Here are more stories and memories submitted by former and present RAF members

RAF662 CFSG

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Submitted by 
RAF_Falvo7
01/14/2000

When I first got recruited it was in the manner of an open recruiting room we see on the Zone even today that many other groups are running. My first RAF contact was RAF BigDaddy who was then the Group Captain( or something like that) the highest rank at that time. Only one other Officer was in the room with him, RAF_ Maverick ( today RCAF Maverick) who was then, I think the Squad Leader for Alpha. Not sure if the Squads had today's names......I believe we called them differently. Myself and another outsider joined and we launched the game.....the check routine was a dogfight, 1 on 1 and not sure if we had to land......I think we did. Anyway I was first to go against Maverick who naturally kicked my ****.  BUT,  I managed to get him once ( will not say more....lol) and had him flying after me for more than a couple of minutes, which was probably considered a good enough performance for me to become a member. Mav and BigDaddy spoke about it and agreed I can join, so I was instructed to exit and change my Name from Falvo7 to RAF_Falvo7..........and come back to the game. So I exited and returned right after with the new Uniform, hehe easy......no cadet period! The date 4/1/99...April fools day....hehe.......something close to that......we came up with the join date a bit later as the RAF grew........so these dates are approximate, at least for myself.   My first Squad assignment was.........hehe BRAVO!! Or the second Squad which right after became Bravo..........I remember I always complained because I wanted to be posted under Alpha to fly with RAF_Maverick.........hahahaha.....he had the worst time shooting me down....LOL right Mav?!!!. The RAF didn't have many Squads at that time. If  I am not mistaken there was only 3 Squads .......I think I remember the last Squad on the Roster only had a couple of guys......was just formed up because a buddy of mine RAF_BigDuck, who joined the same day and was quickly promoted within the first couple of weeks...and I was not............^^%#^&^@#....hehe. The ranks were fewer too,  I think we had Flying Officer,  Flight Lieutenant and  SL,  no Pilot Officers..........I am not sure who was the SL of Bravo when I joined...... we all used to fly together so Squad Members didn't have a special relationship with the SL,  like today. But soon after, or even at that time,  RAF_ Dynotech was the SL for Bravo..... created the Site we know today as the RAF HQ... that was the Bravo Site back than..................but did such a great job at it.....  Very soon RAF_ Dynotech got promoted to MAA and took over the  RAF Roster and started organizing the RAF.......first into TIME zones. When that happened  RAF_ Rush got promoted to SL for Delta and I was posted as his FL according to my Time Zone.  That concludes my little story I hope this helps and hopefully you will get more from some of the Gents I am going to CC here........I think I was a Bravo pilot for something close to 1 month......maybe less. Within the first 2 Weeks , I remember the GREAT discovery of Berne in relation to Interlaken......we had no idea we could fly from one airfield to the next and no means to navigate other than remember mountains and compass direction approximately .........hahahaha........ my first contribution to the group ...very proud of that......hahaha  Added to the first stages of the Famous Bomber Run, the first RAF movement on Multiplayer.........                                                                                      RAF_Falvo7

RAF_Falvo7 Ace Member Member # 7

posted June 14, 2000 07:40                           S!....hehe...good subject Chip! One sunny day..while flying CFS...I noticed that little button that said fly online on the ZONE....click click and I get to register with the Zone.. I sitting there typing in all sorts of names I can think of to find out...this name not available try ....JOHN24535...LOL I was trying to name myself....Falcon...but you can imagine that one being a popular choice...so I said the only way to bypass this time wasting procedure...is to come with a new WORD for the English dictionary... ...so with a little imagination I changed Falcon...into Falvo...and added my lucky 7.. For the Volvo...version you have to ask CAT...hhahaha..   ------------------ Life is to be celebrated. From: Athens, Greece. | Registered: A Long Time Ago!  |  IP: Logged |

Submitted by
RAF_Thunderbolt,
01/14/2000

S! Gents,

Like I said before, Falvo, you have a good memory.  The only thing that I can add to what you have written is that Bravo squad was not always called Bravo squad.  I seem to remember that when I first joined, there were 3 squads.  Alpha, Beta, and Charlie.  Someone (maybe Dyno) suggested that the name for Beta be changed to the military designation for B.  It was agreed upon, and was changed to Bravo. 
If you plan on doing a history of the RAF and all the squads, I have a few
memories for Charlie Squad, my first squad.  Just let me know.

