~S~ Gentlemen!
This is "Comanche" or 'Major Johnson from MCVG-2. By now you all should know that I was appointed to lead the fighter squadron VMF-512 within our flight simulation Group, MCVG-2. Some of you I have flown with already, others I have not.
I come into the Group with a long history of flight simulation experience at the full switch level and I'm excited to help and train you all to your fullest potentional for the games enjoyment.
As in any organization either in real life or virtually, we need to have some form of organization and structure to prevent chaos especially in the gaming world of air combat. Please find attached the current battle pilot roster for VMF-512 as of May 3, 2006. This roster is subject to change with the addition of more pilots once they become available through recruitment efforts.
Now, if you are either a new or a season flight simmer to IL2 Forgotten Battles and would like to really improve your game overall, I highly suggest you sign up for an online IL2 flight training program called "Joint Operations". This school is a training community and not an organized squadron like that of MCVG-2. Any training that you participate at "JO" will be under a Student setting and you will be representing MCVG-2 as a flight sim pilot while enrolled. You can learn more about Joint Operations at the following link if your interested. http://www.joint-ops.com/joil2fb/default.asp . I've gone through a good portion of their varied training at Joint Operations and I can vouch for their quality of instruction and credibility.
The few requirements that I ask of you men are real simple. Please take note of how many day and night traps you perform, touch and goes and overall hours flown each day online. At the end of each week, add up your totals and put that into your monthly pilot activity report or "PIREP" that needs to be sent in the proper format found on the web site to the Group Executive Officer, "Sabot". This report is due on the last day of each month. The following example is what I use to record information each day I fly online with the MCVG-2
Example:
Current Date:
Day Traps:
Night Traps:
Touch and Go's:
Total Hours Flown:
Remarks:
You pilots can look forward to one scheduled training session per week for VMF-512 that will focus on different aspects of the game that relate to flying as a member of a Corsair fighter squadron. The primary mission of VMF-512 will be to support the Bomber Squadron through such duties as Fighter Escort, Fighter Intercept, Fighter Sweep etc. You will learn the basics of performing a Tactical Ground Attack to providing a "CAP" or Combat Air Patrol in a tactical setting. The different tactics and formations associated with the above mentioned support roles will be taught in our organized training sessions each week. Our training realism will be with Speed bar option activated only with no externals views unless I decide otherwise for training purposes. The training will be as realistic as we can make it yet fully enjoyable.
In VMF-512, the majority of our Flight and Element Leaders have assigned wingmen. Some positions won't due to a lack of assigned pilots currently. If you have a wingman per the attached pilot roster, I expect you to wing up and learn each others flying style so when you do go into a dog fight, you can fly to defeat your opponent rather than getting shot down repeatedly through bad mistakes and miscommunication. I will randomly fly with each and every one of you men to learn your strengths and weaknesses and then help you to improve your game.
Our first training session for VMF-512 will most likely happen before the end of May since I will be on vacation till the middle of the month. Check the Training Calander for updates.
If you guys are using Track IR for full game immersion, then fantastic. If you don't have the device, I highly encourage you to purchase one and then practice with it to perform better overall in your game.
In summary, you now should have a clear understanding of what the mission is for VMF-512 and how you all play a role in the success of our squadron. In order to be the best pilot, you have to train hard all the time. There is a learning curve to master but with time, you can become very skilled and highly valuable as a flight sim pilot in IL2 Forgotten Battles.
By the way, make sure you guys have submitted your pilot reports for APRIL 2006 to the Group "XO" ASAP. We need it for the monthly roll out thanks!. That is all.......
Regards,
Major Johnson
"Comanche"
VMF-512 / MCVG-2
Commanding