and active for a long time (seniority).
- Is your squad constantly filled up the ranks of TODs.
- Is your squad constantly demonstrated the spirit of the TOD (surviving).

I was pretty happy to notice that when P47s were around, the 56th usually had them, maybe because we always fly Axis when they are no P47s in the TOD, to try to "secure" our seats.

My 2cts, Frenchy.