Some Multi-player Questions
 

During play I see a big message in the middle of the screen like "Wellingtons spotted over xxxx" or "HE111s request escort...". Every time I see these messages they seem to lead me into a wild goose chase and I never find anything. Are these messages supposed to be acurate?

Then there are the messages that scroll at the top right of the screen that are about the same size as the chat--are they meaningfull or what?

It would have been nice of C1 to put some of this crap in the manual!

I'm assuming your talking about our server here?

If so, yes they are very accurate, and those messages are all based on various types of triggers. So the only way they pop off is if planes are actually going through them.

When you are asked to escort, you'll generally have 10-15 minutes to get to the area it tells you to meet up with the bombers. Not only does it tell you the location and ETA, you should get the altitude. The same holds true when enemy bombers have been spotted "East of XXX", "West of XXX" (at so much altitude) You can expect that the location given is where they'll eventually pass through in the 10-15 minute window and at the location and altitude called out in the message.

So yes, they are all there and en route accurately according to the messages. But there's always a chance someone could have headed out east or west and shot them down before hand as well.

Just one tip, when you see a grid reference e.i. M13 with an enemy group i.e, 5 Heinkells at 4000M you need to allow for the group to have moved into the next sector on their flightpath by the time you read it on screen. Open your map and navigate to intercept somewhere ahead or behind to pick them up

Make sure your altitude is higher than the enemy group, you will see them much easier and, as you approach, scan for enemy escorts before engaging.

Yesterday, I saw the message requesting escort by HE111s. I got there (the right place and alt) in about the right time, circled for a long time and saw nothing. I wasn't actually timing by a clock so I may have just missed them. When a flight of enemy are reported at a location, I usually try to intercept them on the course I expect them to take to a target. I guess I will just keep trying.

It took a while for me to get the timing right too, but once you figure it out, you rarely miss an intercept. Altitude is key.

Yup, on Sunday I picked up the message about Ju88's west of Calais. 10 mins later there they were. I subsequently sent two down into the channel :)

Yes, altitude is key since you will struggle to spot targets far above or below. Also, you don't need to guess direction since you are often given their bearing as well as location. This usually gives solid target data for multiple AI targets.

OK, so last night I got the message that some Blenheims were spotted over xxx so I got on an intesept course and spotted them heading toward the French coast. I started a wide turn to hit them from the high 8, I had visual contact the entire time. BUT! Just as the got to the coast they vanished! I was within a few seconds of striking distance.

dumb question sort of related - when playing on multiplayer servers with full realism on like the ATAC server, is there way of telling where I am on on the map since I can't see the icon of my plane on the map? Is it a case of looking around and trying to spot landmarks or are there any better methods for finding / working out my location?

Cheers