Volume 37, Number 3
Red Baron Fight Coming May 17
Indy's popular and long-running special event, the Red Baron Fight, is scheduled for Saturday, May 17, in Lewisville, Indiana at 12 noon.
As always, the 36th Red Baron Fight will recreate the dogfight in which Manfred von Richthofen lost his life in April 1918. The airplanes, altitudes, weather conditions and landscape are all carefully designed to match the historical air battle. This is very much like the Fits Society's "Pages From The Past" scenarios printed in each issue of Aerodrome, except we've been doing it for 36 years.
Red Baron Fight Coming May 17
Indy's popular and long-running special event, the Red Baron Fight, is scheduled for Saturday, May 17, in Lewisville, Indiana at 12 noon.
As always, the 36th Red Baron Fight will recreate the dogfight in which Manfred von Richthofen lost his life in April 1918. The airplanes, altitudes, weather conditions and landscape are all carefully designed to match the historical air battle. This is very much like the Fits Society's "Pages From The Past" scenarios printed in each issue of Aerodrome, except we've been doing it for 36 years.
Everyone is welcome, participation is always high, and it is common to see some of the best aces in the squadron being flown. The winner receives the Silver Goblet, which is a pretty accurate recreation of the silver cups that Richthofen had made by a Berlin jeweler to represent each of his aerial victories. This year's cup has already arrived and awaits it's new winner - see photo above. The lower photo is an actual Red Baron cup from 1916.
Watch for the location to be announced within a week, and the date is set for May 17th. See you there!
Watch for the location to be announced within a week, and the date is set for May 17th. See you there!
Re-Thinking Indy's Participation
at Whoyercon
The Indy Squadron's games at Whosyercon have never been a strong draw in attendance, but this year hit a new low and caused Stephen and Rick to reconsider the squadron's participation.
at Whoyercon
The Indy Squadron's games at Whosyercon have never been a strong draw in attendance, but this year hit a new low and caused Stephen and Rick to reconsider the squadron's participation.
All four game slots at Whosyercon were canceled this year due to a lack of players. The Whosyercon Open has traditionally drawn either 4 or 5 participants with an all-time high of 7 players at the first-ever event. This compares to a 12-player record for Red Baron Fight and an all-time high of 15 for the Armistice Day Fits Tournament.
A typical local game would likely have drawn enough players, so it appears that we are actually losing games by continuing at Whosyercon.
But Ethan did stress his desire to have a third special event on the Indy calendar each year. "We need a triple crown for Dawn Patrol," Ethan said. "If we don't have the Whosyercon Open, maybe we need to have a substitute game at my house. We have to have a triple crown of some kind."
We will discuss this further at our next gaming day on May 17th. Rick, who originated the concept of Whosyercon participation, also chimed in on the topic.
A typical local game would likely have drawn enough players, so it appears that we are actually losing games by continuing at Whosyercon.
But Ethan did stress his desire to have a third special event on the Indy calendar each year. "We need a triple crown for Dawn Patrol," Ethan said. "If we don't have the Whosyercon Open, maybe we need to have a substitute game at my house. We have to have a triple crown of some kind."
We will discuss this further at our next gaming day on May 17th. Rick, who originated the concept of Whosyercon participation, also chimed in on the topic.
WhosyerCon 25 by Rick Lacy
Twelve years ago, we originally started attending this con to support local gaming and get some flying time in, and we instituted the Whosyercon Open to tie in. The primary goal was to hopefully attract some new local players and keep the Indy Squadron a going thing. I can say that we have failed at this as we have no new players for our efforts.
I think that my reasoning relating to this effort was incorrect in the long run. For a small con, attendees almost always come already knowing what they want to play and have little time or inclination to look around and try something new (from my experience anyway). Occasionally we would have a player or two sit in, but only 1 (Larry Ulrey) was a repeat player, and he never joins us on any game day other than Whosyercon .
I heard a rumor that Whosyercon is being moved to Labor Day weekend for 2026, so I might try one more time next year, but at this point I think we need to have a serious discussion among the Indy Squadron group about the efficacy of blocking out a weekend on the calendar for an event that may not go off at all vs a standard game day which will more likely draw the minimum number of players.
2025 MiniCon report by Rick Lacy
Arrived Wed, April 2nd, and had 3 or 4 games that evening. I played 24 games total , 16 as Allied and 8 as German (a bit down from last time due to dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings – thanks for bringing me along to Maders Restaurant, Mr. Stever).
I flew Percival Stuart, who is now 35/8, in an SE-5a, Neville Higham (Camel), now 27/12 and flew a mission in a Bristol 275 and a Rumpler C.IV. The German observer
finished his 11th mission.
I lost no Allied crews, lost one Alb D-Va ace, two Alb D-III pilots, and one Fokker
Dr.I crew who I first flew in 2008. Stupid overdives.
Overall attendance was up from last time I attended. It was a good turnout, some new
faces along with some experienced players coming back for the first time in awhile.
George should have particulars posted for the Society soon. If you want pictures, the
Region Squadron Facebook page has several.
Arrived Wed, April 2nd, and had 3 or 4 games that evening. I played 24 games total , 16 as Allied and 8 as German (a bit down from last time due to dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings – thanks for bringing me along to Maders Restaurant, Mr. Stever).
I flew Percival Stuart, who is now 35/8, in an SE-5a, Neville Higham (Camel), now 27/12 and flew a mission in a Bristol 275 and a Rumpler C.IV. The German observer
finished his 11th mission.
I lost no Allied crews, lost one Alb D-Va ace, two Alb D-III pilots, and one Fokker
Dr.I crew who I first flew in 2008. Stupid overdives.
Overall attendance was up from last time I attended. It was a good turnout, some new
faces along with some experienced players coming back for the first time in awhile.
George should have particulars posted for the Society soon. If you want pictures, the
Region Squadron Facebook page has several.
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