Kill Bonus: If a side destroys one or more enemy A/C in a turn, add +2 to all of its initiative rolls for the next two turns.
The wording insdicates that this is a bonus for a positive action taken by one side (shooting down and enemy).
Is it applied against a side due to pilot error by one of its pilots? ie, a bonus for the other side when an aircraft that was not shot at crashes?
What were the circumstances of the crash? Turn stall? Spinning in? Not enough altitude to pull out of a dive?
Was it observable to the enemy side? I think this is the key.
The initiative modifier is supposed to represent a momentary boost to the morale of the side that didn't take the loss. However for this bonus to be given, the opposing side would have to be aware of the loss.
I think it is fair to assume that in the midst of any battle, the sight of an enemy plane being destroyed would buoy up the opposing side regardless of the circumstances...whether it crashed by accident or was actually shot down by gunfire.
The rules can't cover every circumstance, so some interpretation by the refs or an agreement by FtF players should be made - For example had there been USN fighters in the current Santa Cruz fight, they would not have gotten the bonus for Wild Bill's shoot down as his plane simply dove into the cloud deck for reasons unknown. That's not specifically in the rules but its how I would have ruled it as a ref.
I think many of the refs here would apply the bonus if the crash was observed, you know, treating it like a "maneuver kill".
J.D.
(http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/FW_Referee_Central/conversations/topics/2314) 08/07/2013
I have Germans and Italians on one side. The Italian Vet, Ace pilot has just been killed. The question I have is the -1 DR Mod for the Ace being shot down count for both the Germans and Italians or just the Italians? Also does this -1 DR Mod last longer that 2 turns like the -2 DR Mod for A/C shot down?
I would say this DRM lasts forever, as the DRM for a/c shot down specifically says "within the last 2 turns".
I would also say this DRM applies to BOTH the German and Italian initiative DRs, as the rules says "Each hero, ace shot down from own side". I interpret "own" to mean "friendly", which includes both German and Italian.
Wild Bill
BoB GM
(https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/FW_Referee_Central/conversations/messages/1913) 20/06/2012
Wild Bill is entirely correct.
JD
(https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/FW_Referee_Central/conversations/messages/1914) 20/06/2012