Blood and Old Bones
Exploits of the famous Skeleton Crew Squadron

by SC-1Shot

Chapter 2 Part 1

Lieutenant Andrew Pritchard shifted his oil smeared goggles onto his forehead and leaned to the left, peering through the broken clouds below in the hope of spotting some recognisable landmark. It was no use; the gaps were too small and flew by so fast that he couldn't see much of anything. His new home base near Soissons lay just a few miles south of the lines, and this part of the front ran roughly west-northwest to east-southeast. He wasn't going to risk dropping through the cloud so close to the front, so all he could do at this point was keep the setting sun on his starboard wingtip and hope for the best. At least he knew where he'd been. To Hell and back in a hand basket, he thought grimly. Damn he could do with a cigarette. Too bad he didn't smoke. Just about everyone else on the squadron did these days. Not that many were left now. Maybe he'd buy himself a pipe next time he went into town. He leaned over again and muttered a curse under his breath, put his gloved hand outside the cockpit and patted the snake motif on his fuselage with affection. No worries old girl, we'll have you home soon. Repositioning the goggles over his eyes he did a quick scan around and above, and with special care behind. No sign of the Hun at least, nor any other members of his Flight. Not to worry, The Doc would have them rounded up and home safe by now, he was sure of it.

Blood and Old Bones
Exploits of the famous Skeleton Crew Squadron

by SC-1Shot

Chapter 1 Part 2

It just hadn't occurred to Gunn that he'd end up anywhere but the Western Front. His own squadron perhaps, or at least a posting to one of the new SE5a or Camel squadrons. Instead they gave him a promotion and an Operational Training Unit. He was the Chief Flying Instructor and had a completely free hand in designing the program. The RFC was suffering at the hands of the new circus type units the Hun was fielding, and the brass had been impressed with Gunns' survival during the Bloody April debacle. The intial procurement order for the squadron was for twenty of the early SE5's with 150 horsepower motors. They had proved less than effective against the fast climbing Hun machines and had quickly been replaced by the SE5a with 200 horsepower. Engine troubles still haunted the aircraft, but rumours of a new Wolseley Viper unit which apparently ran like a Swiss watch had the RFC pilots watering at the mouth. Gunn told the brass that he'd take the job if they came up with twenty SE5a's, else he'd rather take his chances at the front. They weren't too happy about it but conceded in the end, and Gunn set about formulating a program to prepare the barely proficient pilots coming out of basic flight training for aerial combat. His nature dictated a maximum effort in whatever preparations he could make for them, he'd seen too many boys slaughtered before they even had a chance to learn the ropes. At first the work consumed him, gave him a new direction. For the most part he put his recent troubles behind him, and just got on with the job. But the wounds were still fresh, and like everyone else he was only ever a few short steps away from the edge of the Abyss; the difference was that he knew it.

Blood and Old Bones
Exploits of the famous Skeleton Crew Squadron

by SC-1Shot

Chapter 1 Part 1


The rumble of distant thunder rolled across the flight line as the two little biplanes rolled to a stop and fell silent, the heavens grumbling seemingly at this latest audacious intrusion. Second Lieutenant Roland watched apprehensively from his cockpit as Major Gunn climbed down onto the muddy field and stalked towards him, irritably snatching off his gloves and flying helmet as he approached menacingly around the port wings.

c/p from http://riseofflight.com/Blogs/default.aspx

LOFT ----> 26. February 2010 10:21
Update 1.011

Hello, fellow pilots!

In a couple of days you'll be able to update to version 1.011. We've been developing this version for the last two months. Let me briefly take you through the new feature highlights.

c/p from http://www.hitechcreations.com/frindex.html

Here are some screenshots of the upcoming Fokker D.VII as modeled and textured by Waffle.