Matrix Games Forums

rather than being captured?

Historically yes. As for the game, I do not believe that variable is in the code. Also the number of evaders would have been rather small, so I don't think we need to go there.

ORIGINAL: warshipbuilder

Historically yes. As for the game, I do not believe that variable is in the code. Also the number of evaders would have been rather small, so I don't think we need to go there.

Not so fast. In the book "Masters of the Air", page 101, it discusses the Comet line (One of the escape routes Allied pilots used), and they claimed that "The Comet Line aided approximately 700 of the 5,000 to 6,000 downed Allied airmen -- 3,000 of them Americans -- who eventually made it back to England "

Thats a fairly significant number.

Wikipedia lists a different number for the Comet line:

The authors of the official history of MI9 cite 2,373 British and Commonwealth servicemen and 2,700 Americans taken to Britain by such escape lines during the Second World War. The Royal Air Forces Escaping Society estimated that there were 14,000 helpers by 1945.[5] Comet line inspired the 1970s BBC television series, Secret Army (1977–79).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_line

Perhaps the best way to code this is to have a 3 percent change per turn for a MIA pilot that they 'escape' and make their way back to England.

So how many of those 6000 "Allied servicemen" were pilots? And how many of them were post August 16 1943? And how many of those returned to active service as opposed to being posted to training units as flight instructors or other non-combat jobs?

ORIGINAL: warshipbuilder

So how many of those 6000 "Allied servicemen" were pilots? And how many of them were post August 16 1943? And how many of those returned to active service as opposed to being posted to training units as flight instructors or other non-combat jobs?

I dont have those statistics, but I know of at least one guy who was shot down and then went back to fight more. Chuck Yeager.

Arkham,

I believe if there was a chance that aircrew could compromise the escape line that assisted their return, then they would not be allowed to fly again over occupied territory for a year or so.

And yes - only a small proportion would be pilots - guess at 25%

Better make it 1% to return to the game?

Sorry guys, I just have to many other issues to take care of, than chasing down statistics on how many pilots escaped and lived to fight another day.

C'mon, this clearly is the most important issue!