For the first time in more than two decades, Dawn Patrol fans can read Volume I of the Indy Squadron Dispatch in its entirety.
As far as Dawn Patrol goes, this is actually pretty special. The first volume of the Dispatch is a time capsule that embodies everything and everyone who helped make the Indy Squadron a reality nearly a quarter century ago.
Issue No. 1, dated July 28, 1989, was little more than an announcement of the next gaming day. Issues 2 and 3 still referred to the organization by its full name, the "Indianapolis Squadron," although that name is never used today. Issue No. 4 is the first to ever be identified as the "official newsletter," and the first time the publication used its longstanding name, the "Dispatch."
Number 4 also contains the full story of Indy's legendary Cambrai Road Balloon Mission, which remains one of the most amazing and bizarre games ever played in Dawn Patrol. Even at that early date in the squadron's life, we knew that mission was something special. And remember, these were days when having 5 missions to your credit ranked your pilot among the best in the state. Given the status of our rosters at the time, this was a very high-stakes game.