Thunderbolt

Submitted by
RAF_WarHawk,
01/14/2000

In early September 1999,  I decided to join a CFS squadron. I was getting tired of all the unorganized rooms available on the zone. I was looking for a group that could get together and fly as adults. After about a week of talking to members of various squads, I entering a recruiting room that was being run by,  I believe it was RAF_SmokyDaBear. I talked to him for a bit, then he called in RAF_SlingBlade. After a few minutes of flying with these guys and getting my rear shot off, I decided this was the group for me. I was accepted in a few days later and assigned to Bravo Squad under then Squad Leader,  and one of the best in the RAF,  RAF_Diablo.  RAF_ Diablo was an excellent Squad Leader that helped me out during the transitional period a new cadet goes though when he joins this group. I was pretty green back then, with many questions, and RAF_ Diablo was always there answering ALL the emails I sent him.  This is how I arrived in the RAF's elite Bravo Squad..

                                                                                                                                        RAF_WarHawk

RAF_WarHawk Ace Member Member # 74

posted June 14, 2000 11:48                           My name comes from Seminole High School in Seminole, Florida. My wife graduated from the school and we still live within walking distance. We also attend many of the Friday Night football games in the fall. The night before I signed up to join the RAF, we attended their season opener, which the Seminole High Warhawks won 62-0. ------------------ RAF_WarHawk Bravo Squad Leader Angel Strike Wing From: Seminole, Florida 33772 | Registered: Sep 99  |  IP: Logged |

After several FFA's with RAFers BigDaddy and WrLrd, we three did a flight from Paris to London.
It was my first non combat flight. It was great and I was hooked. That was in mid February 99. I could not add the RAF_ to my name, (to long) and I didnt change my screen name till 3/17/99.
There was no web site then, nor squads. We had weekly meetings of all pilots at the same time(hard on our Eurpoean and Australian brothers fer sure) and after the meetings we started to fly this thing called a bomber run. I have a copy of the Roster dated 5/15/99(we had a website by then)
Bravo Squads SL was RAF_WrLrd, then I beleive it was Snoopy, Diablo, Mosquito, Bravo then you WarHawk.

The Roster on 5/15/99

Site designed maintained and hosted by RAF_Dynotech

We have come a long way, and yet it is still the same. We are here to have fun and relax
and we do. HERES TO THE RAF662

Submitted by
RAF_Yank
01/15/2000

S! Falvo7,

It seems to me we joined very close to the same time. We used to fly
together all the time. RAF_Jester (my grandson) joined then also. I think
that RAF_Turbo joined the same day. It was a quasi check ride with
RAF_BigDaddy. We had to land a few times, FFA and then fly in formation. The
precursor to the checkrides we developed later.

Not long after Jester and I were posted to "Bravo" squad. I remember that
Jester got promoted to FL right away"much to my chagrin!" and I was still a
FO. Not longer after that I was made SL of Bravo and Dyno-tech was one of my
FO. Later I got bumped to Wing Commander and I recommended Dyno-tech to
replace me as Bravo Squad leader (I think he slipped me a bottle of Chivas
regal).

Those are a few of my recollections of Bravo Squad. S!

RAF_Yank

============

Interview excerpt from 4/21/2002

RAF_SaberFlash says:

you were once a SL for Bravo?

RAF_Yank says:

Yes..1st one I think..we changed the name from Beta to Bravo

RAF_SaberFlash says:

that happened on your watch? I would like to here more about then.

RAF_Yank says:

Those were the early days ... maybe 15 to 20 members

RAF_Yank says:

I was quickly promoted...to Wing Commander

RAF_Yank says:

And I recommended Dynotech to replace me as Bravo leader

 

I was in charge of most recruitment and training

Everyone had to pass one of my legendary check-rides

Ask RAF_Cat about that...

RAF_Yank says:

might check the Foxtrot page for more info

RAF_SaberFlash says:

I will - believe me.

RAF_SaberFlash says:

do you remember the order of SLs? I have them as ...

RAF_SaberFlash says:

RAF_Yank

RAF_DynoTech

RAF_Wrlrd   

RAF_Snoopy    

RAF_Diablo      

RAF_Mosquito  

RAF_Bravo       

RAF_WarHawk 

RAF_SaberFlash says:

after WarHawk there is no "lineage line"

RAF_Yank says:

Sounds right..might have been someone before me..but if so..not for long...we just added squads as we got enough guys...

RAF_Yank says:

Then we organized them due to timezone or overseas. 

Well what you might not know.... Is that Foxtrot Squad was originally Bravo squad...they gave up there name in a Wing realignment

RAF_SaberFlash says:

the wing realignment happened when the time zone issue was addressed?

