The Top 3: Rick, Ethan, Nate Volume 35, Number 3
Ethan Nets First Open Title at Whosyercon
With a squadron championship and two Red Baron Fight Silver Goblets already in the bank, Ethan Skinner has won all of Indy's three major events after scoring his first Whosyercon Open title last weekend. The game featured a mixed bag of Italian Front fighters in a five-player scenario:
Italians:
Rick Lacy, Ansaldo Balilla
Stephen Skinner, Ansaldo Balilla
Austro-Hungarians:
George Henion, Oeffag Albatros DIII 153
Ethan Skinner, Phonix DII
Nate Pantinas, Berg 185
Ethan Nets First Open Title at Whosyercon
With a squadron championship and two Red Baron Fight Silver Goblets already in the bank, Ethan Skinner has won all of Indy's three major events after scoring his first Whosyercon Open title last weekend. The game featured a mixed bag of Italian Front fighters in a five-player scenario:
Italians:
Rick Lacy, Ansaldo Balilla
Stephen Skinner, Ansaldo Balilla
Austro-Hungarians:
George Henion, Oeffag Albatros DIII 153
Ethan Skinner, Phonix DII
Nate Pantinas, Berg 185
The game began at nearly 14,000 feet over No Man's Land in the Alps. Both Italians rolled poorly and had to move first and things only went downhill from that point. Rick's Ansaldo simply flew straight through the enemy formation at 120 mph and left everyone wondering exactly what the strategy was. Stephen's Ansaldo tried to cover his tail but miscalculated by one square and ended up with all three Austro-Hungarians shooting at him. Although Nate's Berg missed, George and Ethan both scored four hits on the Italian straggler.
Ethan and Nate continued firing on Stephen's Ansaldo on Turn 2, scoring five and two hits respectively. The result was a game-crushing critical hit to the Italian's left wing that cut his turn speed by 30 mph while eliminating banks, sideslips and all fancy maneuvers. Unable to turn at this altitude, Stephen's only option was to escape and leave Rick's Ansaldo to fight off three Austro-Hungarians. Both Ethan and Nate missed long distance bursts as Stephen's faster Ansaldo disappeared in the distance.
Ethan and Nate continued firing on Stephen's Ansaldo on Turn 2, scoring five and two hits respectively. The result was a game-crushing critical hit to the Italian's left wing that cut his turn speed by 30 mph while eliminating banks, sideslips and all fancy maneuvers. Unable to turn at this altitude, Stephen's only option was to escape and leave Rick's Ansaldo to fight off three Austro-Hungarians. Both Ethan and Nate missed long distance bursts as Stephen's faster Ansaldo disappeared in the distance.
But Rick's against-the-odds fight to the death ended quickly because the Austro-Hungarians managed to jam five of their teams' six guns in the opening rounds. Both of the guns on George's Oeffag were jammed and Ethan had jammed both guns in a final long burst at Stephen's fleeing Ansaldo. Nate was the only Austro-Hungarian with functional guns, and he only had one.
So by the time Rick fired on George's Oeffag 153 and scored a pilot hit on Turn 3, but the Austro-Hungarians were already plotting their escape. George was not badly hit and managed to fly back to a forward field where his pilot crashed and died, unknown and unclaimed by any Italian flyer. The sky cleared quickly and after only four turns the 10th Whosyercon Open came to a premature end. Ethan scoring his first victory by setting the lowest winning score ever in the annual Indy Squadron classic .
Ethan Skinner, Phonix DII 33 points
Rick Lacy, Ansaldo Balilla 27
Nate Pantinas, Berg 185 21
George Henion, Oeffag 153 18
Stephen Skinner, Ansaldo Balilla 15
So by the time Rick fired on George's Oeffag 153 and scored a pilot hit on Turn 3, but the Austro-Hungarians were already plotting their escape. George was not badly hit and managed to fly back to a forward field where his pilot crashed and died, unknown and unclaimed by any Italian flyer. The sky cleared quickly and after only four turns the 10th Whosyercon Open came to a premature end. Ethan scoring his first victory by setting the lowest winning score ever in the annual Indy Squadron classic .
