wounded observers

[Dan Danoski]

We have always played that it is up to the targeting plane to ask if an observer is still manning his mg. ie the 2seat does not have to announce the observer is not at his post. I was wondering how other people handled the situation.

[Scott Kolar]

Hi Dan,

I believe we play it that way too. I know in the big game Mike was unconscious in the back seat and he did not say anything. So I never knew if I should continue to pursue them for fear of being shot down myself. Their plan was smoking and they were escaping and I just let them go. Had I known I could have had a kill. Oh well, it was a great time.

~Scott

[George Henion]

As I understood, you couldn’t ask, the only way you would know was if he shot back.

[Scott Kolar]

It would make sense to me that the targeted plane would not have to disclose that information. The observer would not affect whether the plane can still fly or not. You do not announce your damage on any other part of the plane, and this would be no different. I agree with George. If you get bullets coming back at you then you know he is still manning the MG.

[Dan Danoski]

But you DO have to announce smoke and fire. There are plenty of reports by attacking pilots that state they saw the observer fall into his cockpit or that the observer was no longer manning his gun. If they could tell by looking, why can’t we do the same?

[Scott Kolar]

Dan,

You make a very valid point. I would hope that someone in charge (the powers that be) would be able to address this and advise. I agree with you. I guess it must fall under the same precedent as the pilot. You do not announce the status of the pilot if he is shot. Does anyone have a answer for Dan?

[Alan Christensen]

My guess would be that in the early days two seaters flew so rarely that the question never came up.

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