RAF_Yank says:

I guess....they wanted an A-B-C D-E-F .. look to things.  Bravo was out of sync with that and the timezones

Beta was renamed ..Bravo...to fit with the military alphabet...then later Foxtrot and Bravo switched names

Submitted by
RAF_Savage
01/16/2000

From memory I can recall that not long after I joined the RAF I had asked BigDaddy for there to be some more squadrons in addition to Alpha and Beta...I believe I was an early Beta member...Charlie then Delta and then Echo were formed....I had the prestigious honour of becoming the first squadron leader of Echo(some of you might even remember the Echo Savage(Hurricane)which I made to honour this fine squad... I had only a few squad members but all were damn fine guys...at this time Rush was assigned to Echo and instantly proved his absolute all-round ability in setting us up a website as well as dazzling us with his ace skills (later to earn him the first 662 ace status!)...
At this time there was no time-zone separation for squads but with the formation of the all Canadian Alpha at that time,things began to change ...I was moved to Wing Commander Stallion and Sqdn Leader role of Delta,RUSH assumed control of Echo(and changed his website accordingly),Lonewolf moved from Echo to Alpha,Stray joined along with Cat, and before long we had the had the first foundational structure of the Stallion wing...the rest is all recent history...WHAT A FINE SQUADON ALL YOU GUYS HAVE MADE IT !!!

that's my two pence worth...I'm sure if I sift through a few memo printouts I will find even more along with actual dates!!!

I have left out one character form this message above who was with me from early on...and I am not going to rest without mentioning his steadfast commitment since the early days(even through earthquakes!!!)
FALVO has been an inspiration to many,not least myself !!!

Here's one for the history books!
Can anyone who was there at the time ,remember that flight and the date we flew along with Nello and Falvo down to Kent to decide upon the sight of our future 662 base !!! I remember we all landed on an area of wasteland and debated where we wanted to site it...

Talk about Pilgrim fathers or what !!!! lol

------------------
STAY LUCKY !!!

Submitted by
RAF_Recovery [Flying Officer / Bravo Squad]
01/16/2000

                                                                             RAF_Recovery  

RAF_Recovery Ace Member Member # 188

posted June 14, 2000 03:18                       S! I got my name from watching off shore racing boats (Cigarette). Mercury engines has their boat named Recovery so there you are. ------------------ RAF_Recovery Flight Lt. Bravo Squad Always Check Six From: Piedmont Triad, NC | Registered: Dec 99  |  IP: Logged |

 

---

Submitted by,
RAF_BigDeal [Flight Lieutenant / 2nd in Command / Bravo Squad]
01/27/2000

I have always been interested in flying, and have been a fan of computerized flight simulators since MS Flight Simulator on an Apple II.  I spent hours practicing takeoffs, landings, radio navigation, everything I could think of.  Eventually I decided to try it for real, and I took private pilot lessons and earned my ticket.  Unfortunately, it soon became too expensive and time consuming to keep up this hobby, as I realized could spend all weekend with my family on my boat for less than the cost of an hour in the air!  So, I went back to simulators and greatly enjoyed FS95/98, with my favorite activity being cross country flights in the B-737.

Then our ACM-to-be Dyno brought CFS to my attention, so I took a look.  I had always missed the ability to shoot at something in FS98, and this fit the bill quite nicely.  The scenery was outstanding, the flight models seemed OK, missions were fun, and soon I was flying CFS instead of FS98.

One evening Dyno and I arranged to fly in an IP game with a couple of his friends, and we had a blast!  This was my first experience with multiplayer flight simulation, and it was great.  I was pleased that I could blast Dyno out of the sky fairly often... boy was that soon to change!!!

Then I started playing in the MS gaming zone, and flew a few games in there.  I believe I also brought the Zone to Dyno's attention.  Soon thereafter, he was flying regularly on the Zone.  I wasn't on the Zone too much, as I got turned off by the cheating, mods, bad language, and abusive behavior that often rules the environment there. 

Then Dyno brought the RAF to my attention. I had never heard of squadrons or anything like that, and was a bit cool to the idea at first.  After he explained to me the ethics of the group, I really liked the idea of being able to fly with a group that didn't use mods or cheats.  Dyno agreed to try to get me in.

So, one day we're on the Zone and Dyno drags me into a room with Yank and BigDaddy.  The welcome I got was something to the effect of "What the h*ll is HE doing in here???" since recruits were supposed to go through a more formal check procedure before being allowed into a RAF room.  Dyno managed to talk them into letting me stay, and I had the pleasure of flying with these guys and having an informal check ride on the spot.  I am grateful to Dyno for introducing me, and to Yank and BigDaddy for their allowing me to jump in.

Dyno rapidly rose through the ranks to SL.  Then on the fateful day when BigDaddy announced his retirement, I read the E-mail and saw that BigDaddy had nominated Dyno to replace him as Group Captain, the highest rank at the time.  I called Dyno and told him "better read your E-mail!"  I am glad that Dyno decided to accept the challenge, as without his leadership the RAF wouldn't be where it is today.

For a while it was a little frustrating for me in Bravo squad, as we went through numerous personnel changes.  It seemed like every time we'd get a squad leader they would be promoted soon after, and we'd be orphaned again! Now, with the RAF at full staff we are enjoying a wonderful period of stability and camaraderie with RAF_Warhawk at the helm.  The support we get from the senior staff and other squads is outstanding as well.

