The story
How the deckwas dealt
Where Shadow Ace Squadron came from, what the emblem means, and the traditions that hold the wing together.
PHOTO // Lite · DCS World
Origin
From one server to a wing
Shadow Ace Squadron went live on Discord on 30 December 2023. The idea was simple: fly DCS multiplayer like it matters. Brief before you fly. Push on time. Debrief in Tacview after, even when the tape is embarrassing.
The Viper came first and still leads. As more pilots arrived with Hornets, Tomcats and Hogs, the squadron became a wing and the wing became a deck: one suit per squadron, a Joker flight for new pilots, and wing command holding the cards.
Server goes live
The Discord opens. The first Viper flights launch.
The deck forms
Hornet, Tomcat and Hog crews join, and the suits are dealt.
288+ pilots
The anthem, the livery program and this site.
The emblem
Read the patch
- Four aces
- Spades, clubs, hearts and diamonds in the hatband: the four squadrons of the wing.
- Crossed missiles
- What the deck brings to the table.
- The skull
- What's left of the other guy.
The formation
The V-diamond
The four-ship on the squadron poster, as a kneeboard card.
Kneeboard cards · LIGHTING switches day / night
- Lead flies smooth and predictable; everyone else flies off lead.
- Two and three hold the same bearing line, mirror image.
- Four sits in the slot, stepped down out of lead's wash.
- It's the formation on the squadron poster, so we fly it for the camera.
SIM TECHNIQUE · DCS WORLD · NOT FOR REAL-WORLD USE
Plate 05 · The deck
Four suits.One wing.
Vipers, Hornets, Tomcats, Hogs and Apaches, pushing on the same time hack.
PHOTO // [SAS] Retro · Hellcat-4 · DCS World
Traditions
How the wing works
Nobody names themselves
Your callsign comes from the wing, usually after something happens on the radio you'd rather forget.
The tape doesn't lie
Every sortie gets a Tacview debrief. Good shots get replayed; bad ones get replayed more.
160 BPM
An original heavy-metal anthem with an 80s synth lead. Played loud before big operations.