Quote:
Originally Posted by Tacoma74
The teamkilling is really annoying as well, mostly due to this issue. I got shot down 3 times in a row several nights ago on ATAG by my own teammates. I was very much annoyed to say the least... It happens, but c'mon that's rediculous. On top of that I was flying blue side so I would fly all the way across the channel just to get bounced by a friendly 109.  |
Agreed mate. Although I haven't been jumped by a friendly, I have been on ATAG comms (allied) when someone was rattled by 8 x .303's.
Target ID is a problem, and ff is and was a problem then as well. What I try to look for is the insignia/roundels on the wings. German markings at a distance shimmer white (or look for yellow nose if they are using that skin), allied markings at a distance shimmer almost a reddish color (a lot harder to see). Best thing to do is hold fire until a positive ID has been made. If that means rubbing your prop on his tail, so be it.
I am currently reading a book called "Portrait of a Legend, Spitfire" written by Leo McKinstry. This book tells us just some of the ff incidents that happened, one in particular, "The Battle of Barking Creek".
On September 6, 1939, Spitfires of the 74th Squadron, based at Hornchurch, were scrambled to intercept unidentified a/c. They made contact with the bogies and began their intercept. The flight leader, called "tally-ho" and they began their attack. He noticed moments after he called Tally ho that these a/c were hurricanes. Due to the excitement and adrenaline of battle, 2 pilots of the 74th never heard the flight leaders call to "break off, friendly a/c" and never noticed the markings on the planes. Two hurricanes were shot down of which 1 pilot was killed. This led to the installation of Friend or Foe identifiers that ground control could use to ID incoming planes.
This is just one of the many incidents. Positive ID is a must and no one should fire without either visual confirmation or verbal from an engaged friendly who has visual.
Whiskey