I, too, remember the days when Bravo squad was named "Beta."  I believe I had made the suggestion to Dyno that we rename as Bravo, and wrote up a little document on the ICAO phonetic alphabet and gave it to Dyno so he could learn it too.

All in all, it is safe to say that without the RAF I wouldn't be flying online at all.  The RAF has always been more than just a place where shoot-em-up FFAs rule, and kill numbers are the only measure of your ability.  I am continually amazed at everyone's creativity, ability, and most of all their dedication to the ideals of this wonderful group, and I am honored to be a part of it.

S!  RAF662!  Bravo Squad!

RAF_BigDeal

RAF_BigDeal Flight Lieutenant (Retired) Member # 29

posted June 14, 2000 11:31                           I always have a hard time dreaming up handles, and I've never really had a nickname that stuck so I chose "BigDeal" since my last name is "Deal." Always wanted a name with a little more flair but I've been BigDeal so long now I guess I'll stick with it. Too much of a pain to change now, anyway! I always thought "RAF_TargetDrone" had a nice ring to it, and described my skills pretty well!   ------------------ RAF_BigDeal RAF662 Bravo Squad From: Capital District, NY, USA | Registered: A Long Time Ago!  |  IP: Logged |

The history of the RAF 662nd. 

Well I'm not really sure how to begin. I imagine from the "beginning" LOL. When CFS was first announced to the FS community, I was buried in Virtual Airlines flying on FSFW95 and FS98. Once I heard about CFS, I started looking into it's features and decided that a "virtual combat squadron" would make a big hit. I had originally planned on a US based group. But after I began researching the aircraft and the feasability, it was starting to slow down. CFS was finally released and I began just flying around in the Zone rooms as StarTrekker27. I was quite impressed with the game and it's enhancements over FS98. Shortly after it's release, I ran into RAF_Wedge. We began flying and he invited me to help him form an RAF based group. At the time it was just RAF, there was no numerical designation. I changed my name that day to RAF_BigDaddy. That afternoon I began looking into british and german aircraft, bases, and mission types. The group at the time was only 4 members large, the names of the other members I cannot recall offhand.

Shortly after my group and the RAF merged, Wedge either lost interest or had other things come up. He eventually stopped visiting the Zone. I'm still not sure what happened to him. I decided to press on with the RAF, including coming up with a numerical designation. This is what still gives me a tickle in the ribs. When I chose the number "662", I was working for the fire department still. That night, I was on the computer in the dispatch office, which is right next to the engine bays. I had logged offline after hanging out in the Zone for a bit. As a matter of fact, I think Dyno will still remember that night. Because I had to leave abrubptly for a medical call. I came back and everyone was gone. So I shut off the computer and looked over towards the bays, remembering I had to restock the med kit on the engine..........Engine 662. That engine was our primary rescue engine and happened to be the truck I was assigned to that night. I had no clue that there ever was a real RAF 662nd. I chose the number off the side of my engine. I still find that ironic.

Shortly after that, the 662 began to take shape. I tried to make a decent website, but discovered that it was alot more than my limited HTML knowledge would allow. I was always better at personell management than technical stuff.  I remember arguing with my wife as to why I was up at 3am flying a computer game. I believe that was one of the nights Dyno and I did our cross country flight with the music blasting away.  Then I was blessed with Dennis who took over the site for me. I still miss those days of simplicity. Although the game and the group has gone far since then, we will still have the original RAF.  The rest is history. I wound up turning the group over to Dennis (Dyno) due to a new baby on the way, and an increase in my work schedule. That was a mistake that I will have to live with for the rest of my life. I have tried making other CFS groups to fill that empty spot, but it never worked out. I have finally returned, but as a F.O. Not the same, but it will due.

I will always feel at home in the 662, not only because it was something I was a part of back when CFS first came out, but because it holds a sense of "family" for me. If I had the finances, my wife, son, and myself would be at Duxford with the rest of you. Unfortunatley, I will have to pass. But, if anyone happens to be near Ft Hood, TX, feel free to let me know and I'll give you a tour of the base, let you sit inside one of the tanks, look around a bit.
Good to be home guys. 

Shea Ghering.

RAF BigDaddy

RAF_Screwball Ace Member Member # 823

posted December 11, 2002 10:13                           S! Drake, I took the name from a famous Canadian WWll pilot who served in the RAF. George Albert Buerling. He was better transfered from Squadron to Squadron as he disobey orders and break from his wingman to go hunting alone. He was finially transfered to Malta where he got his nickname "Screwball" We also come from the same city where there is a street named after him. Buerling Avenue in Verdun, Quebec. -------------------- RAF_Screwball Wing Commander Angel Strike Wing From: Kitchener,Ontario Canada | Registered: Jan 2001  |  IP: Logged |