Black Haze HQ Page

Although we are not an actual military unit, we are organized as one. Black Haze uses a simplified ranking system based on the Red Baron 3D single player campaign game. Rank is a product of a members position in the squadron system. It is based on a pilots ability and willingness to accept responsibility, and dedicate time to squadron activities, rather than their game knowledge or skill in the air as a dogfighter. This system more closely mirrors historical ranks used in WWI German Jastas, as even the great Red Baron himself was only a Captain when he died.

Hauptmann - Commanding officer of the Black Haze squadron and Jasta Commander.

Oberleutnant - Black Haze Executive Officer, Staff Officer, Jasta Commander or Jasta Executive Officer.

Maximum total allowed in squadron is one per each active Jasta.

Leutnant - Black Haze Staff Officer or Jasta Executive Officer.

Maximum total allowed in squadron is one per each active Jasta.

All officer and enlisted pilots are assigned a specific rank position within the squadron. Whenever a group of Black Haze pilots are gathered, the ranking member is automatically in charge and all other members are expected to follow them and any orders they may have.

Feldwebel - Fully trained squadron pilot

Unteroffizier - Recruit. A pilot new to the game must undergo a training period of at least two months from the date of his joining. He becomes a full pilot, a Feldwebel, when the Hauptmann decides he is ready.

Although the squadron rank structure does not allow for much chance for advancement, we have a very large selection of medals and awards that are used to recognize and commemorate great achievements, outstanding deeds in combat, dedication and hard work performed by the squadron members. On occasion awards can be presented to outstanding individuals outside the squadron.

Awards Ceremony - During peace time (between campaigns) any awards given will be presented immediately. Generally, however, most awards are earned during a sanctioned, recognized campaign or tournament that the squadron is engaged in. During such a campaign, no medals or awards are presented until the Awards Ceremony conducted after the end of hostilities.

Procedures
Award Committee: Hauptmann, Oberleutants - The three members of the awards committee will determine together when an award is appropriate. If the award involves one of the three members, then the other two will handle the determination. If he sees fit, The Hauptmann has the authority to overrule the other members of the committee, except when the award involves him.

Award Recommendations: Any member of BH can recommend an award for another member of the squadron, but not for themselves. The recommendation must be made to the Hauptmann, unless it is regarding him, in which case the recommendation is given to one of the Oberleutnants. Members of other Red Baron squadrons, even enemy ones, can be awarded medals from Black Haze if someone feels strongly enough to recommend them and has good enough of a reason.

Air and ground kills: Although the pilot who gets the last few rounds into an enemy plane that goes down is given credit for that kill by the game, that is not necessarily true for Black Haze scoring. For squadron scoring purposes, if two pilots share in a successful team effort to kill an enemy plane, or take out a ground target, they can each get credit for half a kill/target destruction, if the pilot getting the official kill is willing to share the kill. Kills and targets destroyed by more that two planes are credited to the pilot given the score by the game, even though it is another team victory. Each air victory counts as a single kill, no matter if the victim is a bomber or scout. The destruction of 5 ground targets is the equivelant of one aerial kill. The honor system is in use with this rule and frequently the fog of battle will make fair division of kills very difficult.

Prussian Pilots Badge - awarded to a Prussian Jasta member upon his first kill

Bavarian Pilots Badge - awarded to a Bavarian Jasta member upon his first kill

Prussian Observers Badge - awarded to BH members when they have destroyed 5 ground targets

Pour le Merite (Prussia) - 100 kills

Order of the Red Eagle (Prussia) - 80 kills

Star of the Order of the House of Hohenzollern (Prussia) - 65 kills

Order of the Zahringen Lion (Baden) - 50 kills

Order of the Griffin (Mecklenburg-Schwerin) - 35 kills

Order of the Crown (Prussia) - 25 kills

Iron Cross, 1st Class (Prussia) - 15 kills

Iron Cross, 2nd Class (Prussia) - 5 kills

Note: the above medals are awarded as a matter of numbers. Many of the following medal requirements, however, are much more subjective in nature. The Hauptmann will make the final decision on all recommendations as to whether the total impact of any action or actions rises to the level of the requirement guidelines suggested for the award. In

Special Combat Awards

Order of the White Falcon (Saxe-Weimar) - Actions in combat, in the face of the enemy, which results in significant losses of enemy aircraft or a successful mission flown against significant odds

Can be awarded multiple times unless otherwise noted

Star of the Order of the White Falcon (Saxe-Weimar) - Actions in combat, in the face of the enemy, which results in major losses of enemy aircraft or a successful mission flown against great odds.

War Cross of the Order of the White Falcon (Saxe-Weimar) - Heroic actions in combat, in the face of the enemy which has a major impact on the outcome of an entire session or is a major feat of excellence in combat skill.

Hanseatic Cross (Lubeck) (awarded one time only) - Awarded one time only. Action in combat, in the face of the enemy, resulting in significant losses of enemy targets or a successful mission flown against significant odds. This award is presented by the squadron command as recognition that the pilot has reached a satisfactory level of bombing skill.

Order of Albert (Saxony) - Action in combat, in the face of the enemy, resulting in major losses of enemy targets or a successful mission flown against great odds.

Star of the Order of Albert (Saxony) - Action in combat, in the face of the enemy, resulting in dramatic losses of enemy targets and having a significant impact on the outcome of the session or is a major feat of excellence in bombing skill.

Awards for leadership, actions or work outside of individual tactical combat. Can be awarded repeatedly

Honor Cross (Saxony)- awarded for positive achievements, actions, leadership or conduct, above and beyond the call of duty, that significantly helps or benefits the squadron or community.

Knight's Merit Order (Saxony) - awarded for exceptional achievements, actions, leadership or conduct, significantly above and beyond the call of duty, that greatly helps or benefits the squadron or community

Order of Military Merit (Bavaria) - awarded for outstanding achievements, actions, leadership or conduct, far above and beyond the call of duty that dramatically helps or benefits the squadron or community.

Military Order of St. Henry (Saxony) - Continued excellent service as above, but one of the 1st level medals must already have been awarded

Knights Cross of the House of Hohenzollern (Prussia) - Continued exceptional service as above, but one of the first tier medals must already have been awarded

Grand Cross of the Order of Military Merit (Bavaria) - Continued excellent service as above, but 1st level medals and 2nd level medals must have already been awarded.

Military Order of Maximilian-Joseph (Bavaria) - Continued excellent service as above, but 1st, 2nd and 3rd level medals must already have been awarded. The wearer of this medal is elevated to minor nobility by the King of Bavaria and adds the title of "Ritter von" before their last name. Co

Cross for Loyal Service (Schaumburg-Lippe) - Awarded for every years service with Black Haze Squadron. A bar is added to the medal ribbon for each year after the first one.

Military Medal Order of Karl Friedrick (Baden) - awarded to the pilot scoring the most overall points at the end of a completed campaign.

War Merit Cross (Schaumburg-Lippe) - Awarded to the pilot scoring the second most overall points at the end of a completed campaign

Imperial Eagle Pin - Awarded to every member of the squadron attending all of a campaigns sessions

Red Baron World League

A ribbon representing each campaign is given to every member of the squadron who participates in at least 50% of the wars sessions. The ribbons will be color coded with the campaign identified. This is one award that will show the past campaigns members have participated in since they became a Red Baron pilot.

Red Baron World League I