II./JG53 Co-Op Squad is recruiting

[JG53_Valantine]

As an established CO-OP group with over 40 members we are looking for BF109 pilots from all over the world to fly Co-op missions with us. We have three sections, one absed in the UK/EU, one in the USA/CAN and another based in AUS/NZ, all are operational and have plenty of active and dedicated pilots all waiting to welcome you into the group!
We fly using 1946 patched to the latest full version (ie. 4.08 ), generating our co-op missions using Lowengrins Dynamic campaign generator. We are currently operating over Stalingrad in late 1942 flying the BF109G2. With this oepration wrapping up we are currently discussing where to go to next, so now is a great time to get onboard and join in an operation from the start! If you join now you'll even get to have a vote on where you would like to fly with us!
We allow our pilots to fly in other IL2 squadrons providing mission times don't clash - we do this as we know some people like to have a co-op squad and an online "wars" squad as well as those who enjoy being in an "axis" squad and a different "allies" squad. So if you're looking for a CO-OP squad to fly with, id ask you to consider joining us here at II./JG53.
You've probably seen a fair few of us messing about on Hyperlobbby the past few days, if you've enjoyed flying with us, or just watching to random banter then feel free to drop by our forums and say hi, no obligation to join!
You can find our website here; http://www.freewebs.com/jagdgeschwader53/
With a link to the forums and "sign up" in the navigation bar as well as our Roster, Awards and News pages!

Hope to see you i nthe air with us soon!
V

[JG53_Valantine]

I would like to take this oppertunity to welcome all 5 of our new members to the group!
We are always welcoming more pilots into the air with us so if yo uare looking for a group please feel free to check us out.

Perhaps it won't always be me that gets my engine hit by flak in future:


V

[Dowly]

Tee hee, poor Val.

[JG53_Valantine]

Not sure what you are laughing about Dowly - If I remember rightly you are on latrine duty this week!

However, we are always welcoming more pilots into the group - we have had 8 new pilots in the past week so now is a great time to join as we are running a fair few training sessions and are getting all of our new pilots familiar with the old gits!
V

[JG53_Valantine]

We are currently looking for more pilots, Especially those of you located in the USA/Canada and Australia/NZ! So please feel free to drop by, no matter where you are in the world - we have a place for you!

Stalingrad has just 25 missions left, so you are still in time to come and join in some Winter fun before our next theatre of operations which is set to begin January/February 1943.
V

[JG53_Valantine]

A Quick Bump to say that we have expanded hugely of late and now total just over 50 pilots on roster with approximately 35-40 of these active. We regularly get 12+ pilots per mission and are always welcoming more into the group!
V

[JG53_Valantine]

Hello everyone!

This is a quick message to update you on everything that is happening over at II./JG53. www./freewebs.com/jagdgeschwader53

We have recently finished our Stalingrad campaign, and are about to progress on to bolster the numbers in North Africa. It is now early January 1943, with a successfull virtual year behind us we are looking forward to a bright future, even with the Russians and the Allies increasing their efforts we are still fighting strong. Many medals have been earned and many promotions have been granted as each pilot develops their skills and abilities both in official missions and in one of our many practice sessions.

Stalingrad has been lost but at a great cost for the Russian forces. We as a group have grown exponentially the past few months, with over 55 pilots in the group. Activity is at a massive level with us regularly having over 12 pilots per mission. Both Weisse (UK/Europe)and Gelbe (Aus/NZ) are regularly flying missions, with Rote (USA/CAN) members joining in when they can.
Recruitment and retention are very high priorities for us as a group, so if you have any suggestions on how to maintain activity/ gain new recruits or even ensure that everyone enjoys their time with the group even more, feel free to post in suggestions and let us know. Everyone in the group is more than welcome to make suggestions and they will be discussed fairly - as afterall, we are a group of people who choose to spend some of our free time flying together and sharing this interest.

Over this next operation we intend to get every section flying their own regular missions in order to give everyone a chance to fly. I know there are some of you who have not been seen in a little while, so I hope everything is good and we are all looking forward to your return. If you do not believe you will be returning please let me know so that I can move you to our Retired section of the roster and free up your number. For those of you who have joined but are yet to fly, please drop by the forums and keep us updated of your situation.

For those of you who are behind on your screenshots (I know I have 4+ missions to do) can you please try and get these done as soon as possible as they do form an integral part of our kill claims procedures.

To those of you who still need custom skins for the desert campaign, please let me know what you are after if you require me to skin them for you - I will be on holiday in 2 and a half weeks and will be available to skin around then. If you are doing the skin yourself or downloading one then it must be approved by a member of Gruppe stab BEFORE it is used in official missions.

Training Officers:
Since both Zieg and Hertz have been inactive for some time due to various real life events (hope to see you both soon though), we have opened up the training officer positions for each section. Nominations and applications have been recieved and the final decision will be announced very shortly.

North Africa:
Over NA we can expect to engage a vast variety of British and American fighters and bombers. Mostly Spitfires and hurricanes, each of these units has its own rudder markings creating a bit more depth to the campaign, allowing us to build rivalries against certain squadrons. The immersion factor for this campaign should remain very high as well as it being a much more difficult fight then we have previously experienced.

Any other news?
For all the latest information and to catch up with the group, the best bet would be to visit our website www.freewebs.com/jagdgeschwader53 and take a flick through the forums, found via a link on our website.


Once again, I hope this message finds you all well and I hope to hear from everyone soon!

Kindest Regards,
Major Valantine Zimmermann
(Paul)
II./JG53
www.freewebs.com/jagdgeschwader53

[Red Dragon-DK]

This pic was from the new campaine. Most of us came home safe and sound. But we all had great fun.

[JG53_Valantine]

Spam reported.

North Africa is going very well so far, and all our new recruits seem to be settling in nicely and are getting the hang of how the group operates. We have some fantastic pilots who are always willing to help out, as has been witnessed in several of our Africa missions thus far!
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[JG53_Valantine]

So far we have flown 3 missions over Afrika, and each one of them has been a challenge! Be it the sand being blown about, the British, the flies, or even the damn Camels dropping fudge outside the operations tent - we have flown and come home successfully. With 60 members within the group we are constantly expanding, and constantly upping the immersion factor! With each AI Spitfire and Hurricane Squadrons having their own tail paint scheme we are beginning to build up rivalries with enemy formations, knowing which pilots we face and when we need to be ultra cautious!
If this sounds like fun to you, then drop on by our website and I am certain we will make you feel welcome!
V