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Battle of Britain RP Interest Check

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Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#1: Mar 4th 2012 at 1:18:41 PM

June 1940.

The military might of the Third Reich has swept both east and west across continental Europe. Poland. The Netherlands. Denmark. Norway. Belgium. France. All swept aside by the German Blitzkrieg.

And yet, they stopped.

Just twenty miles away lays the United Kingdom, guarded by an army that left most of its equipment on the beaches at Dunkirk and elsewhere in France, and a fighter force of just 750 fighters.

Arrayed against them is a force of around 2,550 serviceable aircraft, a mix of single- and twin-engined fighters, Stuka dive-bombers and twin-engined medium bombers.

The odds are not good; the RAF must shoot down the enemy at the rate of 4:1 if they are to keep the German Luftwaffe from gaining air superiority over the Channel and the south coast.

But while that's the immediate threat, it's just the prelude to something bigger. If the German military gains control of the skies, then there will be nothing to stop the launch of Operation Sea Lion; the invasion of the British Isles.

While moves are being made in Washington to bring the Americans into the war, and the armaments industry sets about trying to re-equip the army, it's plain to see that the British are on their own and playing for time.

And it's running out.


So it's an RP about pilots of RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain, run by someone who is, for all intents and purposes, a novice GM, meaning this a. may never actually happen or b. I may snap under pressure or run headlong into writers block, run off and hide under the bed until it all blows over.

Now that I've demolished whatever confidence you might have had in this going anywhere but in a flaming spiral into the Channel, let's move on.

Also, although this is technically an interest check for the moment, I might as well get the signup frame posted as well, since I'll only forget it later on.

  • Name:
  • Age:
  • Nationality: (I'm going to insist on pilots coming from Commonwealth nations. In practice, this means the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa; Polish and Czech pilots were kept within their own squadrons and I don't know what the deal was with Free French pilots. I'm also considering allowing the “Americans posing as Canadians to avoid neutrality laws” thing, since that did actually happen)
  • Rank: Aircrew NCOs are either Sergeants or Flight Sergeants; Ground crew NCOs (if we get any) have no restriction in rank, although keep it believable; Flight Sergeant is probably still the upper limit. Officers can be Pilot Officer to Flight Lieutenant.
  • Background:

Roster as she stands:

No.643 Squadron, RAF

  • 'A' Flight
  • 'B' Flight
    • Blue Section
    • Green Section
      • NPC
      • NPC
      • NPC
  • Ground Crew
    • FL Charles "Charlie" Johnston, RAF (Falkon)
  • Reserve
    • NPC
    • NPC
    • NPC
    • NPC

edited 17th Mar '12 7:21:40 AM by Deadbeatloser22

"Yup. That tasted purple."
Bombadillo Like a BOSS from NY Combat Revue Since: Sep, 2011
Like a BOSS
#2: Mar 4th 2012 at 1:49:08 PM

A World War II RP? You can count me in, and offering assistance in G Ming if you need it.

Avatar from: http://x0whitelily0x.livejournal.com/5953.html N: 5 F, 0/40 S
Flanker66 Dreams of Revenge from 30,000 feet and climbing Since: Nov, 2009 Relationship Status: You can be my wingman any time
Dreams of Revenge
#3: Mar 4th 2012 at 2:01:45 PM

Very hesitantly interested, though more for the concept than anything. Don't consider this a definite "yes", but rather a notification that I like the setting/focus. We need more aeronautically based RPs.

If you need any help with historical accuracy in regards to the machines, just ask.

Locking you up on radar since '09
GeekCodeRed Since: Sep, 2010
#4: Mar 4th 2012 at 2:03:43 PM

Interest: Apply directly to thread.

Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#5: Mar 4th 2012 at 2:03:48 PM

I think I'm going to need all the help I can get really.

I tried GM'ing a Warhammer 40000 RP when I was 13 that all ended in tears.

edited 4th Mar '12 2:04:01 PM by Deadbeatloser22

"Yup. That tasted purple."
hotelkilo Board Certified Sorcerer from In the Hole Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: I like big bots and I can not lie
Board Certified Sorcerer
#6: Mar 4th 2012 at 4:00:08 PM

I think I've expressed my interest elsewhere, but, I suppose something more formal should be in order.

