Wolfgang Buchner, aka Peter N. Beagle or "Pops", is a former Belkan Air Force pilot and mechanic for the Wardog Squadron.
Biography
The oldest son of a Belkan aristocratic family and known as 'Huckebein (Hunchback) the Raven', he was one of the most talented pilots (and aces) in the Belkan War.
After the destruction of the Belkan super weapon Excalibur on May 23, 1995, at the turning point of the Belkan War, the Belkan command issued orders for nuclear bombings of seven Belkan cities on June 6 (the same day the US Navy fought the Battle of Midway (1942) and the day of the Battle of Normandy (D-Day) begins (1944)). As one of the most prominent pilots of the BAF, Colonel Buchner was chosen as one of the pilots to drop off the nukes. He, however, refused to comply and on May 28, stole a MiG-21bis in attempt to defect to the Osean Federation. The Belkan 6th Tactical Fighter Squadron ("Schwarze"), on standing orders to engage deserters at will, pursued the defector to the Airspace B7R, where the largest aerial battle of the Belkan War, codenamed "Operation Battle Axe", was fought at that very moment. Although Schwarze Squadron broke off the pursuit, instead engaging the Ustian Galm Squadron, Buchner was instead attacked and shot down by Ashley Bernitz of the Grabacr Squadron, who participated in the Belkan effort to defend B7R.
In the same battle, Bernitz also shot down the Osean ace Jack Bartlett ("Heartbreak One"), who was engaging him in a dogfight when Buchner entered the battle. After the battle was over, Buchner and Bartlett both managed to bail out and managed to make it to the Allied side together. Apparently, Buchner managed to convince Bartlett of his honesty and the two of them formed a firm friendship during this time. Upon their return, they invented a new identity for Peter N. Beagle (that of a downed Osean pilot "Wolfgang Buchner") and thanks to Bartlett vouching for it, Buchner settled into the 703rd Maintenance company and the life of a mechanic.
In 2010, Bucher came to know the four young pilots of Wardog (later Razgriz) squadron while he was stationed at Sand Island Air Base, and he took into his care Kirk, Chopper's dog.
After the ourbreak of the Circum-Pacific War Beagle survived both attacks on Sand Island by Yuktobania and assisted in the escape of the Wardog pilots from the Island after the 8492nd Squadron took control through Captain Hamilton. He watched over them from the OFS Kestrel during their rescue of President Harling, and took over the role of AWACS.
It is not known what happened to Buchner (Beagle) after the Circum-Pacific War and the Belkan Conflict. It is known that he survived and returned to Sand Island with his adopted dog Kirk. It is unknown how he returned to Sand Island when Base Commander Perrault still thought he was a traitor, although it is possible that the identities of the Razgriz Squadron were revealed only inside the Osean Defense Force and goverment authorities, and they were cleared of previous charges following the war's end.
In-game appearances
In Ace Combat 5, Buchner appears mostly in the cut-scenes and mission briefings, except when he temporarily leads the Wardog Squadron in mission 19 ("Final Option").
In Ace Combat Zero, Buchner appears in mission 10 ("Mayhem / Operation Battle Axe") as the named Belkan pilot "MiG-21bis Huckebein" (number 077 in the Assault Records), who can be shot down to unlock the MiG-21 Fishbed special paint scheme. Huckebein only appears if the mission is played in the Mercenary Ace Style, since he is initially pursued by the Schwarze Squadron (Mercenary Aces). After Schwarze abandons pursuit and engages Galm Squadron, the player is free to either attack Huckebein themselves, or let him escape: he doesn't attack first but will pursue Cipher if shot upon. On Ace difficulty, if the player doesn't engage Huckebein for about 20 seconds and shoots down Su-47 Nachtigal, Ashley Bernitz enters the battle as "Su-47 Grabacr" (number 083 in the Assault Records) and will shoot Huckebein down unless the player manages to destroy him first.
Trivia
- Buchner's callsign is likely a reference to Focke-Wulf Ta 183, a German WW2-era fighter codenamed "Huckebein", meaning "hunchback", which is itself a reference to a comic character named "Huckebein the Raven".
Reference