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It is normal for the Allies to set up the Polish air force out of the way, and then to fly it to a neutral country so the CW gets the Polish pilots (assuming the internment rule is being used, of course). Why isn't this standard for the Belgian air force? Set the FTR in the Belgian Congo, and fly it to Angola. The Belgian air unit is a 3 pt FTR that sometimes is an active hindrance to Allied operations because of the French can't stack with it, and rarely does it contribute much to the Allied cause. The CW always can use more pilots, and by interning the Belgian FTR, the CW has another pilot for the rest of the game. You lose the use of the Belgian FTR for one turn, for the benefit of getting one extra CW plane on the map.

Or is this a standard move, and I just never realized it? I have not noticed people doing this in AARs, so I was wondering.

I usually set up the Belgian CP in Congo. I never thought to put the FTR in Congo too and intern it, to give the CW another pilot. It's a good suggestion, I believe...

I think the convention is to put the FTR in Belgium and fly it to the UK to accomplish the same during reinforcements, but this works too.

Probably depends who you are up against too. Against a decent German player putting the aircraft into the Congo (and getting the pilot) is sensible. If you were playing me as the German you would be better placing the aircraft in Belgium for use by the CW when I make a total arse of invading the Low Countries....again.

ORIGINAL: composer99

I think the convention is to put the FTR in Belgium and fly it to the UK to accomplish the same during reinforcements, but this works too.

The least bother is put it in a city in the Congo, wait for Belgium to be conquered, make the Congo the new home country and then in the following reinforcement phase, take the fighter off and put the pilot on the pilot track.

Simple, cheap and efficient.

It also may be a good, cheap unit to react into the adjacent sea zone for ASW purposes. Sometimes you use the pilot for awhile for the Battle of Britain and then later bring the fighter back on in the Congo for ASW.

or in the Congo it can contribute to a game's most epic event: The Congolese Territorial taking out the Libyan Camel Raiders

ORIGINAL: composer99

I think the convention is to put the FTR in Belgium and fly it to the UK to accomplish the same during reinforcements, but this works too.

Having the FTR in Belgium leaves it open to being ground struck in the surprise impulse. If the FTR is in Congo, it is sure to be safe.

Especially if the Germans are attacking "historically", in M/J 40 (which I realize is not a given), I'd love for them to waste an air action and a plane being flipped groundstriking my fighter, who will of course not be stacked with any of my land units. If he wants to, let em. That delay against France is worth it.

Why intern your FTR?

My standard move is just to pick up the pilot at end of turn (and i set up it in Belgian Congo).

Even if i never used the FTR, i prefer have it if i need than scrap it.

See Post 5.

Ok with you

I prefer to set up the fighter and rebase it to UK, if it seems likely that it will not get disorganized by a ground strike on the surprise impulse.

Hmm looks a bit gamey technique of play wise, but Internment is an optional rule so.

It would not be interned in that case, it would become a Belgian component of the RAF.