Second experience = much better
Easy connect to Atag, more reds than blues! Took a 109 E1 up to 5000m and flew around between the two coasts trying to spot things. Definitely lots of work to do here.
Eventually, after a report of a Blenheim formation, I spot a formation and dive after it, but then lose sight of it. I do, however, spot two spits and promptly dive on the rearward spit. A nice high speed pass and single burst from 150-200m does the trick with a pilot kill and I zoom back up and proceed to thank my victim for my first online kill.
Course, I am so busy talking that I forget the wingman (rather, I thought they wouldnt be able to follow) and am promptly interrupted by a burst from behind. I break immediately and what follows can only be described as repeated dives, barrel rools, split-S's and other maneuvers to dodge my pursuer.
Eventually, I simply fly straight for what I think is the french coast in a high speed dive levelling out at sea level and eventually, although they get hits in (no damage) my pursuer seems to lose me. Except that the french coast turned out to be English.
I begin an ascent, thinking id lost my pursuer, and cut back on the throttle to 80% or so, beginning a climb. Nothing much seems to happen all the way up to 3000m or so and my six seems clear. Something must have spotted or followed me, however, as I am suddenly ambushed by a massive volley that hits my pilot and makes the entire screen a bright red.
I immediately dive straight for the ocean and the correct coast, keeping up high speed (looks like 500 or so) in the hope of outrunning my pursuers. Which I seem to do, for a little while, before another burst and a spitfire roars overhead.
Thinking that my plane is either losing performance or I am at a big E disadvantage, I loop round and pursue the spit, which is heading away from me at this point. I soon lose it in maneuvering, however, and my engine cuts out.
I crash land near a castle safely as the sound of another aircraft's engine roars nearby - and a spit IIa AI crash message appears in the listing - could this have been an AI spit IIa?
Either way, I won't find out till I can view outside views in the track
At least I survived, though heavily injured, and got a kill!
Lessons for the day;
the server was set to dusk and on my 22" CRT I had great trouble spotting anything, and often lost targets. Spotting needs work. Even my victim said they had spotted me first but then lost me. After engaging the spits near the blenheim formation I was consistently being ambushed.
I am probably not flying to the strengths of the 109 - although I go vertical as often as I can, I had trouble shaking that one pursuer. Flying and gunnery were probably ok though.
I need to install teamspeak
I was flying totally alone and deaf out there, and I suspect that makes a large difference in a server with 8 a side.
All in all, that was the most fun I've had with the game for sure. It was also the most, in my mind, accurate and confronting portrayal of how intense, dangerous, confusing and difficult A2A combat could probably be in WWII. I was always in doubt as to whether there were aircraft I had not spotted around me, who had seen me, how many aircraft were attacking or following me and after getting my pilot hit, navigation was doubtful at best, following, let alone fighting targets was impossible and everything was a blur. The whole experience was not even dented by the connection loss after the mission restarted.
Thoroughly enjoyable all round!
EDIT: After reviewing the replay, I believe I was being followed by a pair of AI spits (they held tight formation). I didn't check my six long and well enough, because the spits were clearly visible on my tail at least 2 or 3 times and I missed them. By slowing to 70% throttle or so and climbing, the spits had a chance to catch me, which they did, and in their first burst, although I broke right very quickly, they hit my pilot.
So moral of the story - check six longer and better and never chop throttle more than absolutely necessary over enemy territory.