Let God do His work, we will see to ours. Bring in the candles.
SonofMelonHead Green food from the ceiling Since: Sep, 2011
Green food
#7: Mar 4th 2012 at 8:47:46 PM

This idea most definitely pikes my interest, though i'm not sure if I could handle three rps at a time. If anything, you've definitely got yourself a lurker in me.

If I could give you some advice, I suggest you study fairly well on this battle in order to make plans for how the story plays out, while making it historically accurate. I also believe that I once saw a liveblog about G Ming advice somewhere on this site. You may want to look that up

edited 4th Mar '12 8:48:21 PM by SonofMelonHead

"And then the dead man of the dead did dead things to all the dead people."-Two Best Friends Play Dark Souls
Flanker66 Dreams of Revenge from 30,000 feet and climbing Since: Nov, 2009 Relationship Status: You can be my wingman any time
Dreams of Revenge
#8: Mar 5th 2012 at 7:55:46 AM

Thinking on it further, I'm not sure if I can stand the idea of missing an aerial warfare RP - especially one like this. I'm not guaranteeing anything, but I'd be happy to help out (not to mention get in the cockpit), as mentioned above.

Just a quick question - when will this RP 'end'? Or will the focus move from the Battle of Britain to the European theatre at that point? I know that's looking ahead a bit (and in some ways being a bit presumptious), but I figure we might as well ask now.

Locking you up on radar since '09
Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#9: Mar 5th 2012 at 8:19:42 AM

That's something I hadn't considered; We might wind up in North Africa in the aftermath, and go from there.

"Yup. That tasted purple."
Falkon Lord of the Avians from the Sky Since: Feb, 2012
Lord of the Avians
#10: Mar 5th 2012 at 8:40:21 AM

I'm interested.

Bombadillo Like a BOSS from NY Combat Revue Since: Sep, 2011
Like a BOSS
#11: Mar 5th 2012 at 9:09:00 AM

Is it possible for a pilot to come from a part of the British Empire not listed in the initial post? For instance, an Anglo-Chinese pilot born in Hong Kong whose family moved to the UK before the war broke out?

Avatar from: http://x0whitelily0x.livejournal.com/5953.html N: 5 F, 0/40 S
Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#12: Mar 5th 2012 at 9:12:28 AM

I would think so. That was just nations I could find explicit listings for.

edited 5th Mar '12 9:13:14 AM by Deadbeatloser22

"Yup. That tasted purple."
hotelkilo Board Certified Sorcerer from In the Hole Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: I like big bots and I can not lie
Board Certified Sorcerer
#13: Mar 6th 2012 at 10:59:22 AM

REDACTED

edited 6th Mar '12 7:01:24 PM by hotelkilo

Let God do His work, we will see to ours. Bring in the candles.
Bombadillo Like a BOSS from NY Combat Revue Since: Sep, 2011
Like a BOSS
#14: Mar 6th 2012 at 12:17:36 PM

Guess I should have a formal app in then, for the sake of argument.

•Name: Harold "Harry" Lee

•Age: 24

•Nationality: British (Hong Kong origin)

•Rank: Flight Lieutenant, RAF fighter squadron

Background Information: Born in the British colony of Hong Kong to an ethnic Chinese father and British mother, moved to England to attend university in 1936. Had take private piloting lessons previously and due to small stature was ideal as a candidate for piloting a fighter aircraft upon enlistment. Also notable for some training in Chinese opera through his teens.

edited 6th Mar '12 12:17:51 PM by Bombadillo

Avatar from: http://x0whitelily0x.livejournal.com/5953.html N: 5 F, 0/40 S
Falkon Lord of the Avians from the Sky Since: Feb, 2012
Lord of the Avians
#15: Mar 6th 2012 at 12:53:14 PM

Okay, if the rank needs adjustment, tell me, I just put together pieces from 3 Wikipedia articles, so it might be something that didn't exist. Also, should I make him a backstory?

Name: Charlie Johnston

Age: 21

Nationality: UK

Background: Charlie was raised in Scotland, with a father who loved his band more then anything else, a mother who spent most of her time hunting, and a grandma who enjoyed telling him stories and singing him ballads. When he was 19, he joined the RAF, and became an engineer officer.