Ethan Skinner, Phonix DII 33 points
Rick Lacy, Ansaldo Balilla 27
Nate Pantinas, Berg 185 21
George Henion, Oeffag 153 18
Stephen Skinner, Ansaldo Balilla 15
April 7-8 Gaming Report
The Whosyercon gaming convention was held for the first time since the Covid scam, meaning that Indy's Whosyercon Open returned to its proper home for the first time since 2019.
The first game was held on Friday, April 7, 2023, with the Fokker DVII's of Ethan and Rick escorting a Hannover flown by Charles Teague. The opposition was a pair of 140 hp British Camels piloted by George and Stephen. The game's sole incident of note occurred when George's Camel set Ethan's Fokker on fire on the first turn. Ethan sideslipped out of the fight, extinguished the fire and made it home safely to save his pilot.
The 600 pm Saturday night game slot featured Rick and Bill Ruesch in American Nieuport 28's against the Albatros DV's of Charles and George and Stephen's Pfalz DIIIa. Bill's Albatros did a great job staying on the tail of Charles' Nieuport, sending the pilot home with a minor wound. Neither side was able to claim a decisive victory.
The first Saturday game was the Whosyercon Open at noon, described in the previous story. The second and final Dawn Patrol game of the weekend had Ethan and George in British Camels against Stephen's DFW CV recon airplane and its single escort, an Albatros DV flown by Rick (Albrecht Erdmann, 9 missions). Rick's Alb drew both Camels off of the DFW, allowing Stephen's 8-mission observer to complete his artillery spotting mission successfully. Ethan and George's Camels peppered the Albatros until Ethan scored a fuel line hit. The Albatros glided down into No Man's Land and Rick's pilot returned home safely to be awarded the Saxe-Altenburg Bravery Medal for his performance. Ethan's pilot secured the weekend's only confirmed kill.
Saturday evening was spent playing the "Wings for the Baron" card game.
The Whosyercon gaming convention was held for the first time since the Covid scam, meaning that Indy's Whosyercon Open returned to its proper home for the first time since 2019.
The first game was held on Friday, April 7, 2023, with the Fokker DVII's of Ethan and Rick escorting a Hannover flown by Charles Teague. The opposition was a pair of 140 hp British Camels piloted by George and Stephen. The game's sole incident of note occurred when George's Camel set Ethan's Fokker on fire on the first turn. Ethan sideslipped out of the fight, extinguished the fire and made it home safely to save his pilot.
The 600 pm Saturday night game slot featured Rick and Bill Ruesch in American Nieuport 28's against the Albatros DV's of Charles and George and Stephen's Pfalz DIIIa. Bill's Albatros did a great job staying on the tail of Charles' Nieuport, sending the pilot home with a minor wound. Neither side was able to claim a decisive victory.
The first Saturday game was the Whosyercon Open at noon, described in the previous story. The second and final Dawn Patrol game of the weekend had Ethan and George in British Camels against Stephen's DFW CV recon airplane and its single escort, an Albatros DV flown by Rick (Albrecht Erdmann, 9 missions). Rick's Alb drew both Camels off of the DFW, allowing Stephen's 8-mission observer to complete his artillery spotting mission successfully. Ethan and George's Camels peppered the Albatros until Ethan scored a fuel line hit. The Albatros glided down into No Man's Land and Rick's pilot returned home safely to be awarded the Saxe-Altenburg Bravery Medal for his performance. Ethan's pilot secured the weekend's only confirmed kill.
Saturday evening was spent playing the "Wings for the Baron" card game.
House Rule Update
When no one shot an airplane on the turn it became a kill, confirmation reverts to the last person to have hit it. This does not apply to tournament scoring. Passed 4-0 with one abstention, April 16, 2022.
Original Mercedes DIIIa Engine in Fokker DVII
When no one shot an airplane on the turn it became a kill, confirmation reverts to the last person to have hit it. This does not apply to tournament scoring. Passed 4-0 with one abstention, April 16, 2022.
Original Mercedes DIIIa Engine in Fokker DVII
RSS Feed
