John Palchak takes the time before the first game to relearn the rules.  With this being only his second day of gaming, he wanted to take no chances.  He didn't know it, but his wingman, Marco Fabiani, was to be of no help whatsoever, rolling four sixes in a row to hit.

Our first mission pitted the Italians (John and Marco) in 150 hp SPAD VIIs against the Austro-Hungarians (Jim Barber and Don McCalmon) flying Öffag D.III series 153s.  Jim's and Don's twin guns certainly gave the Austro-Hungarians a distinct advantage, especially since the Italian government had assured Marco and John that one gun per plane was more than enough.

Towards the end of the first game, three more people arrived, Jim Robertson (seen here), his girlfriend's son Kevin Horey, and Marty Miller.  Since Kevin and Marty had never played Dawn Patrol before, while we finished out our mission over the alps Jim took Kevin and Marty into the family room and showed them the basics of the game.

Don and his pupil, Kevin, watch the game unfold.  Marco took a load of lead in the engine (5 hf) from Jim causing his fuel pump to go.  Rather than try and carry on the fight, the Italians decided that running away as fast as they could go was the better part of valor.  Their SPADs easily lost the Öffags and the nearly two-and-a-half-hour four-man game came to an end.

The French squadron for the second mission: Don in a SPAD XIII, Kevin flying a 180 hp SPAD VII for his first mission, Jim R. also in a SPAD VII, and John in a SPAD XIII would be flying against . . .

. . . the German Staffel consisting of Marty and Jim B. in Albatros DVas and Marco in a rarely-seen Pfalz triplane.

Marty was quite pleased to have scored two pilot chances on a shot at John.  He rolled four dice and they all came up 2!  Unfortunately for him, and very fortunately for John, this was Marty's first mission, so what could have turned into a disaster for John was merely a close call.

Kevin isn't too happy when he realizes what it means to be the meat in a sandwich.  Jim and Marco baptized the new guy with top and bottom shots in turn one.  Fortunately for Kevin, it was an open faced sandwich due to Jim rolling a 6 for the top shot.  Still, several in the engine on the first turn never bodes well.  Kevin was shot at every turn by Marco and Marty.  On turn three his engine took it's 6th hit factor and he began his glide to the emergency airfield.  He landed without incident and lives to fly again.

The Germans were all over the French every turn, as can be seen in John's expression.  The French fought back admirably, but it wasn't enough.  The game was quite a furball, with planes stacked on planes stacked on planes, but the new guys handled things well.

Don's wife stopped by to see him before he got shot down.  Seriously, this shot is in here just to embarrass Don a little.

But then Don did get shot down.  Jim B. shredded Don's prop and he begins his glide to the forward aerodrome.  Don looks very relieved to remove his counter from the board.  He made a rough wing setdown at the airfield and then failed his 80% chance to survive.  We will remember his brave French pilot.

John had to leave in mid-game, and coupled with Kevin's kaput engine and Don's shredded prop left the game with three Germans against Jim R.'s lone SPAD VII.  Marco rolled bad numbers and went first, and Marty had taken a wing-root critical cutting his 1400 dive to 1300 making both unable to follow Jim R.'s dive for safety.  Jim B. made a valiant effort to bring down the remaining SPAD, but Jim R. managed to get away safely.  Marty and Marco cut for Kevin's "kill", credit going to Marty (on his first mission ever).  Jim scored sole victory for Don's kill.

The third game (unphotographed) pitted Jim & Jim in Pfalz D.IIIs against Don, Kevin, and Marty in Nieuport 24BIS.  The fighting was short, but brutal for the Germans.  Marty took out Jim R.'s engine with a critical hit, forcing him to glide to his own lines and make a safe landing.  Jim B., not wanting to force a three on one confrontation, dove his Pfalz to safety.

Marty was easily the leading flier of the day with two victories scored and no machines lost.  If his streak continues, I hope to always fly with him, not against him.

Marty Miller - two victories (Kevin & Jim R.), none shot down

Jim Barber - one victory (Don), not shot down

Marco Fabiani - one assist (Kevin), not shot down

John Palchak - no victories, not shot down

Jim Robertson - no victories, one shot down but survived

Kevin Horey - no victories, one pilot shot down but survived

Don McCalmon  - no victories, one pilot shot down and killed