Rank: Flt Lt.(Engineer Officer)

edited 7th Mar '12 8:19:40 PM by Falkon

Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#16: Mar 6th 2012 at 12:55:40 PM

That would probably be good. I'm guessing he's groundcrew?

"Yup. That tasted purple."
Falkon Lord of the Avians from the Sky Since: Feb, 2012
Lord of the Avians
#17: Mar 6th 2012 at 12:58:32 PM

Yes.

I'll make a backstory soon.

Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#18: Mar 6th 2012 at 12:59:45 PM

OK.

"Yup. That tasted purple."
GeekCodeRed Since: Sep, 2010
#19: Mar 6th 2012 at 1:04:05 PM

• Name: Andrew Scott\\ • Age: 29
• Nationality: British
• Rank: Pilot Officer.
• Background: Born in Kent to a rich family, Andrew worked as a history teacher for a private school, as his father believed in his children working for themselves. He joined up once the war began, having had a hobby of flying planes, one shared with his father.

edited 6th Mar '12 1:23:28 PM by GeekCodeRed

Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#20: Mar 6th 2012 at 1:09:26 PM

Just a note, Background is now a field too.

"Yup. That tasted purple."
Flanker66 Dreams of Revenge from 30,000 feet and climbing Since: Nov, 2009 Relationship Status: You can be my wingman any time
Dreams of Revenge
#21: Mar 6th 2012 at 2:39:37 PM

Hm... I think we've got a bit of an overabundance of officers, so I might sign up as an NCO or similar.

Locking you up on radar since '09
Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#22: Mar 6th 2012 at 2:44:32 PM

Looks like I need to go look up the breakdown of a squadron so I can break this down into vics and sections.

EDIT: I've dug up a rank cap for Aircrew:

  • Two Flights (including 4 spare pilots).
    • Flying, 2 F/L, 8 F/O or P/O.
    • Airman pilots, 10 Sgts.

At the moment, we have two Pilot Officers and a Flight Lieutenant.

edited 6th Mar '12 2:59:50 PM by Deadbeatloser22

"Yup. That tasted purple."
hotelkilo Board Certified Sorcerer from In the Hole Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: I like big bots and I can not lie
Board Certified Sorcerer
#23: Mar 6th 2012 at 7:20:05 PM

I thought there was a section missing.... grin

  • Name: Eric Pendergrast
  • Age: 37
  • Nationality: Dominion of Newfoundland & Labrador
  • Rank: Flight Sergeant, RAFVR
  • Background: A former Newfoundland Ranger and a merchant mariner by trade, Eric eventually made his way to Plymouth through work. While ashore he jumped at the chance to learn how to fly in the Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve in exchange for instructing his fellow students in celestial navigation. He was called up as a replacement during the Phoney War, seeing service during the Fall of France until clipping with a tree during a strafing run invalided him to England.

edited 19th Mar '12 9:08:51 AM by hotelkilo

Let God do His work, we will see to ours. Bring in the candles.
Falkon Lord of the Avians from the Sky Since: Feb, 2012
Lord of the Avians
#24: Mar 7th 2012 at 8:20:07 PM

Background added.

Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#25: Mar 9th 2012 at 2:58:35 PM

OK, might as well get my own up here:

  • Name: Jonathan “Jonnie” Rose / Red Leader
  • Age: 25
  • Nationality: British
  • Rank: Flight Lieutenant.
  • Background: An ex-public schoolboy from Coventry, Jon joined the RAF purely for the thrill of it. He completed flying training in time to be posted with a Hurricane squadron that was sent to France as a Flying Officer, earning his second stripe shortly after the withdrawal.

What I'm going to do then is put our two Flight Lieutenants in the flight leader positions; in practice this means heading up Red Section (A Flight) and Blue Section (B Flight). Beyond that I haven't thought about it, but I'm open to volunteers for the other two section leaders (A-Yellow and B-Green) and for who's flying off which wing. Each section is three fighters.

edited 9th Mar '12 3:00:26 PM by Deadbeatloser22

"Yup. That tasted purple."

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