Ethics of pilots fighting for the sides in WWII

[BadAim]

Originally Posted by moilami

Thanks good posting.

I want to comment it because the quoted paragraph made me laugh. Urgh, now this goes political, but for the sake of lol's I say it anyway.

Some years ago I made a decision I wont travel to USA because I read so many strange things happening in there in the name of "homeland security" or whatever. I would still consider twice before I would travel to USA. It would certainly have to be something extremely special and important for me to do it. USA is very scary country novadays because of its government.

I think I will have to launch a wing of Luftwaffe fighters and shoot down some USA bombers to feel more secure Sounds good! Attention, make my Focke-Wulf ready! Scary stuff in the horizon, looks like American bombers

I have to side with Splitter on this one, mate. It's us who should be afraid of "Homeland Security". So far as I know it's just SOP in Europe. I can relate to finding the Government strange and scary here though. I sleep with a .45 by my head.

[etendar]

Tal vez les sirva este reportaje que se le hiso al capitán de navío retirado Augusto Bedacarratz, tripulante de uno de los Super Etendart que hundieron al HMS Sheffield:

"A los familiares de los que murieron en el destructor Sheffield les diría que lamento muchísimo haber sido uno de los causantes de su dolor, que seguramente lo tuvieron y muy grande".
En la acción que él lideró, ocurrida el 4 de mayo de 1982, murieron 20 marinos y otros 24 resultaron heridos.
"El 4 de mayo nos despertaron temprano con la orden de que teníamos que realizar la operación, para la cual nos habíamos preparado durante semanas", explica.
"Un avión explorador que había despegado a las cinco de la mañana ya había detectado el blanco. En ese momento la pareja de pilotos que estaba de turno éramos el teniente Armando Mayora y yo. Rápidamente nos alistamos para salir".
"Trabajamos en silencio, muy concentrados en los pasos por seguir. Eran tantos los preparativos que no había tiempo para el temor y la angustia, a pesar de que la operación era altamente peligrosa y nunca antes habíamos disparado misiles Exocet".
Una vez que los dos Super Etendard despegaron, en condiciones climáticas adversas, los pilotos no dialogaron hasta que detectaron por radar la formación de buques británicos, que se encontraban a 20 millas náuticas y por lo tanto eran invisibles para ellos.
"Ahí rompimos el silencio, intercambiamos información y di la orden de lanzar -recapitula Bedacarratz-. El misil que yo llevaba salió cuatro segundos después de que apreté el botón.
"Ese lapso fue terrible para mí, porque me pareció una eternidad. Mayora no había escuchado mi orden, pero al ver que yo lancé el Exocet él también lo hizo".
Bedacarratz dice que, para él y su compañero, todo ocurrió velozmente, casi mecánicamente, con una sola cosa en mente:
"Al apretar el botón no nos pusimos a pensar en las muertes que podíamos causar. No es que fuéramos insensibles; sólo estábamos tratando de cumplir una misión, de neutralizar un buque que nos estaba complicando. No teníamos nada personal contra nadie".

Data: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/spe...00/1854116.stm

La guerra causa dolor del lado que se pelee.

[Splitter]

Originally Posted by BadAim

I have to side with Splitter on this one, mate. It's us who should be afraid of "Homeland Security". So far as I know it's just SOP in Europe. I can relate to finding the Government strange and scary here though. I sleep with a .45 by my head.

Just one? I have one in my nightstand and the wife has one in hers. (This is one reason I don't cheat on my wife, btw.)

On topic:

People say IL-2 is just a game. Maybe it is to them. However, I try on occasion to put myself in the shoes of the men who flew these planes for real. It helps me feel a connection to the history.

History is not just about dates and names. It's about learning the lessons of history.

As an example, I had a strange kill the other day. With my last bit of ammo, I got a snap shot at an enemy plane I had been fighting in a rolling scissors. I knew I hit him, but it was a very short burst.

He went into a long, slow, descending left turn. I didn't know what his next move would be so I stayed above and behind. In short order, I became conviced that he was going down.

I know similar things happened to the real pilots and I got to thinking about what they would have been thinking in the same situation.

First, they probably started shaking from the adrenaline. Then they probably started hoping the other guy would get out (I have heard pilots talk about the first time they "saw" an enemy pilot die...before they viewed it as just shooting down planes).

When they realized the other guy wasn't going to bail, they probably started wondering if he was conscious or not. Were his flight controls and canopy jammed? Maybe he caught a stray bullet and was already dead or unconscious....they probably hoped for that because being aware through the whole descent would be a terrible way to die.

Then the surviving pilot, after seeing the foe crash into the sea, probably turned his plane toward home and filed his thoughts away until he could mull them over while having a pint.

I have to think that most pilots on all sides had some empathy for their foes. They all ran the very real risk of being trapped in a plane on its' way down or getting trapped in a burning cockpit. I think that's why "shooting someone up in their chute" was so uncommon.

Yeah, it's a game, but it is what you make of it. some people treat it like a game, others also see a connection with the past.

Splitter

[Skoshi Tiger]

Originally Posted by Splitter

Yeah, it's a game, but it is what you make of it. some people treat it like a game, others also see a connection with the past.

Splitter

Or both, but you are on target there.


It's one of the reasons I fly in Il2.

Some games can be quiet serious, take military war games for example. Those games are used to develop strategy, teamwork and experience for the people involved.

Unfortunately due to my limited time I can't take it too seriously at the moment. I would not be able to commit the time for training and availability to join a serious squadron for example. Good luck to the people who can. It is one thing that I admire when I see a group of people cleaning up on a map because their using teamwork and skill to achieve their objectives.

Cheers!

[moilami]

Originally Posted by Skoshi Tiger

Or both, but you are on target there.


It's one of the reasons I fly in Il2.

Some games can be quiet serious, take military war games for example. Those games are used to develop strategy, teamwork and experience for the people involved.

Unfortunately due to my limited time I can't take it too seriously at the moment. I would not be able to commit the time for training and availability to join a serious squadron for example. Good luck to the people who can. It is one thing that I admire when I see a group of people cleaning up on a map because their using teamwork and skill to achieve their objectives.

Cheers!

Hey! Please wait a moment Sir..

I don't know what are the standards regarding recruitment here, but I don't think there is anything bad in trying to Ninja Recruit out of blind someone (or offer a home for orphaned pilot).

So if you are interested of very great squad, then consider joining =69.GIAP=

We have awesome pilots and trainers. We have four online war campaigns rolling: Burma 1941, Midway 1942, and two Eastern Front 1944 campaings. We have a *woman* as our top 1vs1 duelist (at her best age)! Talk about immersion. VVS had women in real. We have separate fighter, ground attack, and bomber sections. The only thing we don't have is Drama!

And everything is voluntary in our squad. It is up to you what you want to do and how high you want to aim. If you want to participate only once a month on online war flying, that is fine. You can also be total "noob" and still we accept you no problems.

If you are interested to check us out, just say Hi in our public forum at http://www.69giap.com.


Edit: Oh forgot to mention that our ground attack section have private and secure vodka distillery But that is Top Secret.